Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New figures published today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show its members provided £84.3 billion of new lending in the first half of 2026, 5% higher than in the same period last year, helping businesses invest, households make essential purchases and supporting economic growth across the UK. The figures underline the central role…
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Latest research from the Finance & Leasing Association for Q2 has shown an improvement in confidence across the finance and leasing industry, despite continued economic uncertainty. While most respondents (61%) still expected UK economic conditions to weaken over the next 12 months, this was down from 81% in Q1 2026. At the same time, the…
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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are missing out on an estimated £54 billion in revenue due to a lack of confidence in accessing external finance, according to new research from broker-lender Portman Finance Group. The research found that 30% of businesses have missed a growth opportunity because of a lack of external finance, with affected…
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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) grew by 2% in May 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first five months of 2026, new business was 5% higher than in the same period in 2025. The…
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New data from Purbeck Insurance Services has revealed that applications for personal guarantee-backed finance rose 63% year-on-year in Q2 2026, reflecting sustained and growing demand for borrowing among small and medium-sized businesses. Behind every loan application is a director who has personally guaranteed a business loan, and the scale of that exposure is growing as…
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Business activity in the UK financial services sector has sharply declined, according to the Confederation of British Industry (CBI). The net reading for business activity fell from 65 in March to -58 in June. Firms reported deteriorating profitability and cited poor investment returns as a key growth limitation. The quarterly survey also found that sentiment…
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Delayed finance approvals are having a significant impact on the UK’s mid-sized businesses, with more than one in five (22%) losing opportunities to competitors as a result of funding delays, according to new research by Shawbrook. These delays have led to a series of setbacks, with 22% having. to delay significant investment whilst 20% have…
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Bibby Financial Services (BFS) has announced the appointment of Oliver Batley as Head of Sales for its Asset Finance business, as it continues to expand its support for UK SMEs. Batley joins Bibby Asset Finance with nearly 14 years’ experience in asset finance. Most recently, he served as Area Sales Director at Lloyds Banking Group,…
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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) grew by 14% in April 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first four months of 2026, new business was 6% higher than in the same period in 2025. The…
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Lending to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) rose 16 per cent year-on-year to £5.3 billion in the first quarter of 2026, according to UK Finance’s Business Finance Review. This was the highest level of SME lending since 2021 and demonstrates both strong demand for SME finance and the continued role of high street bank lenders…
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New figures released today by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 9% in March 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In Q1 2026, new business was 3% higher than in Q1 2025. The plant and machinery finance sector reported…
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The number of SMEs using some form of credit to pay for one or more insurance policies has significantly increased, according to new research from Premium Credit. The data, which monitors insurance buying and how it is financed, shows 90% of SMEs use some form of credit when they buy insurance, compared with 54% recorded…
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The Bank of England Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) has voted to keep interest rates on hold at 3.75%. At its meeting ending on 29th April 2026, the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voted 8–1 to maintain Bank Rate at 3.75%. One member voted to increase Bank Rate by 0.25 percentage points, to 4%. The conflict in…
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