Subprime lending: A cornerstone for financial inclusion

Published 09 December 2025

A resilient subprime credit market is essential to providing access to credit among underserved groups and ensuring financial inclusion in a changing regulatory and competitive landscape. The size and shape of the subprime credit sector has changed considerably over the past decade which has been driven by a combination of regulatory reforms, shifting consumer behaviours and economic pressure.

A raft of changes: Consumer credit rules in 2026

Published 04 December 2025

Next year will mark a landmark moment for the UK consumer credit market. Regulators and Government are moving ahead with a package of reforms that will reshape how credit products are designed, marketed, and managed – as well as how lenders communicate with consumers. Many of these changes are already in motion and will reach key implementation stages in 2026.

Shared Duty, shared outcomes: Lenders and brokers – effective broker oversight

Published 03 December 2025

To customers, lenders and brokers are one experience. The FCA’s Consumer Duty makes that explicit: any firm that can determine or materially influence a retail outcome has responsibilities commensurate with its role. That has real consequences for distribution.

Building connections, gaining momentum: My first year as Membership Manager

Published 02 December 2025

When I joined the CCTA as Membership Manager, I knew I was stepping into a community with a proud history and an important role in supporting our industry. What I didn’t realise then was just how quickly I would come to feel part of something bigger, a network of people who are passionate about collaboration, learning, and making a difference.

The season to be jolly? How to avoid Christmas cheer turning into credit rear

Published 27 November 2025

As the festive season approaches, so too does the pressure to spend. From social media wish lists to endless retail promotions promising the ‘perfect’ Christmas, the expectation to buy, give and celebrate grows stronger each year.

Regulatory News:
26 November 2025

Published 26 November 2025

This week, the FCA and PRA jointly launched CP25/33: Regulatory fees and levies: policy proposals for 2026/27 – a consultation on proposed changes to how regulatory fees and levies will be raised from 2026/27. The regulator also announced that three individuals have been arrested due to suspected unauthorised debt activities.

Financial stress in the UK: What the latest data tells us

Published 26 November 2025

Financial wellbeing is a cornerstone of modern life, yet for millions of UK adults, it remains out of reach. New research on financial stress in the UK by LexisNexis® Risk Solutions reveals that the scale of financial exclusion and credit distress is still significant, despite some progress in recent years.

A good day to bury bad news? The FCA’s motor finance redress scheme consultation

Published 25 November 2025

So we finally have it. The FCA published its consultation, CP25/27, on its proposed motor redress scheme on 7 October 2025. All 360 pages of it. But there’s more: the FCA also published a press release and a statement to the market.

VRPs versus card payments: The future of loan repayments and collections

Published 20 November 2025

For lenders and consumer credit firms, reliable and cost-effective payment collection is critical. As card payments face increasing costs, failures, and compliance pressures, Variable Recurring Payments (VRPs), powered by Open Banking, are emerging as a transformative alternative. For lending businesses managing recurring payments, understanding this comparison is crucial for optimising revenue collection and reducing operational overheads.

AI that listens: Intelligent automation is changing the way we support borrowers

Published 19 November 2025

Lenders are continuously facing increased regulatory pressure, rising customer expectations, and ongoing economic uncertainty. The ability to provide timely, relevant, and sensitive support is more important than ever. Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly powerful enabler in this area, not just in assessing affordability or making lending decisions, but in how organisations engage with borrowers throughout the credit lifecycle.

Regulatory News:
19 November 2025

Published 19 November 2025

This week, the FCA published two speeches, its October board minutes and the Statement of Policy on statutory investigations into regulatory failure and producing reports.

The future of credit reporting governance: Challenges and priorities

Published 18 November 2025

The development of the new Credit Information Governance Body (CIGB) has reached a critical stage, with details now in place for how the model may operate. Over recent weeks, lenders have begun receiving initial information from the Credit Reference Agencies outlining the proposed governance structures, decision-making processes and the path towards subscription contracts.