Lenders call for overhaul of banking regulation

Some of the UK’s leading lenders have expressed their frustrations with UK banking regulation in a new report from the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME).  AFME welcomes the FPC’s move to lower its benchmark for Tier 1 capital requirements, which reflects both the effectiveness of postcrisis reforms and improvements in risk measurement. However, AFME cautions that a reduction…

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Mortgage borrowing increased to £4.8bn in February

Latest Bank of England data has shown that net borrowing of mortgage debt by individuals increased to £4.8 billion in February, from £4.2 billion in January. The rise in February is also above the previous six-month average of £4.5 billion. The data also shows that net mortgage approvals for house purchases increased to 62,600 in…

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Consumer confidence hits record low

Consumer confidence in the UK has reached an all-time low, according to analysis by the British Retail Consortium (BRC) survey conducted by Opinium. The survey, taken from March 10 to March 13, revealed a drop in consumer expectations for the economy to -53, down from -30 the previous month. Personal finance expectations also fell to…

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Millions getting the basics wrong on credit scores and cost of borrowing

25th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #credit scores

More than 12 million adults with credit products aren’t confident they understand APR, one of the most important measures of borrowing cost, according to new research from Creditspring. The data also suggests that millions of UK adults are using loans, credit cards, and Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) products without fully understanding key terms or…

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Consumers reduced credit card spending in January

Latest FICO analysis of credit card data for January 2026 shows a post-Christmas reduction in spending as customers prioritised payments after the festive break. However, with spending lower year-on-year and increases in missed payments, the financial pressures that were a feature of the UK economy for the majority of 2025 have continued into the new…

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Mortgage barriers trigger fall in the number of Africans applying for home loans

The number of Africans applying for, or planning to apply for a UK mortgage is falling as foreign nationals continue to struggle to navigate the UK home loan system, according to research by Afin Bank. The research by the specialist lender found that 38% had a mortgage in 2026, compared with 48% in 2025 and…

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UK faces financial literacy crisis as households misjudge credit risks

The UK is facing a growing financial literacy crisis, with millions of households navigating credit without fully understanding how it works, according to new research from Creditspring.  As borrowing becomes faster and more accessible, consumers risk making costly, but entirely avoidable, financial decisions. Across the UK, understanding of even the most basic credit concepts remains…

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Consumer finance grew by 6% last year

Latest figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew by 10% in December 2025 compared with the same month in 2024. In 2025 as a whole, new business in this market was 6% higher than in 2024. The credit card and personal loans sectors together reported new business…

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Bank of Mum and Dad homeowners feel ‘pressured to live near parents’

First-time buyers who benefitted from the Bank of Mum and Dad are staying closer to home to appease their parents, and in some cases falling out with friends, due to the help they have received, according to the latest Compare the Market research. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of homeowners under the age of 35 who bought…

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Mortgage lending rises to its highest level since 2021

Latest UK Finance data has shown that mortgage lending grew strongly in 2025, rising by over 16 per cent to its highest level since 2021. Overall, 2025 was a year of growth for the mortgage market. The number of mortgages for house purchase grew by 16.3 per cent to reach 720,000 loans, the highest number…

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Later life lending increases by 15.1%

UK Finance has released its latest data on the later life mortgage showing that lending increased by 15.1% in Quarter 4 (Q4). The data showed that 41,400 new loans advanced to borrowers over 55 in Q4 2025. £810 million pounds of lending was to leant borrowers aged 65 to 70, up a huge 26.56%. A…

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FCA proposes action to close gaps in borrowers’ credit files

26th February 2026 Consumer Lending | #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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Consumer credit growth forecasted to remain flat in 2026

23rd February 2026 Consumer Lending | #consumer credit

The latest EY ITEM Club data has forecasted that consumer credit lending growth will remain largely flat at 5.8% in 2026 (from 6.1% in 2025), 5.7% in 2027, and 5.3% in 2028. Even though consumer credit remains expensive, demand is expected to remain steady over the coming years. This is largely due to a combination…

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