---
title: UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – H1 2026
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Payments & Fintech
period: H1 2026
coverage_start: '2026-01-01'
coverage_end: '2026-06-30'
date_published: '2026-09-01'
last_updated: '2026-09-01'
organisations: 12
articles_analysed: 1986
mentions: 861
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/data.json
summary: Wise had the highest average monthly share of coverage (25.4%) among 12 companies
  in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of PayPal (13.0%)
  and Klarna (12.3%).
---

# UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker: H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026)

> Wise had the highest average monthly share of coverage (25.4%) among 12 companies in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 June 2026, ahead of PayPal (13.0%) and Klarna (12.3%). Allica Bank had the most favourable net tone (+91). Omniscan analysed 1,986 articles containing 861 mentions of the companies tracked.

Interactive version: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1

## UK Payments & Fintech ranking by share of coverage, H1 2026

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Wise | 25.4% | 224 | 54% | 27% | 19% | +36 |
| 2 | PayPal | 13.0% | 111 | 37% | 38% | 25% | +12 |
| 3 | Klarna | 12.3% | 107 | 21% | 60% | 19% | +3 |
| 4 | Allica Bank | 10.5% | 91 | 92% | 7% | 1% | +91 |
| 5 | OakNorth | 9.0% | 74 | 82% | 18% | 0% | +82 |
| 6 | Zilch | 5.8% | 49 | 65% | 35% | 0% | +65 |
| 7 | Stripe | 5.4% | 49 | 78% | 16% | 6% | +71 |
| 8 | SumUp | 4.7% | 36 | 75% | 25% | 0% | +75 |
| 9 | GoCardless | 4.6% | 41 | 71% | 29% | 0% | +71 |
| 10 | Checkout.com | 3.9% | 33 | 85% | 15% | 0% | +85 |
| 11 | Funding Circle | 3.6% | 30 | 73% | 27% | 0% | +73 |
| 12 | iwoca | 2.0% | 16 | 44% | 56% | 0% | +44 |

## Monthly share of coverage, UK Payments & Fintech

| Organisation | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wise | 23.5% | 4.3% | 26.1% | 36.2% | 23.2% | 39.0% |
| PayPal | 7.8% | 12.8% | 7.6% | 12.8% | 24.1% | 12.9% |
| Klarna | 18.3% | 23.8% | 6.7% | 6.4% | 8.9% | 9.5% |
| Allica Bank | 6.1% | 19.5% | 7.6% | 9.9% | 13.4% | 6.7% |
| OakNorth | 11.3% | 12.2% | 16.0% | 5.0% | 5.4% | 4.3% |
| Zilch | 10.4% | 6.1% | 3.4% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 5.2% |
| Stripe | 8.7% | 6.7% | 5.0% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 8.6% |
| SumUp | 0.9% | 3.7% | 13.4% | 4.3% | 5.4% | 0.5% |
| GoCardless | 2.6% | 1.2% | 3.4% | 9.9% | 3.6% | 6.7% |
| Checkout.com | 4.3% | 6.1% | 5.0% | 3.5% | 1.8% | 2.4% |
| Funding Circle | 3.5% | 1.8% | 4.2% | 4.3% | 4.5% | 3.3% |
| iwoca | 2.6% | 1.8% | 1.7% | 2.1% | 2.7% | 1.0% |

## Companies in detail

### Wise

**Wise leads visibility as growth stories give way to compliance**

Wise ranked 1st of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (25.4%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 224 mentions and a net tone of +36.

Its leadership was broad but uneven: it ranked first in six months, fell to eighth in February and placed second in May. February’s sharp visibility decline came during a thinner agenda that included the K-GoodsShop integration and Wise’s criticism of a proposed Federal Reserve payment account. Wise returned to first place in March; stories included the UK current-account launch, five Thai licences, conditional Nigerian remittance approval and Scott Hill’s board appointment. April and May combined quarterly growth, Capitec’s adoption of Wise Platform, High Court approval for the listing transfer and the eventual Nasdaq debut. June brought the period’s highest monthly share, with extensive reporting on the Belgian investigation alongside a profit beat, a $500 million buyback and the Expatica acquisition. Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 39%, compared with 4.3% in February 2026. January 2026: Wise reported higher cross-border volumes, users and income ahead of its planned dual listing — City A.M. March 2026: Wise secured five Thai licences for payments, e-money and foreign-exchange services — FinTech Futures. May 2026: Wise completed its primary-listing move to Nasdaq while retaining a London secondary listing — Reuters. June 2026: Wise confirmed it was answering Belgian prosecutors’ questions about alleged money-laundering-control concerns — The Guardian.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 39%, compared with 4.3% in February 2026.
- January 2026: Wise reported higher cross-border volumes, users and income ahead of its planned dual listing — City A.M.
- Wise reported 21% growth in underlying income and raised upbeat earnings guidance. The UK fintech said it remains on track to move its primary listing to the US in the first half of the year.
- Wise outlined product launches, licensing progress and payment-system integrations across India, the Philippines, South Africa and Japan. It also said financial performance remained on track and reiterated its US dual-listing timetable.
- Wise received licences in Thailand to offer a phased digital multi-currency wallet launch. The expansion forms part of the UK fintech's broader APAC growth strategy.
- UK-based Wise received five Thai regulatory licences covering payments, e-money and foreign-exchange services. It plans a phased Thailand launch and has opened a customer waitlist.

Leading themes:

- Financial Results & Valuations: 26.8% of Wise's coverage (theme index 2.94, net tone +70)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 23.2% of Wise's coverage (theme index 1.04, net tone +85)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 21.9% of Wise's coverage (theme index 2.05, net tone +45)

Notable positive coverage:

- 20 January 2026, bloomberg.com: [Wise on Track for US-UK Dual Listing as Income Rises 21%](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-01-20/wise-on-track-for-us-uk-dual-listing-as-income-rises-21). Wise reported 21% growth in underlying income and raised upbeat earnings guidance. The UK fintech said it remains on track to move its primary listing to the US in the first half of the year.
- 20 January 2026, cityam.com: [Wise reports jump in users ahead of US dual listing](https://www.cityam.com/wise-eyes-top-end-of-profit-target-ahead-of-ditching-uk-primary-listing/). Wise reported higher cross-border volumes, users and income, alongside guidance for full-year income and profit. It expects to complete its US dual listing in the first half of 2026.
- 20 January 2026, finextra.com: [Wise posts strong quarter](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108561/wise-posts-strong-quarter). Wise outlined product launches, licensing progress and payment-system integrations across India, the Philippines, South Africa and Japan. It also said financial performance remained on track and reiterated its US dual-listing timetable.

Notable negative coverage:

- 1 June 2026, bbc.com: [Wise under investigation over money laundering control concerns](https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cy42x8ye02vo). Belgian prosecutors are investigating Wise's European operations over suspected money-laundering control failures and suspicious transactions. Wise said it has received no specific findings and is cooperating with the inquiry.
- 1 June 2026, telegraph.co.uk: [British fintech giant suffers £1bn hit over drug trafficker investigation](https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/06/01/british-fintech-wise-suffers-1bn-hit-drug-trafficker-probe/). Wise said a European prosecutorial investigation into potential anti-money-laundering non-compliance remained incomplete and had produced no specific findings. The article reports a sharp valuation hit.
- 23 June 2026, cityam.com: [Wise triggers staff backlash after cutting paid paternity leave](https://www.cityam.com/wise-faces-staff-uproar-after-cutting-paid-paternity-leave/). Wise cut paid paternity leave for fathers and secondary caregivers from 18 weeks to eight, prompting staff backlash. The company is also facing a Belgian criminal-activity investigation, which contributed to a share-price decline.

- [Wise deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=wise&view=deep-dive)
- [Wise PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/wise.pdf)

### PayPal

**PayPal’s visibility swung across regulation, partnerships and takeover reporting**

PayPal ranked 2nd of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (13.0%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 111 mentions and a net tone of +12.

January coverage examined Alex Chriss’s attempted reboot, UK expansion, advertising analytics and PayPal+. Regulation and policy led February’s measured mix with eight mentions, although the representative regulatory stories were contextual rather than PayPal developments; company-focused reporting covered the Debenhams partnership, the CEO change and branded-checkout concerns. March included PYUSD’s expansion to 70 markets and the UK launch of PayPal+, while PayPal slipped to fourth. April brought second place alongside the Iarnród Éireann checkout partnership, PayPal+ incentives, warnings about the 1p deposit scam and the removal of PayPal branding from Wireless Festival promotions. PayPal reached first place in May, when reporting concentrated on the FCA’s competition investigation into wallet arrangements involving PayPal, Visa and Mastercard; the regulator had made no findings. In June, PayPal moved from first to second as its share fell to 12.9%, with coverage spanning the Hey Savi in-app checkout platform, festival discounts and incoming BNPL regulation. January 2026: The Times profiled chief executive Alex Chriss and his efforts to reboot PayPal. February 2026: UKTN reported PayPal’s partnership with Debenhams for AI-powered product discovery and checkout. March 2026: Fortune reported the expansion of PYUSD access to 68 additional countries, taking availability to 70 markets.

Key messages:

- January 2026: The Times profiled chief executive Alex Chriss and his efforts to reboot PayPal.
- PayPal launched an advertising tool intended to give brands a cross-platform view of customer purchasing behaviour and sales outcomes. The article notes that PayPal Ads was introduced in the UK in April 2025.
- PayPal and Debenhams Group have partnered on an AI-driven shopping experience that will make Debenhams the first UK retailer to offer discovery and checkout within the PayPal app. A wider UK rollout is planned later in 2026.
- PayPal expanded PYUSD holding, sending and receiving access to 68 additional countries, bringing availability to 70 countries. The service had previously been available only in the US and UK.
- Iarnród Éireann has added PayPal as a checkout option on its website and app for rail-ticket purchases. PayPal said the partnership strengthens its Irish travel-sector presence.
- The FCA is investigating PayPal, Mastercard and Visa over potential anti-competitive conduct relating to the funding and use of PayPal's digital wallet in the UK. The regulator said it has reached no conclusions.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 32.4% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 2.86, net tone −50)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 22.5% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 1, net tone +84)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 16.2% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 2.48, net tone +67)

Notable positive coverage:

- 8 January 2026, fstech.co.uk: [PayPal boosts ads business with 'cross-platform view' of customer behaviour](https://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/Paypal_boosts_commerce_ads_with_new_insights_programme.php). PayPal launched an advertising tool intended to give brands a cross-platform view of customer purchasing behaviour and sales outcomes. The article notes that PayPal Ads was introduced in the UK in April 2025.
- 13 February 2026, retailgazette.co.uk: [Debenhams teams up with PayPal on AI-driven shopping](https://www.retailgazette.co.uk/blog/2026/02/debenhams-paypal-ai/). PayPal and Debenhams Group have partnered on an AI-driven shopping experience that will make Debenhams the first UK retailer to offer discovery and checkout within the PayPal app. A wider UK rollout is planned later in 2026.
- 13 February 2026, prolificnorth.co.uk: [Debenhams partners with PayPal for UK-first in “AI-powered shopping”](https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/debenhams-partners-with-paypal-for-uk-first-in-ai-powered-shopping/). PayPal and Debenhams Group have co-developed an AI shopping and checkout experience for a planned UK rollout. The partnership positions Debenhams as PayPal's first UK retail partner for the service.

Notable negative coverage:

- 6 May 2026, thenews.com.pk: [UK investigates Mastercard, Visa, PayPal for alleged anti-competitive conduct](https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1401635-uk-investigates-mastercard-visa-paypal-for-alleged-anti-competitive-conduct). The FCA is investigating PayPal, Visa and Mastercard over contractual provisions concerning funding and use of PayPal’s digital wallet. The regulator has made no finding of competition-law infringement.
- 6 May 2026, ft.com: [PayPal, Mastercard and Visa probed over alleged UK antitrust breaches](https://www.ft.com/content/c84f04db-026f-438e-a7a2-a23a6c8719cd). The FCA is investigating PayPal, Mastercard and Visa over potential anti-competitive conduct relating to the funding and use of PayPal's digital wallet in the UK. The regulator said it has reached no conclusions.
- 6 May 2026, wsj.com: [PayPal, Visa, Mastercard Probed by U.K. Regulators](https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/stock-market-today-dow-sp-500-nasdaq-05-06-2026/card/paypal-visa-mastercard-probed-by-uk-regulators-wTkKSUsGmNgx3vsRhScq). UK regulators are investigating PayPal, Visa and Mastercard over suspected anticompetitive conduct involving PayPal’s digital wallet. The FCA says it has reached no conclusions or findings.

- [PayPal deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=paypal&view=deep-dive)
- [PayPal PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/paypal.pdf)

### Klarna

**Klarna’s visibility swung between regulation, expansion and financial scrutiny**

Klarna ranked 3rd of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (12.3%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 107 mentions and a net tone of +3.

January coverage established a broader banking proposition through the launch of instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European countries, including the UK. In February, Klarna’s share rose 5.5 percentage points to 23.8%, alongside reporting on incoming affordability checks, consumer debt and the launch of Pay in 3 through Google Pay. Its share then fell 17.1 points in March, when stories included Sir Michael Moritz’s $50 million share purchase and consumer borrowing accounts, before edging down again in April amid scrutiny of Klarna’s safety controls. Financial reporting became more prominent in May: Klarna disclosed a $1 million first-quarter profit on revenue of $1.01 billion, while Chrysalis recorded a valuation write-down linked to its holding. June combined extensive reporting on the approaching FCA regime with Klarna-backed finance for patients seeking treatment in Europe. Visibility peaked in February 2026 at 23.8%, compared with 6.4% in April 2026. May 2026: share rose 2.5 percentage points to 8.9% and Klarna moved from fifth to fourth; The Wall Street Journal reported its first-quarter profit and 44% revenue rise. February 2026: Klarna introduced Pay in 3 through Google Pay in the UK, reported by FStech. Chrysalis Investments said its NAV fell partly because Klarna's share price weakened following its IPO. The investor nevertheless expects Klarna's profit profile to improve.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in February 2026 at 23.8%, compared with 6.4% in April 2026.
- January 2026: Klarna launched instant peer-to-peer payments across 13 European countries, reported by FinTech Futures.
- Klarna has launched peer-to-peer payments, allowing UK users to send wallet funds to other Klarna users. It plans eventually to support non-users and cross-border transfers.
- Klarna has launched as a payment option through Google Pay for UK shoppers, enabling Pay in 3 instalments at eligible checkouts. The article also notes forthcoming UK BNPL regulation.
- Klarna reported a $1 million first-quarter profit as revenue rose 44% to $1.01 billion. The company attributed the improvement to market-share gains and network expansion.
- My Medical Gateway launched a marketplace for UK self-pay patients seeking treatment in Europe, offering interest-free buy now, pay later finance from Klarna.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 39.3% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 3.75, net tone +10)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 29.0% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 6.07, net tone −10)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 11.2% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 0.46, net tone +67)

Notable positive coverage:

- 14 January 2026, thetab.com: [Klarna’s new feature lets you send money to friends but there’s a catch – so here’s how it works](https://thetab.com/2026/01/14/klarnas-new-feature-lets-you-send-money-to-friends-but-theres-a-catch-so-heres-how-it-works). Klarna has launched peer-to-peer payments, allowing UK users to send wallet funds to other Klarna users. It plans eventually to support non-users and cross-border transfers.
- 15 January 2026, fintechfutures.com: [Klarna rolls out P2P payments in Europe](https://www.fintechfutures.com/instant-real-time-payments/klarna-rolls-out-p2p-payments-in-europe). Klarna launched instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European countries including the UK, initially for transfers between its own users. The firm says the service supports its push into everyday banking and may later add cross-border and stablecoin-based payments.
- 16 February 2026, finextra.com: [Klarna arrives on Google Pay](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108846/klarna-arrives-on-google-pay). Klarna is available on Google Pay in the UK, offering eligible users its Pay in 3 interest-free instalment option. The integration is intended to broaden access to Klarna at checkout.

Notable negative coverage:

- 16 May 2026, mirror.co.uk: ['I'm 26 and in nearly £20,000 debt after thinking my overdraft was 'free money'](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/debt-klarna-overdraft-stepchange-help-37124506). A UK consumer says Klarna and other BNPL use contributed to a debt spiral, while acknowledging BNPL can be useful for some customers. The article cites wider concerns about BNPL arrears and household debt.
- 8 May 2026, inews.co.uk: [I racked up £1,000 of debt in a month using Klarna - I can't recall what I bought](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/racked-up-debt-using-klarna-recall-bought-4387824). A UK consumer describes accumulating £1,000 of Klarna BNPL debt through frequent, frictionless purchases while at university. The article highlights concerns about BNPL use for essentials and impending FCA regulation, while including Klarna's response on affordability checks and credit opt-out tools.
- 9 April 2026, inews.co.uk: ['I borrowed £1200 on Klarna to see Taylor Swift - it took months to pay off'](https://inews.co.uk/inews-lifestyle/money/borrowed-klarna-taylor-swift-months-pay-off-4322500). A London father used Klarna to spread the £1,200 cost of Taylor Swift resale tickets over three months, saying the debt reduced disposable income. The article links BNPL use to research on fans borrowing to meet inflated ticket-resale prices.

- [Klarna deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=klarna&view=deep-dive)
- [Klarna PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/klarna.pdf)

### Allica Bank

**Allica’s coverage shifted from funding scale to European expansion**

Allica Bank ranked 4th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (10.5%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 91 mentions and a net tone of +91.

January placed Allica seventh at 6.1%, with independent reporting covering its £1bn asset-finance milestone and financing for Charles Trent. February lifted it to second at 19.5%, alongside extensive independent coverage of its $155m Series D and $1.2bn valuation. Its share then fell to 7.6% and fourth place in March, when stories ranged from financing for Atlas Composite Technologies to Sifted’s report of an unfair-prejudice case brought by the bank’s founder. April and May placed Allica third, with reporting spanning FY2025 profit and revenue growth, a major brand campaign, higher lending limits, automated loan decisions and a £350m British Business Bank guarantee. June brought a lower 6.7% share and fifth place despite continued coverage of lending products, a larger Tier 2 capital facility and research on the economic footprint of its SME lending. January 2026: Allica Bank surpassed £1bn in asset-finance lending, reported by FStech. February 2026: share rose 13.4 points to 19.5% and rank moved from seventh to second; stories included the $155m Series D and reduced commercial-mortgage and bridging rates. February 2026: Allica Bank raised a $155m Series D at a $1.2bn valuation, reported by FinTech Futures.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Allica Bank surpassed £1bn in asset-finance lending, reported by FStech.
- Allica Bank raised a $155m Series D at a valuation close to $1.2bn, making it a unicorn. The London-based SME bank plans to grow lending, invest in AI and expand beyond the UK.
- Allica Bank reported a 23% increase in pre-tax profit to £36.9m and approximately £1.3bn of new lending, lifting its loan book by more than 23%. The UK SME lender is increasing AI use and considering European expansion.
- Allica Bank is live-testing an agentic AI system that assesses SME loan applications from unstructured emails and returns decisions in minutes. It reports that 50% of initial cases were decided end-to-end automatically.
- Allica Bank's founder has filed an unfair-prejudice case against an investor, according to court filings. The London-based fintech was recently valued as a unicorn.
- Allica Bank promoted its UK business account, which offers interest on qualifying balances and cashback on spending. It says a business holding about £250,000 could earn roughly £10,000 in annual interest at current rates.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 40.7% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 4.41, net tone +97)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 26.4% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 2.18, net tone +96)
- Regulation & Policy: 7.7% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 0.52, net tone +86)

Notable positive coverage:

- 29 January 2026, ffnews.com: [Allica Bank Celebrates £1 Billion in Asset Finance Lendin…](https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/allica-bank-celebrates-1-billion-in-asset-finance-lending-and-standout-broker-feedback). Allica Bank surpassed £1 billion in UK asset-finance lending since launching the proposition in 2021. It reported growing broker applications and continued investment in automated lending decisions.
- 24 February 2026, cityam.com: [Allica Bank joins fintech unicorn club after £100m injection](https://www.cityam.com/allica-bank-joins-fintech-unicorn-club-after-100m-injection/). Allica Bank reportedly raised $155m in a Series D round at a $1.2bn valuation, giving it unicorn status. The SME lender is targeting further growth in working-capital finance following its Kriya acquisition.
- 25 February 2026, sifted.eu: [Allica Bank becomes Europe's newest unicorn with $155m Series D](https://sifted.eu/articles/allica-bank-unicorn-news/). Allica Bank raised a $155m Series D at a valuation close to $1.2bn, making it a unicorn. The London-based SME bank plans to grow lending, invest in AI and expand beyond the UK.

Notable negative coverage:

- 17 March 2026, sifted.eu: [Allica Bank founder sues investor for ‘unfair prejudice’](https://sifted.eu/articles/allica-bank-investor-unfair-prejudice). Allica Bank's founder has filed an unfair-prejudice case against an investor, according to court filings. The London-based fintech was recently valued as a unicorn.

- [Allica Bank deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=allicabank&view=deep-dive)
- [Allica Bank PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/allicabank.pdf)

### OakNorth

**OakNorth peaked in March before a narrower lending-led second quarter**

OakNorth ranked 5th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (9.0%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 74 mentions and a net tone of +82.

Its strongest competitive position came in March, when share reached 16.0% and rank rose to second. January and February had already established a broad profile spanning senior appointments, regional lending, savings products and US activity, although February’s 12.2% share placed OakNorth fourth rather than January’s third. Share then fell to 5.0% and sixth place in April as captured coverage concentrated on business lending, including funding for Best.Energy, Medicare Insourcing Services and Burger King UK. May and June remained below the opening-quarter levels, while stories included loans for Rosa’s Thai and MSS International, the Fintex Capital alliance and the integration of Monite’s financial-management capabilities. January 2026: OakNorth provided EAG Bioenergy with a £25m acquisition loan for UK and Irish bioenergy assets, reported by Insider Media. February 2026: share rose by 0.9 points to 12.2% while rank moved from third to fourth; stories included Gergely Zaborszky’s appointment as CFO and OakNorth’s £5m loan supporting Hypha Partners’ acquisition of Pass Tech. June 2026: volume increased by three to nine, but share fell by 1.1 points to 4.3% and rank moved to eighth as the cohort total rose to 210; OakNorth and Fintex Capital launched their specialty-finance alliance.

Key messages:

- January 2026: OakNorth provided EAG Bioenergy with a £25m acquisition loan for UK and Irish bioenergy assets, reported by Insider Media.
- OakNorth has appointed Tom Harris as chief technology officer. He will oversee technology and AI across its lending, business banking and savings platforms while supporting US expansion.
- OakNorth has appointed Virgin Money CFO Gergely Zaborszky as CFO, subject to regulatory approval, succeeding Rajesh Gupta. The appointment supports OakNorth's growth strategy, including its US expansion through Community Unity Bank.
- OakNorth appointed Ben Kimball as director of debt finance in Leeds to expand lending to growth businesses across Yorkshire and the North East.
- Prosper is offering a boosted rate on OakNorth's 120-day notice tracker savings account, raising the new-customer rate to 4.5% AER. The article presents the account as a competitive savings option.
- OakNorth is reported to offer a 4.35% one-year fixed savings account through the Meteor Savings platform, requiring a minimum £1,000 deposit. The article places the offer within a UK fixed-rate savings market competition.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 44.6% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 4.68, net tone +97)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 24.3% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 1.09, net tone +72)
- Leadership, People & Culture: 10.8% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 3.87, net tone +100)

Notable positive coverage:

- 5 January 2026, fintechfutures.com: [OakNorth appoints former Seccl exec Tom Harris as CTO](https://www.fintechfutures.com/job-cuts-new-hires/oaknorth-appoints-tom-harris-as-cto). OakNorth appointed former Seccl CTO Tom Harris as its chief technology officer. He will oversee technology initiatives and support the UK bank's continuing US expansion.
- 6 January 2026, fstech.co.uk: [OakNorth hires new CTO](https://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/OakNorth_Hires_New_CTO.php). OakNorth has appointed Tom Harris as chief technology officer. He will oversee technology and AI across its lending, business banking and savings platforms while supporting US expansion.
- 23 February 2026, fintechfutures.com: [OakNorth names Virgin Money's Gergely Zaborszky as new CFO](https://www.fintechfutures.com/job-cuts-new-hires/oaknorth-appoints-gergely-zaborszky-cfo). OakNorth has appointed Virgin Money CFO Gergely Zaborszky as CFO, subject to regulatory approval, succeeding Rajesh Gupta. The appointment supports OakNorth's growth strategy, including its US expansion through Community Unity Bank.

- [OakNorth deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=oaknorth&view=deep-dive)
- [OakNorth PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/oaknorth.pdf)

### Zilch

**Zilch shifted from expansion towards products and regulation**

Zilch ranked 6th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.8%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 49 mentions and a net tone of +65.

January delivered a joint-period-high 12 mentions, a 10.4% share and fourth place, alongside independent reporting on the planned Fjord Bank acquisition, a European banking licence and potential public-listing preparations. Share fell to 6.1% in February and 3.4% in March, while company-focused reporting covered its FCA payments-services licence, Visa principal membership, position on London listing incentives and $176.7 million funding round. April brought six mentions and seventh place, but its captured evidence was contextual, including fintech regulatory talks and payments-policy reform. Independent reporting on the Visa and Thredd flexible-payments partnership accompanied a 5.4% share and fifth place in May. June recorded 11 mentions, with stories about Dame Clare Barclay’s board appointment, cashback and everyday credit use. Across the period, the company-focused agenda moved from acquisition and funding towards payment products, partnerships, leadership, technology and regulatory positioning, while Zilch did not return to January’s fourth place. Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 10.4%, compared with 3.4% in March 2026. January 2026: Zilch agreed to acquire Fjord Bank to obtain a European banking licence and support continental expansion — fintechfutures.com. May 2026: Zilch, Visa and Thredd brought Visa Flexible Credential to UK customers — finextra.com.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 10.4%, compared with 3.4% in March 2026.
- January 2026: Zilch agreed to acquire Fjord Bank to obtain a European banking licence and support continental expansion — fintechfutures.com.
- Visa, Zilch and Thredd are launching flexible payment options for UK consumers through Visa Flexible Credential. The service is intended to provide Zilch users with a more unified payment experience.
- Zilch has appointed Florence Quirici as chief corporate affairs officer, reporting to CEO Philip Belamant. The appointment supports its international expansion, regulatory engagement and communications strategy.
- Zilch reportedly told the Unicorn Council that the UK’s three-year stamp-duty holiday alone would not secure a London IPO commitment. Its chief executive said IPO decisions are complex and that further reforms could improve London's appeal.
- Zilch secured an FCA payments-services licence and Visa principal membership, supporting direct product development and payment processing. The London-based firm also outlined Zilch Pay and its AI-powered Intelligent Commerce platform.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 26.5% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 1.99, net tone +31)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 20.4% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 2.91, net tone +80)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 16.3% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 0.71, net tone +100)

Notable positive coverage:

- 7 January 2026, cityam.com: [UK fintech Zilch eyes deals spree on march towards public debut](https://www.cityam.com/uk-fintech-zilch-eyes-deals-spree-on-march-towards-public-debut/). UK fintech Zilch acquired Lithuania's Fjord Bank to obtain a European banking licence and support continental expansion. Zilch is considering further deals and fundraising as it progresses towards a potential public listing.
- 7 January 2026, finextra.com: [Zilch buys Lithuanian lender to secure European banking licence](https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/47115/zilch-buys-lithuanian-lender-to-secure-european-banking-licence). Zilch is acquiring Lithuanian lender Fjord Bank for a reported $38 million, subject to closing in the second half of 2026. The deal is intended to provide a European banking licence and support international expansion ahead of a potential IPO.
- 8 January 2026, ft.com: [Zilch buys Lithuanian lender Fjord Bank to secure European banking licence](https://www.ft.com/content/9bba2e14-6769-49b5-ac10-311bc1ee1d0d?syn-25a6b1a6=1). Zilch has acquired Lithuanian lender Fjord Bank to obtain a European banking licence.

- [Zilch deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=zilch&view=deep-dive)
- [Zilch PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/zilch.pdf)

### Stripe

**Stripe coverage concentrated around valuation, partnerships and PayPal**

Stripe ranked 7th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.4%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 49 mentions and a net tone of +71.

Stripe began fifth in January on 8.7%, alongside the Currys terminal deployment, Young Scientist sponsorship and AI-enabled commerce work with JD Sports and commercetools. February volume increased to 11, but share fell to 6.7% as the cohort expanded, with coverage centred on the $159 billion valuation and reports that Stripe was considering all or part of PayPal. Its position then weakened to seventh in March and 12th in April, despite stories about the PayPal prospect, Stripe’s business model and MoneyGram retail solutions built on its infrastructure. May produced only two contextual mentions, concerning a PayPal regulatory investigation and a commercial comparison of Braintree with Stripe; neither was company-focused evidence. June brought the largest upward movement, to 8.6% and fourth place, while stories included Lloyds Accept, the UK extension of the Affirm partnership, new products presented at Stripe Tour London and Stripe’s replacement by Adyen on GOV.UK Pay. Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 8.7%, compared with 1.4% in April 2026. January 2026: Currys agreed to deploy Stripe payment terminals across nearly 300 UK and Irish stores — fintech.global. March 2026: share fell 1.7 points to 5.0% and rank moved from fifth to seventh; an Irish Independent column examined the reported PayPal acquisition prospect.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 8.7%, compared with 1.4% in April 2026.
- January 2026: Currys agreed to deploy Stripe payment terminals across nearly 300 UK and Irish stores — fintech.global.
- Stripe was valued at $159 billion in an employee and shareholder tender offer, more than 70% above its prior-year valuation. The Dublin-headquartered payments firm said it remains profitable and is investing in products and acquisitions.
- A profile examines Stripe's transaction-fee business model, reporting $1.9 trillion of 2025 payment volume and a $159 billion valuation. It also highlights expansion into stablecoins, AI commerce and financial infrastructure.
- Stripe is reportedly considering acquiring all or part of PayPal, though discussions are at an early stage. The report highlights Stripe's €135 billion valuation and the potential impact on both firms' Irish operations.
- Robinhood Ventures Fund I bought $14.6 million of Stripe Class B shares in secondary transactions. Stripe is described as a programmable financial-services company with a Dublin headquarters.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 44.9% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 2.12, net tone +68)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 14.3% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 1.05, net tone +57)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 14.3% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 1.05, net tone +100)

Notable positive coverage:

- 24 February 2026, irishtimes.com: [Irish-founded fintech Stripe valued at $159bn](https://www.irishtimes.com/business/2026/02/24/irish-founded-fintech-stripe-valued-at-159bn/). Irish-founded Stripe was valued at more than $159bn through an employee tender offer without going public. The company said businesses on its platform generated $1.9tn in revenue volume in 2025 and that it remained profitable.
- 24 February 2026, bloomberg.com: [Stripe Hits $159 Billion Valuation as Payment Volume Soars](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-24/stripe-hits-159-billion-valuation-as-payment-volume-soars). Stripe reached a $159 billion valuation as payment volume increased. The company has also expanded its crypto-payments capabilities through acquisitions and its Tempo blockchain.
- 24 February 2026, finextra.com: [Stripe hits $159bn valuation](https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/47349/stripe-hits-159bn-valuation). Stripe's valuation rose to $159 billion, while businesses on its platform processed $1.9 trillion in 2025. The company reported profitability and continued product and acquisition investment.

Notable negative coverage:

- 8 June 2026, finextra.com: [Adyen wins Gov.UK Pay contract](https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/47872/adyen-wins-govuk-pay-contract). Government Digital Service awarded Adyen a three-year GOV.UK Pay contract worth up to £25.3 million. About 1,000 public services will migrate their payment processing from Stripe to Adyen.
- 5 June 2026, thefintechtimes.com: [Public Sector Procurement Shift: Adyen Unseats Stripe in Major UK Government Fintech Win](https://thefintechtimes.com/public-sector-procurement-shift-adyen-unseats-stripe-in-major-uk-government-fintech-win/). GOV.UK Pay selected Adyen as its payment-services provider, replacing Stripe for approximately 1,000 public-sector services. The transition includes planned pay-by-bank capabilities.
- 4 June 2026, fintechfutures.com: [Government Digital Services select Adyen as GOV.UK Pay PSP](https://www.fintechfutures.com/digital-payments/adyen-selected-to-process-gov-uk-pay-non-crown-card-and-pay-by-bank-payments). UK Government Digital Service selected Adyen as the new provider for GOV.UK Pay's non-Crown payments. Around 1,000 public-sector services will transition from Stripe in phases.

- [Stripe deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=stripe&view=deep-dive)
- [Stripe PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/stripe.pdf)

### SumUp

**SumUp’s visibility broadened beyond payments after a March surge**

SumUp ranked 8th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (4.7%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 36 mentions and a net tone of +75.

Its monthly share began at 0.9% and 12th place in January before rising to 3.7% and ninth in February alongside the Solo Lite launch and expanded Form3 partnership. March brought the period’s strongest competitive position: 13.4% and third place, with company-focused stories spanning a potential European IPO, Sage-powered tax reporting and Upvest-backed investing. Share then fell to 4.3% and seventh in April, when reporting included possible London-listing preparations, UK tipping research and the launch of SumUp Loyalty, SumUp Local and SumUp Register. SumUp rose to 5.4% and fifth place in May, although every captured May story was a contextual mention rather than a company-focused development. June narrowed to one article, 0.5% and 12th place, despite independent reporting on SumUp’s launch in Canada. Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 13.4%, compared with 0.5% in June 2026. January 2026: SumUp discussed cashless café payments and preserving customer choice with Intelligence Coffee. June 2026: share fell 4.9 points to 0.5% and rank moved to 12th; the sole captured story was Finovate’s report on SumUp’s Canadian launch. February 2026: The Fintech Times reported the UK launch of the £25 Solo Lite card reader for mobile merchants.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 13.4%, compared with 0.5% in June 2026.
- January 2026: SumUp discussed cashless café payments and preserving customer choice with Intelligence Coffee.
- SumUp has launched the Solo Lite card reader in the UK, targeting mobile merchants and small businesses with a £25 device. The reader integrates with SumUp's app and business-account services and will reach major UK retailers in Q2 2026.
- SumUp has extended its Form3 partnership from UK payment rails to European schemes including SEPA Instant, Credit Transfer and Direct Debit. The move is intended to streamline its infrastructure and support expansion for its merchant customers.
- SumUp is partnering with Upvest to add in-app fractional money-market fund investing for merchants, launching in Germany before a planned UK rollout. The feature expands SumUp's business-finance offering beyond payments and banking.
- SumUp is reportedly preparing to appoint banks for a potential London IPO, which could value the payments firm at $10bn-$15bn. The prospective listing would be a notable boost for UK public markets.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 47.2% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 2.2, net tone +100)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 19.4% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 1.46, net tone +57)
- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 11.1% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 0.88, net tone +50)

Notable positive coverage:

- 14 February 2026, thefintechtimes.com: [SumUp Launches 'Solo Lite' Card Reader to Target Mobile Merchants in the UK](https://thefintechtimes.com/sumup-launches-solo-lite-card-reader-to-target-mobile-merchants-in-the-uk/). SumUp has launched the Solo Lite card reader in the UK, targeting mobile merchants and small businesses with a £25 device. The reader integrates with SumUp's app and business-account services and will reach major UK retailers in Q2 2026.
- 25 February 2026, finextra.com: [SumUp signs with Form3 for real-time payments across Europe](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108964/sumup-signs-with-form3-for-real-time-payments-across-europe). SumUp expanded its Form3 partnership to support European payment schemes including SEPA Instant, building on its existing UK Faster Payments and Bacs connection. The integration aims to simplify infrastructure and improve payment speed for its merchant base.
- 25 February 2026, ffnews.com: [Form3 Expands Strategic Partnership With SumUp to Bring Real-Time SEPA Payments to Millions of European Small Businesses](https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/form3-expands-strategic-partnership-with-sumup-to-bring-real-time-sepa-payments-to-millions-of-european-small-businesses/). SumUp has extended its Form3 partnership from UK payment rails to European schemes including SEPA Instant, Credit Transfer and Direct Debit. The move is intended to streamline its infrastructure and support expansion for its merchant customers.

- [SumUp deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=sumup&view=deep-dive)
- [SumUp PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/sumup.pdf)

### GoCardless

**GoCardless visibility surged around profitability and recurring bank payments**

GoCardless ranked 9th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (4.6%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 41 mentions and a net tone of +71.

Its competitive position varied sharply, moving from tenth in January to twelfth in February before reaching third in April. Independent January coverage of the £12bn Octopus Energy direct-debit migration established an early operational proof point. February’s two articles were contextual mentions covering a fintech ranking and conference participation, rather than company-focused developments. March brought company-focused press-release coverage of the first live recurring Pay by Bank transaction with Jellyfish Energy and reported adoption by more than 35,000 businesses. In April, share rose to 9.9% as independent reporting covered GoCardless’s first adjusted EBITDA-positive quarter, narrowing losses, restructuring affecting about 90 roles and the agreed Mollie acquisition. April coverage also extended into commercial variable recurring payments and the RMS integration for hospitality operators. After share fell to 3.6% in May, it recovered to 6.7% and fifth place in June, when independent stories included the Recurring Pay by Bank launch and the FundTap partnership in Australia and New Zealand. Visibility peaked in April 2026 at 9.9%, compared with 1.2% in February 2026. February 2026: share fell 1.4 percentage points to 1.2% and rank moved from tenth to twelfth; stories were contextual mentions in a UK fintech-unicorn ranking and a FinTech North event listing.

Key messages:

- Visibility peaked in April 2026 at 9.9%, compared with 1.2% in February 2026.
- January 2026: GoCardless completed Octopus Energy’s £12bn direct-debit migration, covered by The Fintech Times.
- GoCardless will provide Communicate Telecoms with Same Day Settlement+ to accelerate Direct Debit payouts. The partnership is presented as improving cash flow and payment efficiency.
- GoCardless says more than 35,000 businesses have used its open-banking payment products since 2021. It positions Pay by Bank and intelligent routing as accessible alternatives to card payments for UK businesses.
- GoCardless completed its first live recurring Pay by Bank transaction with Jellyfish Energy. The UK open-banking payment service is intended to improve payment reliability and cash-flow management for business customers.
- GoCardless launched Recurring Pay by Bank through the UK Payments Initiative, supporting recurring account-to-account payments. The article presents the product as a lower-cost alternative to card-payment rails for UK businesses.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 41.5% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 1.92, net tone +88)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 19.5% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 1.45, net tone +38)
- Technology, AI & Infrastructure: 12.2% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 4.35, net tone +80)

Notable positive coverage:

- 5 January 2026, thefintechtimes.com: [Octopus Energy and GoCardless Complete £12bn Direct Debit Migration](https://thefintechtimes.com/octopus-energy-and-gocardless-complete-12bn-direct-debit-migration/). GoCardless completed Octopus Energy's £12bn direct-debit migration, covering payments for 11 million global customers. The migration is intended to reduce refund times to one or two days through automated self-service refunds.
- 29 January 2026, finextra.com: [GoCardless selected by Communicate Telecoms to accelerate payout timings](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108690/gocardless-selected-by-communicate-telecoms-to-accelerate-payout-timings). GoCardless will provide Communicate Telecoms with Same Day Settlement+ to accelerate Direct Debit payouts. The partnership is presented as improving cash flow and payment efficiency.
- 17 March 2026, ffnews.com: [35,000+ Businesses Have Selected GoCardless for Open Banking Payments](https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/paytech/35000-businesses-have-selected-gocardless-for-open-banking-payments/). GoCardless says more than 35,000 businesses have used its open-banking payment products since 2021. It positions Pay by Bank and intelligent routing as accessible alternatives to card payments for UK businesses.

- [GoCardless deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=gocardless&view=deep-dive)
- [GoCardless PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/gocardless.pdf)

### Checkout.com

**Checkout.com’s visibility fluctuated as partnerships broadened its profile**

Checkout.com ranked 10th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (3.9%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 33 mentions and a net tone of +85.

Its competitive position strengthened from eighth in January to sixth in February, when its share rose from 4.3% to 6.1%. March began a sustained loss of competitive ground, with Checkout.com moving from seventh to tenth in April and 11th in May as its share fell from 5.0% to 1.8%. June brought a modest recovery to tenth with a 2.4% share; contemporaneous stories included the BLIK agreement, Coinbase integration, Microsoft’s selection of Checkout.com for EMEA payments and research into trust in AI-assisted shopping. January 2026: Checkout.com acquired Blue EMI and announced a Vilnius technology centre — Electronic Payments International. February 2026: share rose 1.8 points to 6.1% and rank improved from eighth to sixth; contemporaneous reporting covered full-year profitability, payment volume above $300 billion and continued hiring. March 2026: Checkout.com partnered with Trip.com to support global travel payments — TechAfrica News. June 2026: Checkout.com became a direct scheme member and official partner of Poland’s BLIK system — IBS Intelligence. Checkout.com data showed UK retail transaction volumes rose sharply around the January payday and clearance-sales period. The company linked this pattern to growing consumer use of AI shopping tools and agentic commerce.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Checkout.com acquired Blue EMI and announced a Vilnius technology centre — Electronic Payments International.
- Checkout.com data showed UK retail transaction volumes rose sharply around the January payday and clearance-sales period. The company linked this pattern to growing consumer use of AI shopping tools and agentic commerce.
- Checkout.com appointed Ashley Paulus to lead revenue and growth across the UK and EEA. The company cited 2025 volume growth of 78% in the UK and nearly 60% across the EEA.
- Checkout.com research found that 28% of UK consumers would consider using an AI agent to make Valentine's Day purchases. The company says merchants need structured product data, transparent pricing and reliable payments for agentic commerce.
- The article explains that London-headquartered Checkout.com remains private and has no IPO scheduled. It discusses potential pre-IPO access and the company's valuation, losses and prospective profitability.
- UK-based Checkout.com received approval for a Merchant Acquirer Limited Purpose Bank charter in Georgia, enabling it to move toward operating as its own US acquirer. It expects to complete the remaining conditions for full banking operations during 2026.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 48.5% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 2.26, net tone +100)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 21.2% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 1.58, net tone +71)
- Leadership, People & Culture: 9.1% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 2.79, net tone +100)

Notable positive coverage:

- 3 February 2026, fintechfutures.com: [Checkout.com acquires Blue EMI](https://www.fintechfutures.com/m-a/checkout-com-acquires-blue-emi). Checkout.com acquired Lithuania-based Blue EMI to add euro stablecoin capabilities to its payments platform. It also plans a technology centre in Vilnius.
- 5 February 2026, ffnews.com: [Checkout.com Data Release: January Sales See Late-Month Surge as Shoppers Hunt for Value](https://ffnews.com/news/checkout-com-data-release-january-sales-see-late-month-surge-as-shoppers-hunt-for-value). Checkout.com data showed UK retail transaction volumes rose sharply around the January payday and clearance-sales period. The company linked this pattern to growing consumer use of AI shopping tools and agentic commerce.
- 11 February 2026, ffnews.com: [Checkout.com Appoints Ashley Paulus to Head Up Growth for UK and Europe](https://ffnews.com/news/checkout-com-appoints-ashley-paulus-to-head-up-growth-for-uk-and-europe). Checkout.com appointed Ashley Paulus to lead revenue and growth across the UK and EEA. The company cited 2025 volume growth of 78% in the UK and nearly 60% across the EEA.

- [Checkout.com deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=checkoutcom&view=deep-dive)
- [Checkout.com PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/checkoutcom.pdf)

### Funding Circle

**Funding Circle climbs as results and institutional funding broaden coverage**

Funding Circle ranked 11th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (3.6%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 30 mentions and a net tone of +73.

June illustrated the competitive effect of a larger news market: volume rose to seven while share fell to 3.3% and rank slipped to ninth as cohort mentions increased to 210. January 2026: Funding Circle exceeded its 2025 forecasts and reached its 2026 revenue target early, reported by businesscloud.co.uk. February 2026: share fell 1.7 points to 1.8% and rank slipped to tenth; stories included the £700 million Waterfall Asset Management forward-flow agreement with Citi financing. March 2026: share rose 2.4 points to 4.2% and rank improved to ninth; contemporaneous reporting included the near-sixfold increase in profit and the longer-term profit outlook. April 2026: Lovey’s integration of Funding Circle’s API to streamline SME finance applications was reported by thebusinessdesk.com. June 2026: completion of Funding Circle’s tenth public loan securitisation, with first-time British Business Bank participation, was reported by lse.co.uk. Funding Circle has added Apple Pay to its Cashback business credit card and FlexiPay offering. The feature is intended to give SME customers more flexible and secure ways to manage business spending. Funding Circle appointed Tim Trailor as managing director of its Cards business. Trailor brings lending, risk and fintech leadership experience, including prior roles at Monzo and Klarna.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Funding Circle exceeded its 2025 forecasts and reached its 2026 revenue target early, reported by businesscloud.co.uk.
- Funding Circle has added Apple Pay to its Cashback business credit card and FlexiPay offering. The feature is intended to give SME customers more flexible and secure ways to manage business spending.
- Funding Circle announced a roughly £700 million two-year forward-flow commitment from Waterfall Asset Management, with senior financing from Citi. Waterfall will also buy a £120 million existing loan portfolio to support the lender's shorter-term SME loan product.
- Funding Circle appointed Tim Trailor as managing director of its Cards business. Trailor brings lending, risk and fintech leadership experience, including prior roles at Monzo and Klarna.
- Funding Circle research estimates that late payments contribute to 14,000 UK business closures annually and impose major cash-flow and productivity costs on SMEs. The company presents FlexiPay as a tool to help businesses manage delayed invoices.
- Innovate Finance announced its 2025 Women in FinTech Powerlist, recognising women across the UK fintech sector. Zilch and Funding Circle sponsor the initiative.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 63.3% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 5.91, net tone +63)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 23.3% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 1.75, net tone +100)
- Leadership, People & Culture: 6.7% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 1.98, net tone +100)

Notable positive coverage:

- 20 January 2026, businesscloud.co.uk: [Funding Circle shares jump as it exceeds 2025 & 2026 targets](https://businesscloud.co.uk/news/funding-circle-shares-jump-as-it-exceeds-2025-2026-targets/). Funding Circle exceeded its FY25 forecasts and reached its FY26 revenue target of more than £200m a year early. Revenue rose 28% to about £204m and profit before tax increased to about £20m, lifting its share price.
- 22 January 2026, finextra.com: [Funding Circle adds Apple Pay Apple Pay for its Cashback business credit card and FlexiPay customers](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/108604/funding-circle-adds-apple-pay-apple-pay-for-its-cashback-business-credit-card-and-flexipay-customers). Funding Circle has added Apple Pay to its Cashback business credit card and FlexiPay offering. The feature is intended to give SME customers more flexible and secure ways to manage business spending.
- 12 February 2026, alternativecreditinvestor.com: [Funding Circle inks £700m forward flow agreement with Waterfall AM](https://alternativecreditinvestor.com/2026/02/12/funding-circle-inks-700m-forward-flow-agreement-with-waterfall-am/). Funding Circle signed a £700m forward-flow agreement with Waterfall Asset Management.

- [Funding Circle deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=fundingcircle&view=deep-dive)
- [Funding Circle PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/fundingcircle.pdf)

### iwoca

**iwoca’s visibility rose around funding and sale reports**

iwoca ranked 12th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (2.0%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for H1 2026, with 16 mentions and a net tone of +44.

Credit Compass introduced a product-led subject in March, although both captured articles were press-release or contributed copy. Independent reporting on research about SME survival and economic contribution accompanied June’s lowest share. February’s articles were contextual references concerning business costs, the Pisces exchange and Augmentum Fintech, rather than company-focused developments. January 2026: Binq integrated iwoca’s broker API for real-time SME funding assessments, reported by FStech. April 2026: share rose 0.4 percentage points to 2.1% and rank improved to 11th; contemporaneous company-focused commercial guidance discussed repayment difficulties involving iwoca loans. June 2026: commissioned research linked iwoca finance with higher three-year SME survival, reported by Startups Magazine. Iwoca has launched Credit Compass, a free tool to help UK SMEs understand and improve their business credit standing. The company plans to add Open Banking connectivity later in the year. Commissioned research says UK SMEs receiving iwoca finance were 70% more likely to remain trading after three years than the UK average. The article also cites iwoca’s estimated UK economic and employment contribution. Iwoca research finds UK small-business confidence in the economy has fallen, with operating costs and uncertainty the leading concerns. It argues that access to finance can support SME revenue growth.

Key messages:

- January 2026: Binq integrated iwoca’s broker API for real-time SME funding assessments, reported by FStech.
- iwoca has launched Credit Compass, a free tool to help UK SMEs understand and improve their business credit standing. The company plans to add Open Banking connectivity later in the year.
- Commissioned research says UK SMEs receiving iwoca finance were 70% more likely to remain trading after three years than the UK average. The article also cites iwoca’s estimated UK economic and employment contribution.
- iwoca research finds UK small-business confidence in the economy has fallen, with operating costs and uncertainty the leading concerns. It argues that access to finance can support SME revenue growth.
- UK small businesses warned that rising costs could force closures or output cuts, while brokers expect SME borrowing demand to rise. iwoca's survey found running costs were brokers' leading concern for small-business clients.
- Octopus Energy has ruled out joining the delayed Pisces private-share exchange at launch. iwoca remains interested and is in contact with the London Stock Exchange ahead of the UK platform's eventual launch.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 68.8% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 5.99, net tone +45)
- Other: 18.8% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 6.34, net tone +67)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 12.5% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 0.92, net tone 0)

Notable positive coverage:

- 28 January 2026, fstech.co.uk: [Binq integrates with iwoca](https://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/Binq_Integrates_With_Iwoca.php). Binq has integrated iwoca's broker API to offer UK SMEs real-time funding assessments and access to loans from £1,000 to £1m. The partnership uses Open Banking data and AI-supported application processes.
- 16 March 2026, ffnews.com: [iwoca Launches Credit Compass to Help Millions of SMEs Understand and Improve Their Business Credit Score](https://ffnews.com/newsarticle/iwoca-launches-credit-compass-to-help-millions-of-smes-understand-and-improve-their-business-credit-score/). iwoca has launched Credit Compass, a free tool to help UK SMEs understand and improve their business credit standing. The company plans to add Open Banking connectivity later in the year.
- 16 June 2026, startupsmagazine.co.uk: [SMEs that access finance 70% more likely to succeed](https://startupsmagazine.co.uk/smes-that-access-finance-70-more-likely-to-succeed). Commissioned research says UK SMEs receiving iwoca finance were 70% more likely to remain trading after three years than the UK average. The article also cites iwoca’s estimated UK economic and employment contribution.

- [iwoca deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1?entity=iwoca&view=deep-dive)
- [iwoca PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1/reports/iwoca.pdf)

## Methodology

- **Share of coverage**: an organisation's mentions divided by all mentions of the organisations tracked in the same sector that month, in UK earned media. It is the central measure of media visibility in Omniscan benchmarks. "Average monthly share" is the mean of the monthly shares across the reporting period.
- **Mention**: one article that covers an organisation, classified as positive, neutral or negative in tone. Articles are deduplicated, and an organisation's own websites and passing sponsorship name-checks are excluded, so only earned media counts.
- **Net tone**: positive mentions minus negative mentions, as a percentage of all mentions (range −100 to +100).
- **Themes**: every article is assigned to one of the sector's editorial themes. A theme index above 1 means the organisation is covered on that theme more than its peers are; below 1 means less.
- **Calculation**: every figure is computed directly from the classified articles; narrative summaries are checked against those figures.
- **Sources**: UK national and international, trade and specialist, regional and local, and aggregator and syndication earned media.

## Other UK Payments & Fintech editions

- [UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd.md)
- [UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – July 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-07.md)
- [UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – August 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-08.md)
- [UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – September 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-09.md)
- [All Omniscan media benchmarks](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks.md)

## How to cite

Omniscan, "UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker", H1 2026 (1 January 2026–30 June 2026), published 1 September 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1