The UK needs more inclusive credit

Be part of a new charter shaping fairer, data-led inclusive lending.

Some of our partners and members

Access to credit is essential to quality of life

Access to credit remains a significant hurdle for millions across the UK, creating financial barriers that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations. Traditional credit assessment methods often fail to capture true creditworthiness, perpetuating cycles of financial hardship during today's cost-of-living crisis.

20.3m

Financially vulnerable

The number of financially vulnerable people has significantly increased by 16% since 2022.

45%

Growth in borrowers

Employment instability and lower savings have increased credit usage to cover living costs.

22%

Declined from credit

More than one in five people in vulnerable circumstances have been declined for credit in past 12 months.

23%

Prevented access

12.1 million UK adults have issues accessing a financial product or service according to the Financial Lives Survey.

Supporting a better financial services industry

Inclusive lenders play a crucial role in the financial ecosystem, often serving as the last line of support for individuals before they turn to illegal money lending.
Despite their vital mission, these organisations face significant challenges that limit their effectiveness.

Limited visibility across the sector

When reporting is fragmented across three bureaus, lenders lack visibility over each other's new accounts and payment performance, leading to incomplete risk assessments.

Missing positive performance data

Without mechanisms to highlight successful repayments, consumers remain trapped in non-prime segments despite responsible behaviour, blocking their path to mainstream credit.

Prohibitive costs

Legacy bureaus and fraud networks designed for mainstream lenders come with price tags that make them inaccessible to social lenders, often beyond the budget of mission-focused organisations.

Lack of focus from legacy bureaus

Legacy bureaus focus on larger mainstream lenders, resulting in products, pricing, and support that fail to address the unique needs of social lenders and their customers.

Social lenders stand at the frontline of financial inclusion, providing critical support to those underserved by mainstream credit. Through the Inclusive Lending Charter, we're uniting the community around shared principles and innovative technology to address longstanding challenges in four key areas.

Centralising visibility

Create a unified view of credit data across social lenders, ensuring every member has comprehensive visibility over new accounts and payment performance.

Accurate reporting tools

Provide free access to tools like Delta that validate and improve data quality, eliminating the burden of credit reporting whilst enhancing accuracy.

Positive credit building

Establish mechanisms to highlight responsible repayment behaviour, creating pathways for consumers to rebuild credit and graduate to mainstream lending.

Affordable fraud protection

Faster corrections ensure a more accurate and up-to-date representation of consumers' financial situations.

Charter objectives

The Charter’s objectives guide our shared commitment to fair, inclusive, and responsible lending.

Objective

Example of action

Intended outcome

Centralised visibility

Implement monthly reporting of all accounts into the shared platform

Enable comprehensive view of borrower activity across all member lenders

Accurate Reporting Tools

Utilise Delta platform for data validation before submission

Reduce reporting errors by 85% and eliminate correction cycles

Affordable Fraud Protection

Share first payment default data and decline reasons across member lenders

Reduce first payment defaults to below 5% across the network

Positive Credit Building

Develop standardised reporting for positive payment behaviours

Create clear pathways for consumers to rebuild credit profiles and graduate to mainstream credit

Collaborative Intelligence

Participate in quarterly benchmarking sessions

Identify sector trends and collectively develop strategies for improvement

Why join the charter

Becoming a Charter member means aligning with a network of purpose-led lenders driving real impact with shared tools, data, and visibility to help you go further, together.

Shared standards

Align with a recognised ethical framework for inclusive, responsible lending.

Data access

Leverage real-time insights to better assess affordability and risk.

Impact visibility

Demonstrate your social impact through shared reporting and analytics.

Peer network

Collaborate with like-minded organisations committed to financial inclusion.

What charter members say

"As specialists in unsecured lending and fighting financial exclusion, we are proud to champion the Inclusive Lending Charter. Creating more accurate and timely credit information will be a huge benefit to both consumers and lenders. Together, we’re aiming to transform the UK credit landscape, because everyone deserves the chance to build their financial future."

Asif Nadeem

Chief Transformation Officer, Evlo

"Infact’s approach to credit information is refreshing and reflects the information we need to make better credit decisions and be more inclusive for customers with more complex financial lives."

Shiona Crichton

CEO, Moneyline

"The traditional credit scoring system simply wasn't designed for lenders like us - and so it doesn't help us achieve our mission of changing lives through better lending to the sub-prime market. Collaborating with our peers through the Inclusive Lending Charter will deliver us better data, ultimately benefitting our customers."

James Wilkinson

Head of Lending, Fair For You

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can become a Charter member?

The Charter is open to any lender, financial institution, or organisation with a social purpose that is committed to inclusive, responsible lending. Whether you're a credit union, CDFI, fintech, or community lender, if your mission aligns with the Charter's principles, you're welcome to join.

Is there a cost to joining the Charter?

There is no fee to join the Charter itself. Members receive free access to the Delta reporting platform and other shared resources. Usage-based fees apply only for certain API services if you choose to integrate them into your lending processes. Our pricing model is designed to be accessible for organisations of all sizes.

What does signing the Charter commit us to?

Signing the Charter indicates your commitment to its principles of inclusive, responsible lending. Members are expected to participate in data sharing to the extent appropriate for their organisation, contribute to the community through knowledge sharing, and work toward the Charter's objectives. There are no mandatory financial commitments or restrictive terms.

How is the Charter maintained and updated?

The Charter is governed by a steering committee comprised of member representatives and Infact team members. The committee meets quarterly to review progress, address challenges, and ensure the Charter continues to meet the needs of all members. Any changes to the Charter are discussed with members first and clearly communicated before implementation.

What happens after I register interest?

Once you register interest, an Infact representative will contact you within 48 hours to discuss your organisation's specific needs and how the Charter can support them. We'll provide you with the full Charter document, answer any questions, and guide you through the simple joining process. You'll also be invited to the next community event.

Can we share the Charter publicly once we sign?

Yes, we encourage members to publicly share their commitment to the Charter. We provide marketing materials and messaging guidelines to help you communicate your participation to customers, partners, and stakeholders. Many members find that their Charter participation strengthens their brand and demonstrates their commitment to financial inclusion.

How does data sharing work for members?

Data sharing operates on the principle of reciprocity – members contribute data and benefit from collective insights. The basic level involves monthly reporting of new accounts and payment performance in standard formats. More advanced integration options include real-time API reporting. All data sharing adheres to strict security protocols and regulatory requirements.

How quickly can we see benefits from joining?

Many members experience immediate benefits through access to the Delta platform, which streamlines reporting processes from day one. The broader benefits of improved fraud detection and enhanced credit risk insights typically emerge within 3-6 months as the network effect grows. Our onboarding process is designed to identify and prioritise quick wins for your organisation.

Join the Charter

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