Credit, Collections & Insolvency News
New data shared by independent SME lender, Time Finance, has shown a significant rise in web searches for Asset Based Lending (ABL), in an encouraging sign business owners’ awareness, appetite and uptake of multi-product finance is on the rise. Analysis of search data from Semrush has shown that average monthly searches for Asset Based Lending…
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Business lender 365 Finance has reported a sharp rise in the demand for funding from high street businesses, with a staggering 43% increase in restaurants opting for revenue-based finance when comparing Q1 2026 in-house data to Q1 2025. Among SMEs in the hospitality industry that increasingly seek finance, the owners of pubs and bars are…
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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 5% in February 2026 compared with the same month in 2025. In the first two months of 2026, new business was 1% lower than in the same period in 2025. The…
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The British Business Bank’s Small Business Finance Markets 2025/26 report has found that gross SME bank lending increased by 9% to £68bn in 2025, making it the second highest level in the past 13 years after 2020’s covid peak, as credit conditions eased gradually through the year. Business dynamism is showing signs of improvement, with…
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UK Finance’s latest Business Finance Review shows that gross business lending by the high street banks increased from £16.1 billion to £17.5 billion in 2025 compared to 2024. In the final quarter of 2025, gross lending was £4.6 billion, the eighth consecutive quarter of year-on-year growth. The increase in lending in 2025 was strongest amongst…
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Latest figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that total asset finance new business (primarily leasing and hire purchase) grew by 3% in December 2025 compared with the same month in 2024. In 2025 as a whole, new business was 1% higher than in 2024. The business equipment finance and plant and…
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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 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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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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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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