21% of first-time buyers believe they need to be debt-free for mortgage approval

New research from Compare the Market suggests there  is still some uncertainty around how credit cards factor into mortgage applications, with 21% of prospective first-time buyers believing they need to be completely debt-free to be approved for a  mortgage1 The survey findings indicate that around one in ten prospective first-time buyers believe they must never…

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Man jailed for running illegal sale-and-rent-back scheme

A man has been jailed for running an illegal sale-and-rent-back scheme targeting struggling homeowners. Rajinder Gill and his accomplices were sentenced for their involvement in a sale-and-rent-back scheme. Gill has been sentenced to two and a half years in prison for running a sale-and-rent-back scheme without being authorised and illegally providing credit agreements and mortgages.…

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Revolut receives banking licence approval

12th March 2026 Company News | #banking licence

Revolut Bank UK has announced that it has received regulatory approval from the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) to exit the mobilisation phase, and launch as a bank in the UK. The launch comes with an existing base of 13 million UK customers and follows Revolut’s recent commitment to invest £3bn ($4bn) and create 1,000 high-skilled…

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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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FLA Members provided £163 billion of new lending in 2025

9th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #lending

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that FLA members across the asset finance, consumer finance and motor finance markets provided a record £162.8 billion of new lending in 2025, 5% higher than in 2024. Of this total £40.3 billion was provided to businesses for investment in machinery, equipment, and vehicles,…

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One in three have done nothing to prepare for their death

6th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #cost of death

New research from Aegon’s Money has found that one in three adults has done nothing to prepare for their death, while 83% of adults say financial preparation for death matters with 43% deeming  it ‘very important.’ A third (32%) have taken no steps at all, with only 38% having written a will, 26% having communicated…

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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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Consumer car finance grew by 2% in 2025

6th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #car finance

New figures released by the Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) show that consumer car finance new business grew 15% by value and 12% by volume in December 2025, compared with the same month in 2024. In 2025 as a whole, new business volumes grew by 2% compared with 2024. The consumer new car finance market…

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Motor finance compensation scheme to include implementation period

4th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #motor finance

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced that it is likely to make several changes to the proposed compensation scheme after receiving more than 1,000 responses to its consultation on the plans. The FCA said that final decisions on the scheme have not yet been made.  Given the scale and complexity of the scheme, there…

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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 approvals fall to two year low

Latest figures from the Bank of England show net mortgage approvals for house purchases fell to 60,000 from 61,000 in December, the fourth consecutive monthly drop and the lowest figure since January 2024. The decline follows uncertainty surrounding the November Budget. Remortgaging approvals also decreased slightly to 38,100, from 38,400 in December. Net borrowing of…

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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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BNPL use increases among middle-aged households

A study by the University of Bristol’s Personal Finance Research Centre and Aberdeen Group Charitable has shown a sharp increase in those aged 40-59 using Buy-Now-Pay-Later loans (BNPL). These loans are currently accessed by 18% of households (up from 15% in May 2025), and while BNPL use is highest among younger households, growth has been…

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