The household goods rental company Thorn Group is a beneficiary of the banks' reluctance to sell personal loans. Thorn yesterday reported 18 per cent growth in the loan book of its lending division, cashfirst. cashfirst, which operates online and lends up to $5000, is two years old. In the six months to September the loan book grew to $6.5 million and customer numbers increased almost 20 per cent to 5000. Write-offs were 5.9 per cent of the book, down from 9.5 per cent in the previous corresponding period. Thorn Group reported a net profit of $11 million for the September half, up 2.4 per cent on the previous corresponding period. After adjusting for a one-off tax benefit the company claimed a 38 per cent increase in cash earnings. The company said its core business, Radio Rentals and Rentlo, had a 6.3 per cent increase in customer numbers. However, its online retail business BigBrownBox.com.au has not performed up to expectations and is under review.