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…
Read moreThe 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…
Read moreFirst-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…
Read moreLatest 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…
Read moreIndependent risk consultancy, Broadstone, has announced that it has agreed to acquire Rockstead, a specialist supplier of governance, risk and consultancy services across the financial services market. The transaction will strengthen Broadstone’s capabilities in its growing banking & credit advisory vertical, which has offered a range of credit risk, data analytics and modelling services, following…
Read moreLatest 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…
Read moreA 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…
Read moreUK 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…
Read moreKatharine Braddick CB has appointed as the next Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation at the Bank of England and Chief Executive of the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA), succeeding Sam Woods, whose term ends in June 2026 and has served as Deputy Governor for Prudential Regulation since 2016. Braddick brings a rare mix of private sector banking experience…
Read moreLenders 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…
Read moreFebruary is on track to record the highest number of new home listings in a decade, according to Zoopla’s latest House Price Index. Combined with falling mortgage rates, the market is currently looking particularly good for first time buyers, with 40% of homes for sale now cheaper to buy with a mortgage than rent. Reflecting…
Read moreThe 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…
Read moreThe Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) reported a 174% rise in actions against influencers last year, including the first arrests for promoting high-risk investments. The FCA says that financial advice on social media has become increasingly risky, with ‘finfluencers’ promoting dubious financial products, with seven reality TV stars pleading guilty to illegal promotions, receiving fines between…
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