International Personal Finance boosted by branding itself as Provident Financial in Poland

British-based overseas doorstep lender International Personal Finance today received a boost from selling its services under the Provident Financial banner.

The Leeds-based firm said it had increased its lending to customers by five per cent in the third quarter.

Listed in London, International Personal Finance operates across seven east European countries and Mexico.

Polish operations, which generate around a third of the group’s total revenues, was aided by the roll-out of “our Provident-branded digital offering”.

Trading in the firm’s shares was comparative calm, with International Personal Finance stock ending the day 0.39 per cent higher.

Read more: Star fund manager doubles-down in multi-million-pound Provident trade

First established as division Provident Financial in 1997, the firm was formally demerged in 2007 and set up as a separate entity.

International Personal Finance said Mexican trading had been hurt in September by the devastating earthquakes to hit the country. The lender said its loan collections had been hit meaning it would need to take a slightly higher impairment charge.

“European home credit and digital are tracking broadly in line… Overall, better performance in southern Europe should offset Mexico downgrades,” said Liberum analyst Portia Patel.

Read more: This lender’s shares have tanked on fears it will lose spot on FTSE 250