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…

Read more

Homeowners looking at £4k mortgage cost hike as a result of Middle East conflict

Mortgage rates have risen significantly since the start of the war in Iran, leaving homeowners facing steep increases in monthly payments – at a time when living costs are already rising across the board, warns Sprive. According to Moneyfacts, the lowest available 2-year fixed deal before the start of the conflict in the Middle East…

Read more

Government announces crackdown on costly subscription traps

7th April 2026 Consumer Lending | #subscriptions

The Government has announced a crackdown on unwanted and misleading subscriptions, which will save consumers around £400 million every year. The new rules will make it simpler and far less painful to escape unwanted subscriptions, stop people from being silently rolled onto expensive contracts and ensure that companies are upfront and open when selling subscription…

Read more

FCA publishes redress scheme for the motor finance sector

31st March 2026 Consumer Lending | #motor finance

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has announced a £9.1 billion motor finance redress scheme, a significant reduction from earlier estimates of £11 billion. The number of qualifying agreements has decreased from 14.2 million to 12.1 million, leading to lower overall costs. Millions of motor finance customers will receive compensation this year under a Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)…

Read more

New accessibility guidelines launched for payment cards

UK Finance has launched a new Accessible Cards Code of Practice, designed to help customers with accessibility needs or impaired vision use payment cards in-store and online. The Code means the UK is the first country in the world to have national common accessibility guidelines for flat printed payment cards. The new guidelines cover physical…

Read more

Bank of England streamlines reporting and disclosure requirements

The Bank of England and Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) have finalised a package of changes to firms’ resolution reporting and disclosure requirements which reduces the burden of regulation while maintaining a robust and credible regime that supports growth and competition. The UK’s resolution regime is designed to ensure that banks can fail safely, without disruption…

Read more

PSR announces card fees, fraud and payments reform plans

The Payment Systems Regulator  (PSR) has set out its work programme for 2026/27 highlighting its focus on tackling high card fees, maintaining world-leading protections against Authorised Push Payment (APP) fraud and supporting innovation and competition across UK payments. This year’s work plan sets out how the regulator will build on recent reforms, take forward further…

Read more

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…

Read more

Interest rates hold at 3.75% – industry reaction

The Bank of England has announced that it has held interest rates at 3.75% with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) voting unanimously to keep interest rates on hold. The Bank says that a “shock to the economy” sparked by the war in the Middle East could push inflation as high as 3.5% later this yeart,…

Read more

Government announces Financial Ombudsman Service reforms

17th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #FOS reform

Plans to reform the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) have been revealed by the Government. The reforms will return the FOS to its original role as a simple, impartial dispute resolution service that resolves complaints quickly and effectively, while ensuring it operates within a clearer and more predictable framework alongside the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). The…

Read more

Fraud hits record levels

13th March 2026 Consumer Lending | #fraud

Fraud prevention service, Cifas has revealed that more than 444,000 cases were recorded to the National Fraud Database (NFD) in 2025, the highest number ever recorded in a single year, and a 6% increase on 2024. The scale of fraud continues to accelerate, with Cifas members recording more than 1,200 cases every day and preventing…

Read more

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.…

Read more

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…

Read more