UK credit unions report surge in loans after demise of payday lenders Banking Lending by UK credit unions has surged in recent years, following the collapse of major payday lenders and cost of living pressures fueling a rise in demand for credit.
Wonga compensation claims four times higher than expected The number of customers that have unresolved complaints with Wonga over mis-sold loans after the payday lender collapsed into administration is four times higher than originally estimated. Wonga’s administrators Grant Thornton told the Treasury Committee that as many as 40,000 consumers could be affected, almost four times the 10,500 estimate given by the Financial Ombudsman [...]
Leading UK charities call for legal guidance on ethical investments Leading UK charities have called on the government to provide legal guidance on ethical investment. In an open letter, signed by charities such as Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, the RSPB and the Quakers, the group also asked for specific guidance on whether they should invest in companies that contribute to dangerous climate change. Read more: [...]
Monzo ‘absolutely not’ the next Wonga, says founder amid high-cost loan speculation December 5, 2018 Monzo is “absolutely not” going to be the next Wonga, its founder has said, amid speculation the digital bank was planning to move into the high-cost loan space. Tom Blomfield, whose up-and-coming challenger bank this morning completed a landmark £20m crowdfunding round powered by its own customers, told CityAM he was “categorically not working [...]
Banking challenger Chetwood builds the world’s first dynamic loan as fintech startups look on November 30, 2018 Welsh banking challenger Chetwood Financial has today unveiled the world’s first so-called dynamic loan, where the interest rate falls as borrowers improve their credit score. Built in collaboration with credit rating firm Clearscore and launched under its brand Livelend, the loan uses technology to monitor a customer’s credit score and reduce its rate at three-month [...]
Alternative finance lender Oakam is trying to help the unbanked November 30, 2018 Payday loan companies get a bad rap. And it’s easy to see why, considering the predatory businesses practices and extortionate interest rates charged by lenders like Wonga, which collapsed into administration this year. High-interest, short-term loans were back in the news this week, with the announcement that the fintech startup Monzo is considering offering such [...]
Regulator warns payday lenders over risky loans October 15, 2018 The Financial Conduct Authority has written to the bosses of payday lending firms, urging them to consider ‘affordability risk’ before making loans to financially vulnerable borrowers. In a ‘Dear CEO’ letter sent today, the FCA warned that lenders should “take prompt action” to ensure they maintain compliance with regulations that force them to assess customers’ [...]
Archbishop of Canterbury to lead effort to tackle £400m Wonga bill September 15, 2018 The archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby is to lead an effort to pay for the £400m loan bill left by Wonga after the payday loan provider collapsed last month. The Guardian reported that Welby will meet investors and charitable foundations at Lambeth Palace next week to co-ordinate an effort to rescue around 200,000 customers who are faced [...]
Wonga revamp adds money-back guarantee, ditches puppets – and aims new products at “hard working people” May 19, 2015 Wonga’s re-brand is here: the payday lender is to roll out new television adverts aimed at its new middle-class target base. It is also offering a money-back guarantee as part of an image revamp aimed at repairing the reputation damage it suffered during a tumultuous 2014. It will keep the Wonga name, despite speculation about [...]
Payday lender Wonga to drop toxic name and advert puppets after losses April 21, 2015 Payday lender Wonga is planning to replace its toxic brand with a new name and a range of products beyond its core payday lending business, its bosses said yesterday. The online loans firm made a £37.3m loss in 2014 on falling lending and a sharp rise in costs. It is under financial strain as [...]