Tagged: united kingdom

February 26, 2026 @ 11:06 am By Omar Faridi  |  

London-based Allica Bank, the firm serving established small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), announced on 25 February 2026 the successful close of a $155 million Series D capital raise. The round, which values the company at nearly $1.2 billion, marks a major milestone for the fintech… Read More

February 25, 2026 @ 10:44 am By JD Alois  |  

BewDog, the UK brewery and pub operator, is struggling to keep afloat, according to reports. BrewDog at one point was a high-profile firm going to the public raise money online in both the UK and the US. According to a report by Food Manufacturer, founder… Read More

February 25, 2026 @ 3:47 am By Omar Faridi  |  

NatWest Group has wrapped up its senior leadership appointments for its new Venture Banking division with the hiring of Ruari Phillips as Head of Venture & Growth Finance. The move, announced on 23 February 2026, positions the bank to roll out a dedicated service in… Read More

February 24, 2026 @ 2:43 pm By JD Alois  |  

Last year, it was revealed that online investment platform Crowdcube had teamed up with the London Stock Exchange to provide access to late-stage, high-growth private firms listed on LSEG’s new Private Securities Market (PISCES). PISCES, or Private Intermittent Securities and Capital Exchange System, is a new regulatory framework designed… Read More

February 24, 2026 @ 8:19 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK Finance has spotlighted a critical evolution in how institutions manage detection tools. A recent blog post, authored by Aleksandra Bojarzyn of KPMG UK alongside colleagues Ashley Lai, Rachel Olson, and Alisheik Akbar Ali, urges firms to move past basic regulatory checkboxes. Financial crime models—used… Read More

February 22, 2026 @ 11:33 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across the UK are facing mounting financial strain, with concerns over rising business costs hitting a record high, according to the latest insights from finance brokers. The findings, drawn from iwoca’s SME Expert Index for the fourth quarter of 2025,… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 12:58 pm By JD Alois  |  

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has hit multiple “influencers” (or finfluencers) with financial penalties due to unauthorised promotion of FOREX trading, according to a statement from the regulator. While everyone should understand that you should ignore influencers who seek to provide investing advice, especially… Read More

February 20, 2026 @ 4:38 am By Omar Faridi  |  

Lloyds Banking Group has extended a £200 million revolving credit facility to Sovereign Network Group (SNG), reinforcing its role as one of the UK’s most active supporters of affordable housing. The new funding will help the housing association accelerate the construction of thousands of new… Read More

February 19, 2026 @ 12:06 pm By JD Alois  |  

Tokenized money, either stablecoins or central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), are on the forefront of the digital asset sector. Stablecoins were initially the go-to digital asset for crypto traders seeking to exit a holding and hold value in something safe. Today, stablecoins are growing rapidly,… Read More

February 19, 2026 @ 3:16 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The British Business Bank has announced two significant investments this week, underscoring its commitment to fueling innovation across high-potential sectors. Recently, the Bank revealed a cornerstone commitment of up to £45 million to Redrice Ventures’ targeted £75 million Fund II, aimed at nurturing the UK’s… Read More

February 19, 2026 @ 1:07 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The UK mortgage market demonstrated further resilience in the final three months of 2025, as both arrears and repossessions declined according to the latest industry data from UK Finance. Released recently this month, the figures highlight ongoing stability in homeowner and buy-to-let lending, with arrears… Read More

February 18, 2026 @ 3:13 pm By JD Alois  |  

Investing in early-stage ventures is not for the impatient nor risk-averse. However, in recent years, technological developments and regulatory changes have made this market segment more accessible to investors, including smaller ones. While still in early development, online capital formation is clearly the future, yet… Read More

February 18, 2026 @ 7:29 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK Finance has indicated that the landscape of financial transactions has evolved considerably and the United Kingdom has witnessed a remarkable transformation over the past 20 years. According to insights from UK Finance, this month marks the anniversary of when Chip and PIN technology fully… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 8:00 am By Omar Faridi  |  

London-headquartered startup Tangible has successfully closed a $4.3 million seed funding round. This investment aims to propel the development of its innovative artificial intelligence platform, which is tailored to assist companies in the hardtech and climate hardware spaces in securing debt-based financing. The round was… Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 6:46 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The Investment Fund for Wales (IFW) has achieved a significant milestone as it enters its third year, announcing its largest single investment to date: a £3.5 million equity stake in Advantiv Limited, an industrial services and procurement company based in Merthyr Tydfil and Pembroke Dock…. Read More

February 17, 2026 @ 12:44 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The United Kingdom has long grappled with a productivity shortfall compared to its G7 peers, such as France and Germany. A recent analysis from UK’s Starling Bank suggests that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) hold the key to bridging this divide. By embracing advanced financial… Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 8:59 am By Omar Faridi  |  

In a key move for the UK’s SME lending sector, Funding Circle (LSE: FCH), has unveiled an expanded collaboration with Waterfall Asset Management, backed by a fresh £700 million transaction. Announced this month, this development includes a two-year forward flow commitment from Waterfall, complemented by… Read More

February 13, 2026 @ 8:54 am By Omar Faridi  |  

UK Finance has indicated that the financial services sector is undergoing a profound transformation driven by artificial intelligence. From enhancing customer interactions through intelligent chatbots to bolstering fraud prevention and refining investment strategies, AI is reshaping how institutions operate. Yet, this integration brings a fresh… Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 10:32 am By Omar Faridi  |  

The global fintech landscape in 2025 as well as early 2026 reveals a state of contrasting developments across regions. In the United Kingdom, once a powerhouse of financial innovation, investment experienced a notable downturn. Funding for UK fintech companies dropped 21% in 2025, reaching approximately… Read More

February 12, 2026 @ 10:25 am By Omar Faridi  |  

CryptoUK, the trade association for cryptocurrency and blockchain enterprises, has issued its formal reply to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) Consultation Paper CP25/40. Released on December 16, 2025, this document outlines proposals to integrate essential crypto operations into the nation’s financial oversight system. The initiative… Read More