Four fifths of mortgage brokers see lending increase

New analysis by HSBC has found that 78 per cent of mortgage brokers have noticed a rise in the amount of lending agreed for their clients.  The poll shows that 93% of the brokers surveyed said that it is important for their clients to increase their borrowing power. Nearly two-thirds (63 per cent) of brokers…

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People are struggling to understand how credit works

23rd July 2025 Consumer Lending | #credit

A new survey from the UK’s leading credit-building business, Loqbox, has revealed that people in the UK are struggling to understand how credit works and what it means for their everyday lives. At a time when the average credit score in the UK is 644 on the Equifax scale and an estimated one in ten…

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Card spending fell by 0.1 per cent in June

17th July 2025 Consumer Lending | #card spending

Data from Barclays reveals a slight decline in consumer card spending, with a 0.1% fall recorded in June, less than the 1.0 per cent reported in May and below the latest CPIH inflation rate of 4.0 per cent. Confidence in household finances improved six percentage points to 73 per cent – a four-month high. Meanwhile,…

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Consumer finance grew by 2% in May 2025

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer finance new business grew in May 2025 by 2% compared with the same month in 2024. In the first five months of 2025, new business in this market was 4% higher than in the same period in 2024. The credit card and…

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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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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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FCA announces mortgage rule review

25th June 2025 Consumer Lending | #FCA

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has released a discussion paper on mortgage market rules to help boost home ownership. The FCA says that first-time buyers, the self-employed and people borrowing into retirement could benefit from further possible changes to mortgage rules. The regulator says that the mortgage market has changed considerably over the years. First-time…

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Later life mortgages increased by 33.5% in Q1

UK Finance has published its later life mortgage lending update for Q1 2025 which showed that there were 38,510 new loans advanced to older borrowers in Quarter 1 (Q1), increased 33.5 per cent year on year. The value of this lending was £6.1 billion, which was up 42.6 per cent compared with the same quarter…

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Nearly nine in ten Africans say they have been turned down for a mortgage

Nine in ten (87%) of Africans living and working in the UK have been turned down for a mortgage because of circumstances relating to the fact that they are a foreign national, according to research of 500 UK-based African diaspora by specialist lender Afin Bank. The research found that almost half (48%) said they were…

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Average first-time buyer mortgage term is now 31 years

New data from UK Finance has shown that the average first-time buyer mortgage term is now 31 years. The data also showed that mortgage lending surged in the first quarter of 2025 (Q1), driven by homebuyers seeking to complete purchases before changes to Stamp Duty took effect in April. Mortgage completions rose sharply in the first…

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2025 Credit & Collections Industry Award winners revealed

The winners of the 2025 Credit & Collection Industry Awards have been announced following a live in-person event yesterday (Thursday 22nd May) at the Milner Hotel in York There were eighteen winners (four of which were partnership wins) from the twenty awards categories, which were presented by awards compare’ Brennan Reece. The Credit & Collections…

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Buy Now Pay Later lenders to face same rules as banks

The Government has announced new legislation will see Buy Now Pay Later (BPNL)  lenders fully regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), meaning firms will be required to conduct affordability checks on consumers before offering loans. The announcement is backed by brand new reforms as part of the new  Consumer Credit Act. The new regulation…

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