Many early online-only banks faced similar challenges.
They often bought loans instead of originating them.
Purchased loans yield lower interest income because the originating bank always charges a fee or discount.
They also tended to pay higher rates on customer deposits to attract new customers. These routes to rapid growth can significantly reduce profitability.
Physical banks with many branches gain customers and market share because people walk or drive by a branch office and see the bank’s name. New online-only banks must spend substantial suns on advertising that helps establish them as viable brands in a highly competitive market. And many well-established banks now operate online, offering customers a known brand name and the convenience of physical branches along with online banking services. Small businesses were reluctant to deal with online-only banks in the early years of their existence. Small business generates considerable profits for banks because they tend to borrow money at relatively high interest rates and also tend to keep large balances in their checking accounts. Thus, there were a number of challenges that made survival difficult for online-only banks.