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"Renewed pressure on household budgets will weaken demand for loans used for discretionary big-ticket purchases, but strengthen the case for debt consolidation."
George Zaborowski, Senior Market Analyst
Demand for personal loans is still closely tied to discretionary medium-to-large-ticket purchases, but a meaningful proportion of consumers also borrow to manage financial pressure. Indeed, making ends meet or debt consolidation are the main reasons for borrowing for a quarter of UK consumers considering a personal loan in 2026.
Renewed inflationary pressure is likely to increase demand for loans used to cover shortfalls in household finances, creating a near-term growth opportunity for providers. With large retail banks more focused on prime borrowers, smaller and more agile fintech and specialist lenders may be better placed to capture this demand via their advanced data-driven underwriting and credit management capabilities.
The challenge is that trust in personal loan providers remains weak, with relatively few consumers believing lenders act in their best interests and most preferring a well-known provider to a lesser-known brand. This leaves many, especially under-35s, more inclined to consider alternatives such as credit cards, overdrafts and BNPL. Stricter BNPL regulation coming into place could improve the competitive position of personal loans in lower-value borrowing, but providers will still need to communicate more clearly about when and why a personal loan offers better value than more easily accessible forms of credit.
For the purposes of this Report, Mintel has used the following definitions:
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