Wesleyan appoints new Chair and CFO

26th February 2026 Appointments |

Wesleyan Group has announcedit has made two appointments to the board to support its ambitious growth strategy, with Ian Gladman joining as Chair and Marco Groot Wassink as Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Gladmen will formally succeed Nathan Moss in April, following the completion of the outgoing Chair’s nine-year term. He brings more than 30 years…

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DWP faces scrutiny over bank account check powers

The Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) new powers to reach further into citizens’ lives must be used effectively and proportionately. In a new report on benefit fraud and error, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) promises continued scrutiny of how the DWP will work to resolve the cases of carers wrongly pursued for overpayment debts,…

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Fraudster who followed friend’s advice to claim Covid loan is jailed

26th February 2026 Commercial Credit Management |

A fraudster who illegally secured a Covid loan after a friend coached him on how to make a false application has been jailed. Fahad Sheikh applied for a maximum-value £50,000 Bounce Back Loan in 2020, falsely stating that his Garage Cars 4U business had a turnover of £220,000. His business was in fact not trading…

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FCA proposes action to close gaps in borrowers’ credit files

Lenders could have access to more comprehensive information to support lending decisions, under new proposals by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The FCA is consulting on designating certain credit reference agencies (CRAs). If a lender shares credit information with one designated consumer CRA, it would be required to share it with them all. The changes…

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Falling mortgage rates trigger home listings decade high

February is on track to record the highest number of new home listings in a decade, according to Zoopla’s latest House Price Index.   Combined with falling mortgage rates, the market is currently looking particularly good for first time buyers, with 40% of homes for sale now cheaper to buy with a mortgage than rent.   Reflecting…

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Fifth of adults are being kept up all night due to financial stress

Financial anxiety is significantly impacting the daily lives and well-being of millions of people across the UK, according to new research from financial education charity Money Ready. The study reveals that 39% of adults feel anxious when they think about money – and this anxiety extends into having a real effect on people’s wellbeing, behaviour…

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Broker-led SME lending surges to £33bn

The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB) originated £33 billion in SME lending in 2025, a 25% year-on-year increase. NACFB analysis indicates that its Members account for nearly two-thirds of broker-facilitated SME lending in the UK, placing the total broker-led market at approximately £50 billion annually. The data shows that during 2025, the NACFB’s broker Members arranged 180,000 loans for UK…

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Energy price cap to fall by 7% from April

Energy regulator Ofgem has announced a 7% (or £117) reduction of the energy price cap for the period covering 1st April to 30th June 2026. This change amounts to a reduction of around £10 a month for the average household using both electricity and gas. The price cap refers to the default tariff applied when a…

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Scottish debts hit decade high

25th February 2026 Arrears and Recoveries | #scottish debt

New figures published by StepChange Debt Charity Scotland have revealed that the average debt among people seeking help from the charity has reached on average £20,116 per client, a 10% rise year-on-year, and the highest level recorded in over a decade. Two in three clients were in arrears on their household bills, owing an average…

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Lawton Hathaway and Debtist announce partnership

24th February 2026 Company News |

UK-based debt recovery firm Lawton Hathaway has partnered with European digital debt collections specialist Debtist, marking the company’s formal entry into the UK market and reflecting growing international interest in the UK debt recovery and lending sector. Under the agreement, Debtist UK will operate in the UK as an authorised representative of Lawton Hathaway, allowing…

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UK businesses see home market as best place to scale and grow

Latest data from Barclays has revealed diverging behaviour, with larger firms increasing longer-term lending and smaller firms relying more on shorter-term liquidity financing in the last quarter of 2025. While economic uncertainty remains the greatest challenge businesses are facing, confidence in the UK is resilient. Six in ten (58 per cent) back the home market…

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OakNorth appoints new Chief Financial Officer

24th February 2026 Appointments |

Digital bank, OakNorth, has announced that it has appointed Gergely Zaborszky as its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), subject to regulatory approval, effective from July 2026. Gergely succeeds Rajesh Gupta, who will retire this year after more than five years with the company. Gergely joins OakNorth’s Board and Executive Leadership Team from Virgin Money, where…

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Four in five believe younger generations are financially worse off than 20 years ago

Four in five (80%) of adults believe younger generations are worse off now than two decades ago, according to research from Hymans Robertson Personal Wealth. More than half (59%) blame the rising cost of living as a key pressure, while almost half (43%) highlight increasing housing costs. Surprisingly, almost three-quarters (74%) of over-55s say young…

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