Doug Lebda - CEO of Lending Tree

An expert on the consumer finance industry and mortgage markets, Doug provides insight and analysis on the current and future state of consumer lending and how FinTech companies, such as LendingTree, are using cutting-edge technology to change financial services. Doug has been a frequent contributor and guest speaker on major news networks such as Bloomberg, CNBC, Fox Business and The Street. He has been featured on live televised programs such Mornings with Maria, CNBC Squawk Box and Mad Money with Jim Cramer.
A passionate entrepreneur, Doug left business school (which he would return to nearly 20 years later) to start LendingTree during the dot-com era after experiencing his own frustrations with trying to obtain a mortgage. Doug believed that the lack of transparency and confusing process of obtaining a mortgage at the time needed to change.
In the twenty years since, LendingTree has become a leader in empowering consumers and changing how people shop for financing. Doug has a continued passion for entrepreneurship, investing in various business opportunities and start-ups. In addition to his expertise in consumer finance, Doug actively provides expert advice, insight and interviews on entrepreneurship and business development. He currently co-teaches an entrepreneurship class at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business, his alma mater.

LendingTree (NASDAQ: TREE) is the nation’s leading online loan marketplace, empowering consumers as they comparison-shop across a full suite of loan and credit-based offerings. LendingTree provides an online marketplace which connects consumers with multiple lenders that compete for their business, as well as an array of online tools and information to help consumers find the best loan.

Since inception, LendingTree has facilitated more than 65 million loan requests. LendingTree provides free monthly credit scores through My LendingTree and access to its network of over 500 lenders offering home loans, personal loans, credit cards, student loans, business loans, home equity loans/lines of credit, auto loans and more. LendingTree, LLC is a subsidiary of LendingTree, Inc.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
iHeartMedia's CEOs. You should know this week it's Doug Lebda,
CEO of lending Tree, and their motto is, when banks compete,
you win.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Like money is the most fungible commodity, why can't you
have a marketplace where the banks can compete for the
customer across all types of loans. We started in mortgage
that became very successful, and then we branched out from
there now into all types of loans and insurance to
basically empower people to make smarter financial decisions and take

(00:32):
the workout of it and make the banks compete so
the lenders all compete on a level playing field. They
care about their ratings and reviews. They have to provide
great service or the customer doesn't go with them, and
we just create that platform.

Speaker 1 (00:46):
We always ask people why Charlotte. It's such a great
place and a great place for business, and.

Speaker 2 (00:51):
This was part of the reason I moved to Charlotte.
I wanted to build a company that was built to last.
I thought Charlotte was a great place to do that,
where you could actually have people feel like they're part of.

Speaker 1 (01:02):
A family, and feeling like that part of a family
is important. Charlotte still has that hometown feel and the
word trust You hear that a lot.

Speaker 2 (01:09):
I think consumers trust us because we've earned that trust
over time and have built a reputation on doing the
right thing by customers and doing the right thing by lenders.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
Doug Lebte, CEO of lending Tree, on iHeartMedia CEOs you
should know