Over half of people prioritise credit card rewards over interest rates

New research from Compare the Market reveals that more than half (52%) of people would be willing to switch credit cards if they found one offering better rewards aligned to their personal needs, even if it came with a higher interest rate. Nearly half of respondents (46%) value cashback as the most important credit card…

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Average credit card debt increases to £2,920

The average credit card debt per borrower has climbed to £2,920  according to research by TransUnion. With two-thirds (67%) of consumers feeling financially comfortable and 43% optimistic about their household finances over the next 12 months – up from 26% in 2022 – demand for credit is growing. Since 2022, the average credit card balance…

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Motor finance commissions lead to record complaint figures

Complaints to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) have surged, with 305,726 recorded in the year to 31st March 2025. This is the highest total since the 388,392 seen in the year to March 2019, when the PPI scandal drove a spike in complaints. The latest increase comes amid the motor finance scandal, with the Supreme…

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Over eight million people are using BNPL for purchases under £50

New research from TransUnion UK has revealed that over eight million people are using Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) for items under £50, whilst 4% put purchases under £25 on this short-term credit. Over a quarter (26%) of people now prefer to use BNPL over credit cards for everyday spending, with 18 to 24-year-olds (20%)…

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Consumer credit grew by £1.1bn in April

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of consumer credit was £1.6 billion in April, up from £1.1 billion in the previous month. Within this, net borrowing through credit cards increased to £0.8 billion in April, from £0.4 billion in March. Net borrowing through other forms of consumer credit increased slightly to £0.8…

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Value of secured lending hits £470m

New findings from Pepper Money that that over half (51%) of UK adults are now aware of secured lending as an avenue to raise capital. This figure rises to 54% amongst homeowners who may be considering ways to borrow without interrupting their favourable, primary mortgage rate. The latest data marks a notable rise from previous…

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76% using credit to fund insurance costs

Consumers are increasingly using credit to pay for insurance cover and switching to monthly payments for car and home insurance to manage their bills, new research from Premium Credit shows has found. Premium Credit’s Insurance Index, now in its sixth year, found that 76% of insurance customers use some form of credit to pay for…

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Consumer credit falls

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of consumer credit by individuals was £0.9 billion in March, down from £1.3 billion in the previous month. Within this, net borrowing through credit cards decreased to £0.2 billion in March, the lowest since April 2024 (£0.2 billion). Net borrowing through other forms of consumer…

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8% increase in the number of consumers who have a credit card

22nd April 2025 Consumer Lending | #credit cards

New research by TransUnion has revealed that over the last 12 months, there has been an 8% increase in the proportion of UK consumers who said they have a credit card, yet a third say they don’t know their credit score. The report also found that inflation remains above the Bank of England’s 2% target,…

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UK card transactions hit £1 trillion in 2024

2nd April 2025 Consumer Lending | #payments

UK Finance data has shown that the total value of transactions on these cards was just over £1 trillion during 2024. The figures were in line with 2023 and split betwee debit card spend of £797 billion (down 0.8 per cent compared) to 2023 and credit card transactions worth £249 billion (up 5.3 per cent compared…

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Consumer credit borrowing rises

Consumer credit borrowing rose to £1.4 billion, higher than the average gain of £1.2 billion over the previous six months according to latest Bank of England data. Consumer credit borrowing by individuals was down from £1.7 billion in the previous month. Within this, net borrowing through credit cards decreased to £0.8 billion from £1.1 billion.…

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Female consumers 9% less likely to apply for debt consolidation loans than male consumers 

10th March 2025 Consumer Lending | #lending

New research by Loantube has revealed that female consumers are most likely to apply for a loan for home improvements (42%), followed by debt consolidation (32%) and buying a new car (10%). Among the consumer borrowing trends, LoanTube’s data reveals that female consumers are most likely to apply for a loan for home improvements (42%),…

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Motor finance complaints hit record level

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) has reported a record 18,658 new complaints regarding car loans in the last quarter of 2024, surpassing credit cards as the most complained-about financial product. Motor hire purchase deal complaints jumped almost three times to 15,956 cases, followed by disputes about credit cards, current accounts, car/motorcycle insurance and motor conditional…

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