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Articles by Andrew Bonsall
Using internal transaction data to strengthen lending decisions
Lenders already hold vast amounts of transaction data across current accounts, credit cards, loans and savings products. The challenge is usability. Raw transaction data is typically structured for processing payments rather than understanding customer behaviour. Merchant strings are inconsistent, categories are unclear, and patterns are difficult to interpret at scale. As a result, much of the value within internal datasets remains underutilised.
How credit unions are using Open Banking to support financial inclusion in 2026
Credit unions are taking on a more prominent role in UK lending. In 2024, lending grew by just over 10% to £2.58 billion, even as many mainstream lenders reduced risk appetite. This growth reflects a shift in how people earn and manage money. More borrowers now have multiple income streams, variable hours, or gaps in employment. These patterns are increasingly common, yet still difficult to assess using traditional credit models.
Five signs your Open Banking data isn’t telling the full story
Open Banking has expanded access to customer transaction data at scale. More than 13 million people across the UK now use Open Banking-enabled services, and adoption continues to rise across financial services and adjacent sectors. Access, however, does not automatically translate into accuracy. Much of the infrastructure supporting Open Banking connections remains uneven.
How regulatory convergence is reshaping affordability assessments
Three regulatory developments landed in 2025 from different corners of financial services. On the surface, they appear unrelated. But when you look closer each one exposes the same fundamental gap in how the industry assesses affordability. The FCA's mortgage rule modifications in July, BNPL regulation taking effect next summer, and Ofgem's energy debt relief proposals all point to a common weakness in traditional assessment methodology.
How firms are building continuous vulnerability oversight ahead of 2026
Financial vulnerability in the UK continues to rise. More than six in ten adults now display at least one characteristic that could increase their risk if firms fail to respond appropriately, and around 20 million people are living in financially vulnerable circumstances, which is a marked increase in just two years. For many households, financial stability moves month by month. Income volatility, rising costs and unexpected shocks combine to create changes in affordability.
Why Open Banking data matters for fair and effective collections this Christmas
Household finances always come under strain in December, but the pressure entering the 2025 festive period is particularly acute. Recent national statistics show that nearly one in three UK households are struggling financially, with many already cutting back on essentials well before the holiday season begins. Against this backdrop, collections teams face a familiar but intensified challenge: how to recover debt responsibly while ensuring customers are treated fairly.
Making lending fairer: How spending data supports financial inclusion
Over 20 million adults in the UK are still underserved by the financial system. And it’s not because they’re financially irresponsible—it’s because traditional assessments don’t tell the full story. These individuals might be gig workers with irregular income, young professionals without a credit history, or renters who’ve always paid on time but never taken out a loan. The result? They’re often excluded by risk models that rely too heavily on credit files and fixed-income data.
Is transaction data the key to hyper-personalisation?
Research suggests that74%of consumers want more tailored banking experiences. Yet, despite this demand, traditional tools fall short of delivering what customers expect. Enter: Open Banking transaction data for hyper-personalisation. Real-time access to granular transaction data completely overhauls how businesses understand and engage with customers. And finally, it allows them to meet customer expectations.
Say goodbye to payslip guesswork with real-time income verification
Getting income verification right is critical, yet traditional methods often fall short. Payslips and bank statements, while useful, only offer periodic glimpses into a person’s financial situation. They’re prone to delays, inaccuracies, and even manipulation—leaving businesses to make critical decisions based on outdated information. This is where Open Banking steps in.
AperiData and PayPoint Roll Out Award-Winning Open Banking Solution to Citizens Advice Bureaus Across the UK
AperiData, the real-time credit reference agency and Open Banking platform, today announces that together with its partner PayPoint, it is now streamlining debt advice support for Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) Cambridge.
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