Close Brothers to scale back lending after motor finance hit July 9, 2025 Close Brothers is set to scale back its premium finance division in a bid to cut costs and focus on its offerings for businesses. The lender said on Wednesday it would begin to prioritise insurance products designed for businesses in its commercial lines, which the firm said offered better risk-adjusted returns and long-term growth potential. This will [...]
Motor finance woes could make Close Brothers the next takeover target June 19, 2025 Close Brothers has fought tooth and nail in the motor finance battle but analysts have warned regulatory pressures may make the lender vulnerable to a takeover as banking juggernauts look to snap up the competition. The bank has had a bruising 12 months with its stock sinking to lows of 185p in November. Shares have [...]
FCA: Motor finance redress scheme must keep market afloat June 5, 2025 The Financial Conduct Authority has pledged any redress scheme it may implement on the motor finance industry must keep the market afloat. The watchdog said ensuring the integrity of the motor finance market, so it works well for future consumers, would be crucial framework for a redress scheme. The Supreme Court is expected to give [...]
Close Brothers slapped with a downgrade after rocky third-quarter May 26, 2025 Close Brothers was handed a downgrade by Peel Hunt analysts on Friday after its third-quarter update did little to calm investor nerves. The bank said fees and expenses were still at an “elevated level” in the recent quarter as net expenses jumped to £13.9m. This was up from £11.6m in the same period last year. [...]
Motor finance: Is Close Brothers heading for a car crash? May 22, 2025 Costs are mounting, loan books are shrinking, an existential motor finance ruling looms – is Close Brothers heading for disaster? It’s been a bruising 12 months for the lender, with its stock down over 25 per cent. Recent rallies have helped it claw back gains of over 65 per cent in the last six months [...]
Close Brothers shares drop as costs rise from motor finance threat May 21, 2025 Close Brothers said fees and expenses were still at an “elevated level” in a third-quarter update on Wednesday as motor finance troubles continued. The group’s net expenses hit £13.9m for the period, compared to £11.6m for the third-quarter in 2024. The lender said it continued to experience heightened “professional fees and expenses” following the Financial [...]
Ford on the hook for £61m in motor finance scandal April 22, 2025 Ford has set aside as much as £61m as it becomes the latest company to be stung by the motor finance scandal. The American car manufacturer’s subsidiary FCE Bank made the provision for its British motor finance division in its latest accounts. The Essex-based FCE Bank said the provision reflected “estimated economic outflow” should a [...]
Close Brothers shares crash as analysts expect ‘refined’ motor finance ruling April 4, 2025 Shares in FTSE 250 lender Close Brothers fell as much as eight per cent on Monday as the landmark motor finance hearing came to a close. At the Supreme Court case, Close Brothers attempted to overturn the Court of Appeal’s October ruling that it was unlawful for banks to pay a commission to a car [...]
Close Brothers shares soar past target price whilst FTSE 100 banks sink April 3, 2025 Shares in FTSE 250 lender Close Brothers rallied on Thursday morning whilst its banking rivals HSBC, Barclays and Standard Chartered tumbled. The lender made gains as high as ten per cent during early trading before consolidating around five percent, as the bank clawed back recent losses. Meanwhile, Standard Chartered led the FTSE 100 losses at [...]
Close Brothers shares fluctuate as motor finance hearing kicks off April 1, 2025 Shares in FTSE 250 lender Close Brothers were volatile during early trading on Tuesday as the first day of the motor finance hearing kicked off. The bank was one of the FTSE’s top fallers as markets opened after it suffered a downgrade from City broker Peel Hunt. The broker said the “extent” of guidance downgrades [...]