UK households and businesses received £69 billion of new finance from Finance & Leasing Association (FLA) members in the first five months of 2026, up 4% on the same period last year, according to new figures published today.
The new figures are being released at the same time of the FLA's first Impact Report.
The report, The Hidden Engine Behind UK Growth, reveals how finance provided by FLA members is helping businesses invest in equipment, technology and vehicles, while enabling millions of consumers to access transport and other essential purchases.
FLA members provided £2.4bn of new lending to finance agricultural equipment in 2025. In the first five months of 2026 they provided a further £1.2bn, up 12% on the same period last year.
In the consumer battery electric car market, the finance FLA members provided grew by 56% in 2025 and then increased by 69% in the first five months of 2026. FLA members financed 93% of all private new battery electric car sales in the first five months of 2026.
The findings come as policymakers seek to stimulate investment, improve productivity and accelerate economic growth across the UK.
Shanika Amarasekara MBE, Chief Executive of the Finance & Leasing Association, said:
"Behind business investment, job creation and many of the purchases households make every day is finance that enables economic activity to happen.
"As the UK looks to boost productivity and unlock growth, access to finance will remain critical. This report demonstrates the scale of the sector's contribution to businesses, communities and households across every region of the country."
Nigel Terrington CBE, Chief Executive of Paragon Bank, said: "Finance is central to determining whether businesses can invest, grow and take the next step. These latest lending figures by FLA members reveal the scale at which our sector is supporting real and tangible economic activity.
"The launch of this report enables us to move the conversation from assumption to evidence, showing how access to funding is a fundamental condition for growth, especially for SMEs.
"There is a clear opportunity now to build on this contribution. With a more supportive policy environment, specialist lenders will be well positioned to broaden support for business investment and innovation - ultimately creating a stronger and more resilient economy for the UK.”
The report includes examples of finance supporting growth and investment across the UK economy:
- Aerospace tooling specialist Datum Tool Design secured £1.6 million of funding from Paragon to invest in advanced manufacturing equipment and expand operations in Northern Ireland.
- A third-generation dairy farm in West Wales received £360,000 from Propel to invest in automation technology aimed at increasing productivity and strengthening resilience.
- Reed, one of the UK's largest recruitment businesses, introduced an electric vehicle salary sacrifice scheme for more than 4,000 employees with support from Tusker, helping advance its employee benefits and sustainability objectives.
