Lending does not flow evenly across the UK. Regions with lower economic dynamism, less collateral, or weaker financial infrastructure tend to see sparser credit.
The British Business Bank has published devolved region reports (e.g. for Scotland) to illuminate local disparities. For instance, in Scotland, SMEs reported different access challenges than in England or Wales, partly due to geography, sector mix, and local policy.
We examine how lenders price geography: risk uplift in rural or post industrial zones, lower demand, or higher due diligence costs.
Some lenders are experimenting with regional credit hubs, local partnerships or mobile underwriting teams to better serve underserved areas. Future installments will assess whether such experiments reduce regional credit deserts.