Consumer Finance

Demand for consumer credit gross lending is set to continue to increase in 2023, despite the South African Reserve Bank’s consecutive rises in interest rates to stabilise inflationary pressures. This trend has been driven mainly by declining…

One of the most significant global issues concerning consumer credit is BNPL (Buy Now Pay Later) services, which enable consumers without sufficient funds to make an immediate purchase, locally known as “thin filers”, to obtain goods and pay at a…

Buy now pay later (BNPL) continues to grow in popularity, particularly among young adults, and there is a notable shift to BNPL loans. A significant number of financial services providers have launched their own BNPL programmes, including Banco…

Consumer credit suffered during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, when economic uncertainty saw the postponement of larger purchases. While gross lending surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2022, consumers remained cautious, amid much uncertainty…

The government's relaxation of control measures on digital banks has paved the way for a broadened range of financial services offered by pure digital banks. Although the impact on traditional banks and digital wallet operators remains relatively…

Thailand’s economic performance in 2023 is improving as the pandemic effects subside and private consumption rebounds. Other positive factors include the surge in Thai and foreign travellers, as well as improvements in the service sector, which is…

The cost of living crisis remains a pressing issue for Czech consumers in 2023, with higher energy and grocery bills squeezing disposable incomes. People are still struggling to pay their bills and are therefore taking out loans or buying on credit…

Lending institutions in the Netherlands are adapting their lending norms to accommodate inflation and the increasing cost of living. These updated lending norms predominantly affect consumer credit. By incorporating rising prices into their…

Towards the end of the review period consumer loans has shown continuous current value growth. In 2023, current value growth is being driven by credit cards and various personal lending options, particularly salary-based general purpose loans.…

Banks in the United Arab Emirates continue to offer attractive card lending offers in 2023. With many credit cards now having appealing credit limits depending on the salary range and credit score of consumers, many banks are offering to convert…

Numerous consumers have increased their reliance on credit to enable them to afford higher retail prices in 2023, as the UK economy has continued to be impacted by high inflation and the rising cost of living. As a result, card lending is set to…

2022 and 2023 saw some of the most rapid increases in lending interest rates in US history. During the pandemic, many interest rates approached record lows, leading consumers to refinance debt, and leading to a generally free lending environment. In…

The year 2023 witnessed a decline in the number of consumers obtaining personal consumer credit. As Inflation and the cost of living remained high, consumers relied on cash withdrawals from credit cards when they needed small sums of money. This…

The biggest story in consumer lending in 2023 is the issuing of the new Circular by the State Bank of Vietnam, to promote consumer lending for daily needs. To encourage banks to increase their lending activities, including consumer lending, the State…

This report examines how the future of globalisation, the future of work and education and future priorities and preferences have changed for the consumer finance industry. Innovation in payments are driving greater merchant acceptance and consumer…

The credit market in Argentina remains highly restricted, primarily constrained to personal loans. The funds that banks receive from their clients are predominantly funnelled into a financial instrument called Leliq, which offers a lucrative…

The major talking point of 2023 from a consumer lending point of view has been the increase in interest rates over the year as a result of the RBA (Reserve Bank of Australia) attempting to address high inflation rates. Due to higher interest rates,…

Loans became more expensive for consumers in 2023, as a result of the European Central Bank's interest rate policy, with rates rising in response to high inflation in the EU since the energy crisis broke out in 2022 and the war in Ukraine began. The…

Brazilians are well-acquainted with dividing payments into instalments, a practice prevalent in both traditional retail credit (known as "crediário") and credit card payments. The compounding effects of inflation, a challenging job market, and…

Canada's credit landscape in 2023 is showing rises in lending, with more Canadians gaining access to lending products via traditional financial institutions and private lenders. At the same time, as the cost of living bears down on Canadians, thanks…