Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
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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Following growth of 6.9% (net) in 2025, bank-to-business lending is forecast to slow to 3.5% (net growth) this year, as global and economic headwinds impact business confidence and reduce investment demand, according to the latest EY ITEM Club Bank Lending Forecast. While falling interest rates helped boost business lending last year to the highest level since…
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New research by Allica Bank shows that the market remains active and resilient, with brokers continuing to see meaningful demand across key sectors and reporting strong improvements in lending speed and efficiency. Despite a more challenging economic backdrop, 29% of brokers saw an increase in asset finance applications in the second half of the year…
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New analysis of small business loan activity in Q4 2025 has shown that overall demand for funding is levelling off despite diverging trends in construction and manufacturing according to Purbeck Insurance Services. Borrowing behaviour also remained defensive. Working capital to support cash flow continued to be the dominant reason for finance in Q4 2025, with…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in November 2025 grew by 7% compared with the same month in 2024. In the eleven months to November 2025, new business was 3% higher than in the same period in 2024. The IT…
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The former manager of a Nottingham city centre chicken shop was jailed after securing £50,000 in Covid support, despite having sold the business the previous year. Mujeebullah Khan applied for the maximum-value Bounce Back Loan on behalf of Chunky Chicken in May 2020. However, Khan and his business partner had sold the business based on Shakespeare…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in October 2025 grew by 7% compared with the same month in 2024. In the ten months to October 2025, new business was 2% higher than in the same period in 2024. The…
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High street banks’ lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) slowed in the third quarter of 2025, according to UK Finance, reaching £4.2 billion. Year-on-year growth dropped to 6.4%, down from 8.3% in the previous quarter and 14% in Q1. This marks the slowest growth since banks resumed lending to SMEs in early 2024. UK…
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Asset finance is expected to see the strongest demand for SME funding over the next 12 months, commercial finance brokers have told SME funding provider Asset Advantage. In the latest survey, 72% of commercial brokers said asset finance will be driving business funding demand in the coming year. Brokers also anticipate significant interest and demand…
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A company claiming to provide financial services, which received around £175,000 from a client but failed to deliver promised services, has been shut down. Basic Prime Limited claimed to provide trade finance guarantees and credit enhancement services but was suspected by Insolvency Service investigators of operating an advance fee fraud scheme. The company at no…
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New research has revealed that while SME confidence in Government remains fairly lukewarm, this support is fragile in the face of mounting economic pressures and uncertainty – and may well turn sour without urgent action on tax and costs at the Autumn Budget. The survey of 1,000 SME leaders and decision makers, commissioned by FTSE…
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New data from Purbeck has shown that 38% of SME loans taken in October were purely for working capital, to sustain cash flow. This is the highest proportion the business has recorded since the start of 2025. According to the latest Barclays Business Prosperity Index, 55% of SMEs have paused investment plans amid heightened economic…
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New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) in September 2025 grew by 11% compared with the same month in 2024. In the nine months to September 2025, new business was 2% higher than in the same period in 2024. The…
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