The Lending Standards Board

I am delighted to be on a panel at the Contact Centres in Financial Services Summit today, hosted by Call & Contact Centre Expo UK. I’ll be joining a discussion alongside Rachel Williams and Elaine Lee FCIM MCIOF to highlight how financial services firms can serve vulnerable customers in a digital space, digging into how organisations can harness technology to boost accessibility, inclusion, and support for vulnerable customers. Looking forward to hearing from a lineup of brilliant speakers today. Hope to see you there! #Vulnerability #Accessibility #DigitalSupport #FinancialInclusion

What risks does fraud pose to UK SMEs, and how can SMEs mitigate fraud risks to ensure they can continue to thrive? Join me at the Credit Connect UK Commercial Credit & Collections Conference this afternoon to hear more.    I'll be joining Mark Halstead and Martin Kirby on a panel to talk about business risks with a focus on fraud. Do drop me a comment if you're coming along - look forward to seeing you there! #CommercialCreditandcollections #fraudprevention #SMEprotection

The financial services sector has undergone substantial changes over the past business year. We've seen the rise of digital products, a push towards net-zero, and the integration of AI, while challenges like the cost-of-living crisis and #scams continue to have an impact on personal and business customers. While firms tackle these challenges, it's vital that customer outcomes remain fair and consistent. That's why we've been sharing insights and guidance on how to address emerging risks and to ensure protections for customers don't wavier. From identifying customers at risk of financial difficulty, to enhancing #scam protections, or promoting #FinancialInclusion, you can read a whistle stop tour of our Year in Insight in our latest blog post: https://lnkd.in/eaDWU2a8 #FinancialServices #CustomerProtections #Innovation #Sustainability

I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be participating in two panels at Credit Strategy’s #CreditWeek. Over the course of today and tomorrow, I'll be discussing how firms can support the UK’s 11m Deaf and hard of hearing consumers and address the lack of access to credit for #EthnicMinorities. I’ll be sharing insights from our latest report at the The Lending Standards Board and ensuring fairer #AccessToFinance. We’ll be exploring the importance of financial inclusion, ongoing industry efforts, and innovative solutions tackling customer service bias. I'll be joining Kathryn Townsend, Head of Customer Vulnerability at Nationwide Building Society, Anouski Roberts, Head of Engagement and Inclusion and Diversity at NewDay, Tim Scannell Accessibility Consultant, Vanessa Northam, Head of Charity Development at StepChange Debt Charity and Diana Chrouch OBE, Special Advisor to the APPG for Ethnic Minority Business Owners and Chair of the Ethnic Minority Business Policy for the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) Looking forward to sharing insights and discussing these crucial topics!   #Inclusion #FinancialAccessibility #Credit #Collections #Risk #Vulnerability

Pleased to be speaking at the Credit Strategy #CreditWeek event today. Join me on June 17th for the panel "How could regulatory priorities change post-election?". Join me and other panellists Ian King of Sky News, Chris Leslie CEO of Credit Services Association, Jonathan Staward Prof. PgDip (GRC) Chief Compliance & Risk Officer of Equifax UK, and Philip Belamant CEO and Co-Founder of Zilch. #Credit #Collections #Risk #Innovation #Vulnerability #Data #Innovation

Take Five to Stop Fraud's newest initiative, #ScamSceptible, is a useful tool designed to help you understand how different factors like stress or fatigue could make you more susceptible to #scams. Preventing scams is the only way to truly protect customers from the harm they cause. Learn more: https://buff.ly/3xilOR9 #FraudPrevention #FinancialEducation

One year on from our 2023 report on access in #banking for Deaf customers, our new report shows the progress made by sector. Featured in The Fintech Times by Thomas Bleach, it shows how UK banks and lenders are stepping up to improve #accessibility. SigningBanks.uk launch is a key milestone!   Read more: https://bit.ly/4aeT2OA

I'm delighted to have been asked to join a roundtable at the ClimbUK festival today, an event dedicated to innovation, investment, and collaboration!   I'll be spotlighting our recent research on access to finance for ethnic minority business owners, and discussing how payment service providers can ensure their services are inclusive.    Looking forward to sharing insights with firms, SMEs and key industry stakeholders, as we continue our work in this space. See you there!   Read more on our work below.   Diana Chrouch OBE   #Financialinclusion #Financeforall #Climb24

We are pleased to announce that IPSUM HOLDINGS LIMITED has become the latest firm to achieve full registration to the LSB’s business Standards, demonstrating their commitment to prioritising good outcomes in #SMElending. The business Standards play an unmatched role in extending protections to the UK’s SME community and are the only regulatory protections available for many SMEs. During a challenging time for many SMEs in the UK, adherence to the Standards provides Ipsum Capital’s customers assurance of its dedication to achieving the fairest outcomes. Read more here: https://bit.ly/3KudrFa #BankingStandards #BusinessBanking #EthicalLending

This week’s report on SME Finance by the House of Commons Treasury Committee highlighted some of the challenges posed to small businesses by personal guarantees. We’ve been looking at personal guarantees following our own recent consultation on the business Standards, and will be publishing updated guidance for registered firms in the summer. With the FCA’s ability to act in this area limited by its regulatory perimeter, it’s a reminder that the LSB business Standards are the only protections available for most UK SMEs – and #SMEs should always check their finance provider is registered with the LSB to ensure they benefit from the highest standards of protection. Read the Committee's report here: https://lnkd.in/eyDEU3-b