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FCA outlines proposals to close gaps in borrowers’ credit files


By Michael Griffiths

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out new proposals to give lenders access to more comprehensive information to support lending decisions by closing gaps in borrowers’ credit files and ensuring these more accurately reflect people’s financial circumstances.

The regulator said it was consulting on designating credit reference agencies (CRAs)


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St. James’s Place closes 2025 with record FuM

St. James’s Place (SJP) has announced that it closed 2025 with a record £220bn in funds under management (FuM), up from £190.2bn a year previously

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Average LTV on UK mortgaged home drops to 59% – IMLA

The average loan-to-value (LTV) ratio on mortgaged homes across the UK has fallen to 59%, new analysis from the Intermediary Mortgage Lenders Association (IMLA) has revealed

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Market Financial Solutions enters administration

Market Financial Solutions has made an application to enter administration as it works through an "unexpected banking-related issue"

6.5 million current accounts with £10k earn no interest

Over six and a half million current accounts containing balances of over £10,000 are earning no interest, significantly eroding the value of the money, Spring has revealed

AI use by advice professionals doubles in past year – The Lang Cat

The number of advice professionals already using AI as part of their business has increased from 29% to 60% in the last year, The Lang Cat has revealed
Landlords still unsure of how RRA changes will work in practice

Almost three quarters (73%) of landlords are still unsure about aspects of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA), Paragon Bank research has found

Financial advice firm The Retirement Studio launches

A new financial advice firm providing retirement planning, pension advice, and investment solutions, The Retirement Studio, has launched following authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

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IHT receipts remain on track for record year

Inheritance tax (IHT) receipts totalled £7.1bn between April last year and January, with the latest figure signalling another record haul, HMRC has revealed

Average FTB relief claimant paid over £4k in stamp duty last year

The average stamp duty charge paid by a first-time buyer relief claimant was £4,073 among those who had liable transactions in 2024/25, new Freedom of Information (FOI) data has shown

New IHT rules risk ‘dry’ tax bills for families, law firm warns

The new rules around inheritance tax (IHT) risk “dry” tax bills and future disputes for farmers and private business owners, Irwin Mitchell has warned

HoL calls for changes to IHT on pensions proposals amid ‘significant’ risks to PRs

The House of Lords (HoL) Economic Affairs Finance Bill Sub-Committee has urged the Government to make changes to its proposals bringing pensions into the scope of inheritance tax (IHT), particularly in relation to personal representatives (PR)

FCA outlines proposals to close gaps in borrowers’ credit files

The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has set out new proposals to give lenders access to more comprehensive information to support lending decisions by closing gaps in borrowers’ credit files and ensuring these more accurately reflect people’s financial circumstances. The regulator said it was consulting on designating credit reference agencies (CRAs)

Landlords still unsure of how RRA changes will work in practice

Almost three quarters (73%) of landlords are still unsure about aspects of the Renters’ Rights Act (RRA), Paragon Bank research has found

FCA pension transfer proposals ‘anti-consumer and anti-competitive’ - AJ Bell

The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) proposed reforms to non-advised pension transfers have been branded as "anti-consumer and anti-competitive” by AJ Bell, which warned they risk undermining years of progress on improving transfer times

Market Financial Solutions enters administration

Market Financial Solutions has made an application to enter administration as it works through an "unexpected banking-related issue"

Financial advice firm The Retirement Studio launches

A new financial advice firm providing retirement planning, pension advice, and investment solutions, The Retirement Studio, has launched following authorisation from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)

6.5 million current accounts with £10k earn no interest

Over six and a half million current accounts containing balances of over £10,000 are earning no interest, significantly eroding the value of the money, Spring has revealed

Investing outpaces cash ISA growth in last year

Stocks and shares ISAs outpaced cash ISAs between February 2025 and 2026 respectively, with fund growth from investing averaging 11.2% in the past 12 months, Moneyfacts has found

31,300 complaints sent to Ombudsman in 2025

The Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) received 31,300 complaints about fraud and scams in 2025, new data has shown

Self-employed workers more than twice as likely to think they will never retire

Self-employed workers are more than twice as likely as employed workers to believe they will never retire, according to research from the Get Britain Pension Ready campaign

Senior plc Pension Plan secures £180m buy-in with M&G

The Senior plc Pension Plan has completed a £180m buy-in with M&G, securing the pension benefits of over 3,000 members

Later life professional advice demand remains 'untapped' – Just Group

There is "untapped" demand for professional advice in later life care, Just Group has stated

People at risk of poor decisions amid lack of understanding of retirement options

Adults in the UK are at risk of making poor financial decisions amid a lack of understanding of retirement options, research from Hargreaves Lansdown has shown

Majority of Brits have no investments amid lack of understanding

More than half (55%) of British adults do not have any investments amid a general lack of understanding, according to Aviva

St. James’s Place closes 2025 with record FuM

St. James’s Place (SJP) has announced that it closed 2025 with a record £220bn in funds under management (FuM), up from £190.2bn a year previously

Alternative Bridging enquiries jump 50% following proposition overhaul

Alternative Bridging Corporation has announced a 50% increase in development finance enquiries after the firm overhauled its proposition last month

One million JISAs received no deposits in 2023/24

Almost a million of the UK’s 2.37 million junior ISAs (JISAs) received no contributions in the 2023/24 tax year, Nottingham Building Society has revealed

AI use by advice professionals doubles in past year – The Lang Cat

The number of advice professionals already using AI as part of their business has increased from 29% to 60% in the last year, The Lang Cat has revealed

Norton Home Loans adds DIP and ONS affordability to broker panel

Norton Home Loans has enhanced its broker portal by introducing an online decision in principle (DIP) and a new two-tier affordability assessment using Office for National Statistics (ONS) modelled expenditure

Half of UTB’s bridging loan valuations now automated

United Trust Bank (UTB) Bridging has revealed that more than half (52%) of its valuations for bridging loans are now delivered through automated valuation models (AVMs)

Nationwide becomes first lender to allow digitally-signed mortgage deeds

Nationwide has become the first lender to allow mortgage deeds to be signed electronically and without the need for a witness

News in brief - 26 February 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Skipton Building Society, The Mortgage Works and Fleet Mortgages

RAW Capital Partners joins Brickflow

Brickflow has announced that RAW Capital Partners has joined its lending panel to give brokers and borrowers on its platform access to a range of short-term property loans

Yorkshire BS partners with Plain Numbers

Yorkshire Building Society has agreed to a new partnership with Plain Numbers, an organisation dedicated to helping companies communicate numbers clearly and effectively

News in brief - 25 February 2026

Today's round up of developments coming out of the consumer finance space, featuring Pepper Money, Landbay and Inspired Lending

BLOG: Are added-value services the key to engaging clients in protection?

Scottish Widows Protection Director, Rose St Louis, discusses how reframing protection conversations can help to engage clients

BLOG: Award-winning lending, built brick by brick

Saffron for Intermediaries discusses its latest lending offering on the MoneyAge blog

BLOG: Doing Good is Good Business

MoneyAge Awards winner Bespoke Advice discusses the key fundamentals of good financial planning in our latest blog piece

Lending with a difference: A conversation with Family Building Society’s Nathan Waller

With demand growing for more flexible mortgage solutions, Family Building Society is carving out a strong reputation in later life, family-assisted, and buy to let lending. We speak to Nathan Waller, Business Development Manager at Family Building Society, to discuss how they’re supporting brokers, addressing complex borrower needs, and adapting to an evolving market.

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Funding home adaptations: The changing needs in later life planning

The Bank of Family

Delivering A Consumer-Focused Later Life Lending Sector for 2026 and Beyond

Later Life Lending: It’s more than just equity release or retirement interest only (RIO)

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