$2 PARTY, page-7512

I think you're on the money stonks. ZIP needs to carefully manage itself while it continues to try to find a profitable business model, it cannot risk escalated arrears in a market where it chases the riskiest customers of all. Interest rates have moved from close to zero to mid range 4 to 4.5%, but the margin that lenders demand on top of the bill rate in one recent refinance was double that, resulting in 12.95%. As economies are shuttered by high rates to stamp out inflation, so too do risks of elevated arrears, push back from authorities, merchants and customers about fees. The best hope IMO is for ZIP to soldier on toward takeover or merger when the industry feels the heat