Annual lending statistics

In 2025, responsible finance providers lent a total of £348 million, reaching more than 148,000 customers who would otherwise have been excluded from affordable finance. 98% of the businesses which borrowed from CDFIs in 2025 had previously been declined by another lender. They lent £97 million to social enterprises and charities. Thanks to community lenders, people saved between £25 million and £52 million in interest repayments compared to high-cost lenders. More than 7,000 new jobs were created with the support of responsible finance.

• Total value: £348m
• Number of loans: 148,000+
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In 2024, responsible finance providers lent a total of £323 million, reaching 141,643 customers who would otherwise have been excluded from affordable finance. 94% of the businesses which borrowed from CDFIs in 2024 had previously been declined by another lender. They lent £96.7 million to 364 social enterprises. Thanks to community lenders, low-income households saved £31 million in interest repayments compared to high-cost lenders. More than 7,400 new jobs were created with the support of responsible finance.

• Total value: £323m
• Number of loans: 141,000+
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In 2022, responsible finance providers lent a total of £248m, reaching 94,744 customers who would otherwise have been excluded from affordable finance. 99% of the businesses which borrowed from CDFIs in 2022 had previously been declined by another lender. They lent £117 million to 416 social enterprises. Thanks to community lenders, low income households saved £28 million in interest repayments compared to high-cost lenders. More than 8,000 jobs were created or saved with the support of responsible finance.

• Total value: £248m
• Number of loans: 95,000
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In 2021 responsible finance providers lent a total of £228 million. 94% of the established businesses they lent to had been declined by another lender. They lent £73 million to 383 social enterprises, a 17% rise from 2020. Thanks to community lenders, low income households saved £30 million in interest repayments compared to high-cost lenders. More than 10,000 jobs were created or saved with the support of responsible finance.

• Total value: £228,049,750
• Number of loans: 160,995
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Between 1st April 2019 and 31st December 2020 responsible finance providers lent a total of £39 million in 42,000 loans to 31,000 individuals.

• Total value: £36 million
• Number of loans: 42000
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Due to the impact of COVID-19 the 2020 survey was delayed until 2021. The latest figures will be released in Spring 2021.

• Total value: £n/a
• Number of loans: n/a

In 2018 the industry continued to grow. Responsible finance providers lent a total of £254 million to 52,121 customers, and 14,430 jobs were created or saved with the support of responsible finance.

• Total value: £254
• Number of loans: 52,120
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In 2017 our members helped 34% more customers than in 2016. Responsible finance supported over 12,700 jobs, enabled the creation of 4,200 new businesses, enabled customers to deposit £3 million into savings accounts and supported the creation and survival of over 300 social enterprises.

• Total value: £235 million
• Number of loans: 61,163
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