---
title: UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker – 2026 year to date
canonical_url: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd
type: dataset
publisher: Omniscan
sector: UK Payments & Fintech
period: 2026 year to date
coverage_start: '2026-01-01'
coverage_end: '2026-09-30'
date_published: '2026-10-04'
last_updated: '2026-10-04'
organisations: 12
articles_analysed: 3086
mentions: 1390
data_download: https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd/data.json
summary: Wise had the highest average monthly share of coverage (27.4%) among 12 companies
  in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of Klarna (13.1%)
  and PayPal (11.6%).
---

# UK payments & fintech media reputation tracker: 2026 year to date (1 January 2026–30 September 2026)

> Wise had the highest average monthly share of coverage (27.4%) among 12 companies in UK earned media from 1 January 2026 to 30 September 2026, ahead of Klarna (13.1%) and PayPal (11.6%). SumUp had the most favourable net tone (+88). Omniscan analysed 3,086 articles containing 1,390 mentions of the companies tracked.

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

## UK Payments & Fintech ranking by share of coverage, 2026 year to date

| Rank | Organisation | Average monthly share of coverage | Mentions | Positive | Neutral | Negative | Net tone |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | Wise | 27.4% | 389 | 41% | 22% | 37% | +4 |
| 2 | Klarna | 13.1% | 187 | 28% | 52% | 20% | +9 |
| 3 | PayPal | 11.6% | 164 | 37% | 46% | 17% | +20 |
| 4 | Allica Bank | 9.6% | 126 | 87% | 13% | 0% | +87 |
| 5 | OakNorth | 7.3% | 92 | 83% | 17% | 0% | +83 |
| 6 | Funding Circle | 5.8% | 87 | 59% | 39% | 2% | +56 |
| 7 | Zilch | 5.5% | 72 | 62% | 35% | 3% | +60 |
| 8 | Stripe | 5.1% | 74 | 70% | 26% | 4% | +66 |
| 9 | SumUp | 5.0% | 66 | 88% | 12% | 0% | +88 |
| 10 | GoCardless | 4.2% | 61 | 79% | 21% | 0% | +79 |
| 11 | Checkout.com | 3.1% | 40 | 78% | 20% | 2% | +75 |
| 12 | iwoca | 2.3% | 32 | 66% | 34% | 0% | +66 |

## Monthly share of coverage, UK Payments & Fintech

| Organisation | January 2026 | February 2026 | March 2026 | April 2026 | May 2026 | June 2026 | July 2026 | August 2026 | September 2026 |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wise | 22.0% | 4.3% | 26.6% | 35.5% | 22.9% | 37.8% | 27.9% | 36.8% | 32.7% |
| Klarna | 19.3% | 23.6% | 7.3% | 7.2% | 9.5% | 10.0% | 22.1% | 10.4% | 8.2% |
| PayPal | 6.4% | 11.8% | 7.3% | 13.8% | 21.9% | 13.4% | 17.6% | 4.8% | 7.3% |
| Allica Bank | 6.4% | 19.9% | 7.3% | 10.1% | 14.3% | 6.0% | 2.7% | 11.2% | 8.2% |
| OakNorth | 11.9% | 12.4% | 15.6% | 5.1% | 5.7% | 4.5% | 1.8% | 4.0% | 5.0% |
| Funding Circle | 3.7% | 2.5% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 4.8% | 3.5% | 5.4% | 8.0% | 15.9% |
| Zilch | 10.1% | 5.6% | 3.7% | 4.3% | 5.7% | 5.5% | 5.4% | 7.2% | 1.8% |
| Stripe | 9.2% | 6.2% | 4.6% | 2.2% | 1.9% | 8.5% | 8.1% | 2.4% | 2.7% |
| SumUp | 0.9% | 3.7% | 12.8% | 2.2% | 6.7% | 0.5% | 2.7% | 7.2% | 8.6% |
| GoCardless | 2.8% | 1.2% | 3.7% | 10.1% | 2.9% | 7.0% | 2.7% | 1.6% | 5.9% |
| Checkout.com | 4.6% | 6.2% | 4.6% | 3.6% | 1.0% | 2.5% | 0.5% | 4.0% | 1.4% |
| iwoca | 2.8% | 2.5% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 2.9% | 1.0% | 3.2% | 2.4% | 2.3% |

## Companies in detail

### Wise

**Wise’s lead endures as scrutiny overtakes expansion**

Wise ranked 1st of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (27.4%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 389 mentions and a net tone of +4.

Wise led the benchmark from January to September, with 389 mentions, a 28.0% pooled share of tracked-company mentions and a 27.4% average monthly share, ranking first on both measures. Its monthly share ranged from 4.3% to 37.8%, showing that the overall lead encompassed pronounced changes in visibility. February was the only month in which Wise did not rank first, falling from 22.0% and first place in January to 4.3% and eighth. Early coverage combined trading performance and the planned US listing with Payments Canada membership and criticism of a proposed Federal Reserve payment account. March restored Wise to first place as reporting broadened to the UK current account, five Thai licences, Nigerian remittance approval and Scott Hill’s board appointment. April and May concentrated on the High Court’s approval of the listing structure, quarterly growth and the completion of Wise’s primary move to Nasdaq, alongside the Capitec partnership and a Canadian multi-currency interest feature. June’s 37.8% share coincided with reporting on the Belgian prosecutors’ enquiries, full-year results, a share-buyback plan and the Expatica acquisition. Wise remained first in July, when the US national trust-bank charter rejection and its compliance basis became prominent alongside first-quarter growth and the Chile transfer launch. In August and September, securities class-action notices and continuing US regulatory coverage sat beside product expansion in the Philippines, Thailand and Canada. The result was a market-leading profile that moved from performance, listings and expansion towards sustained scrutiny of financial-crime controls, regulation and related shareholder claims.

Key messages:

- Wise accounted for 28% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #1-#8 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime and Products, Partnerships & Expansion.
- Visibility peaked in June 2026 at 37.8%, compared with 4.3% in February 2026.
- January 2026: Wise reported higher cross-border volumes, users and income ahead of its planned US dual listing — City AM.

Leading themes:

- Fraud, Scams & Financial Crime: 26.2% of Wise's coverage (theme index 26.25, net tone −97)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 20.1% of Wise's coverage (theme index 0.92, net tone +79)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 19.5% of Wise's coverage (theme index 1.69, net tone +72)

Notable positive coverage:

- 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.
- 17 March 2026, finextra.com: [Wise granted licences in Thailand](https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/109194/wise-granted-licences-in-thailand). 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.

Notable negative coverage:

- 28 September 2026, morningstar.com: [WSE Investors Have Opportunity to Lead Wise Group plc Securities Fraud Lawsuit with SBS Law](https://www.morningstar.com/news/business-wire/20260928651424/wse-investors-have-opportunity-to-lead-wise-group-plc-securities-fraud-lawsuit-with-sbs-law). A US shareholder-law firm is soliciting lead plaintiffs for a securities lawsuit against Wise Group. The complaint alleges that Wise understated regulatory risks arising from inadequate anti-money-laundering procedures.
- 10 September 2026, globenewswire.com: [Bronstein, Gewirtz & Grossman LLC Urges Wise Group plc Investors to Act: Class Action Filed Alleging Investor Harm](https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/09/10/3359804/0/en/bronstein-gewirtz-grossman-llc-urges-wise-group-plc-investors-to-act-class-action-filed-alleging-investor-harm.html). A law firm publicises a class action against Wise alleging misleading disclosures about deficient anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorist-financing efforts. The claims are allegations in a lawsuit, not established findings.
- 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.

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

### Klarna

**Klarna’s banking push met regulation and post-IPO pressure**

Klarna ranked 2nd of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (13.1%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 187 mentions and a net tone of +9.

Klarna recorded 187 mentions from January to September, ranking second by both its 13.1% average monthly share and its 13.5% pooled share of tracked-company mentions. Its profile initially combined expansion beyond BNPL with financial scrutiny: January’s peer-to-peer payments launch coincided with a 19.3% share and second place, while reports also covered an investor lawsuit and post-IPO share weakness. Klarna moved into first place in February with 23.6%, as independent reporting examined its Google Pay integration, incoming BNPL regulation and customer debt. Its share then fell to 7.3% and joint fourth place in March, when stories included Sir Michael Moritz’s $50m share purchase and accounts of consumers restricting Klarna use after excessive spending. April brought a further decline to 7.2% and fifth place; the sole prominent Klarna-specific development concerned a customer financing £1,200 of Taylor Swift tickets, while most other available articles referred to the company only contextually within broader fintech coverage. Share recovered to 9.5% in May and 10.0% in June, alongside reports on Chrysalis valuation reductions, personal BNPL debt and the approach of FCA oversight. July produced the period’s largest volume, 49 mentions, and a 22.1% share in second place; contemporaneous stories covered PriceRunner’s antitrust award against Google, Klarna’s Money Wellness partnership and the new regulatory standards. August fell to third place as share declined to 10.4%, with reporting spanning upgraded memberships, in-store expansion and reduced revenue and transaction-value guidance. In September, Klarna’s share declined to 8.2% and joint fourth place as Chrysalis completed its exit, the free UK credit-card tier was withdrawn, Klarna Mobile launched and CFO Niclas Neglen’s planned departure was announced. Across the window, coverage broadened from payments and BNPL into banking services, regulation, retail partnerships and subscriptions, but financial-performance and consumer-borrowing stories remained persistent counterweights.

Key messages:

- Klarna accounted for 13.5% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #1-#5 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Regulation & Policy and Consumer Payments & BNPL.
- Visibility peaked in February 2026 at 23.6%, compared with 7.2% in April 2026.
- January 2026: Klarna launched instant peer-to-peer payments across 13 European countries, including the UK — FinTech Futures.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 36.9% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 2.88, net tone +19)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 26.2% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 5.53, net tone −14)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 13.9% of Klarna's coverage (theme index 1.01, net tone −4)

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.
- 14 January 2026, fstech.co.uk: [Klarna launches instant peer-to-peer payments](https://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/Klarna_Launches_Instant_Peer_To_Peer_Payments.php). Klarna launched instant peer-to-peer payments in 13 European countries, including the UK. The feature supports transfers between Klarna users and is part of its broader UK digital-banking expansion.
- 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.

Notable negative coverage:

- 28 September 2026, cityam.com: [Chrysalis sells off Klarna stake for £34m after stock plunge](https://www.cityam.com/chrysalis-sells-off-klarna-stake-for-34m-after-stock-plunge/). UK investment trust Chrysalis Investments sold its remaining Klarna stake for £34m after previous valuation markdowns. The article also reports Klarna's sharp post-IPO share-price decline and reduced revenue and GMV forecasts.
- 17 September 2026, thesun.co.uk: [Klarna customers fume over new charge coming into force - are you affected?](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/40400894/klarna-customers-fume-credit-card-charge/). Klarna will withdraw its free UK credit-card tier from November 13 and introduce a minimum £4.99 monthly membership charge. Customers have criticised the change, while Klarna says its free checkout payment options and debit card remain available.
- 17 September 2026, mirror.co.uk: [Klarna axes free credit card as customers say 'no way I'm paying' new £4.99 fee](https://www.mirror.co.uk/money/klarna-credit-card-free-membership-37673387). Klarna is ending its free UK credit card and will require a membership costing at least £4.99 a month from November 13. The article also outlines newly introduced FCA regulation for BNPL providers.

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

### PayPal

**PayPal’s year-to-date profile spans expansion, scrutiny and takeover interest**

PayPal ranked 3rd of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (11.6%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 164 mentions and a net tone of +20.

Across January to September, PayPal recorded 164 mentions and ranked third by both its 11.8% pooled share and 11.6% average monthly share of tracked-company mentions. Its visibility was volatile: it moved from joint sixth in January to second from April through June, then fell to seventh in August before ending sixth in September. The first phase centred on commercial expansion, including Transaction Graph Insights, the UK testing role for PayPal+ and the Debenhams AI-shopping partnership. This product-led profile widened in March with PYUSD’s expansion to 70 markets and the UK launch of PayPal+, while April paired rail-ticket acceptance and loyalty incentives with extensive warnings about the 1p deposit scam. April coverage also reported PayPal removing its branding from Wireless Festival promotional material following controversy over Kanye West’s booking. The strongest share month was May at 21.9%, when independent reporting prominently covered the FCA’s competition investigation into PayPal, Visa and Mastercard, alongside the Ohme Pay in 3 partnership and first-quarter results. PayPal remained second in June even as its share eased to 13.4%. Stories included the Hey Savi in-app checkout launch and PayPal+ festival discounts, broadening the subject mix beyond regulation. July produced the highest volume, 39 mentions, as reporting covered the $53bn Stripe-Advent bid and the UK launch of Pay in 30 Days, although PayPal ranked third amid a larger cohort total. The late period was thinner and more fragmented: August coverage featured planned Irish redundancies, while September combined PYUSD expansion, wider restructuring, eBay UK’s removal of PayPal for Royal Mail labels, and contextual mentions of PayPal among participants in the proposed UK payments infrastructure.

Key messages:

- PayPal accounted for 11.8% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#7 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Regulation & Policy and Products, Partnerships & Expansion.
- Visibility peaked in May 2026 at 21.9%, compared with 4.8% in August 2026.
- January 2026: PayPal launched Transaction Graph Insights for cross-platform purchasing and sales analysis, reported by FStech.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 26.8% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 1.84, net tone −27)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 20.1% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 0.93, net tone +76)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 19.5% of PayPal's coverage (theme index 3.23, net tone +72)

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:

- 31 August 2026, irishmirror.ie: ['Devastating blow' as over 160 staff set to lose jobs at PayPal's Irish operation](https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/paypal-ireland-redundancies-jobs-dublin-37612598). PayPal's Irish operation plans up to 164 redundancies, nearly 12% of its Irish workforce of 1,380. The company said the cuts form part of a strategy to simplify operations and support long-term growth.
- 9 July 2026, metro.co.uk: ['I lost thousands after using illegal streaming site - people don't know risks'](https://metro.co.uk/2026/07/09/i-lost-thousands-scammers-using-illegal-streaming-site-people-dont-know-risks-29014262/). A UK illegal-streaming victim said he lost nearly £2,000 after entering PayPal details on an unofficial sports-streaming service. The article highlights malware and payment-data theft risks from piracy sites.
- 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.

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

### Allica Bank

**Funding, lending and expansion broaden Allica Bank’s media profile**

Allica Bank ranked 4th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (9.6%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 126 mentions and a net tone of +87.

Allica Bank recorded 126 mentions from January to September, representing 9.1% of tracked-company mentions across the period and an average monthly share of 9.6%. It ranked fourth on both measures, although its monthly position ranged from second in February to joint eighth in July. February’s 19.9% share coincided with extensive independent reporting of a $155 million Series D, a valuation of about $1.2 billion and plans for lending, technology and international expansion. Lending remained the most consistent strand, encompassing the £1 billion asset-finance milestone, a £15 million facility for Charles Trent, new funding for Atlas Composite Technologies and the British Business Bank guarantee arrangement. April broadened the profile through results showing underlying pre-tax profit of £43.7 million, consideration of European expansion, higher loan limits and a national relationship-banking campaign. May added two materially different developments: a guarantee structure expected to support up to £700 million of SME lending and live testing of automated loan decisions from unstructured applications. June and July returned the emphasis to specialist lending, including expanded healthcare and commercial-property propositions, a larger Tier 2 capital facility and waived arrangement fees on qualifying commercial mortgages. The proposed international strategy became concrete in August when Allica applied for a Swedish banking licence and established a local entity and leadership team. September combined continued reporting of the Swedish application with changes to bridging and commercial-mortgage products, research on the SME lending gap and a marketing-compliance partnership with Adclear. The overall profile therefore moved between concentrated corporate milestones and a steadier base of product, customer-finance and SME-policy stories, with visibility strongest when a major strategic development attracted coverage across several outlets.

Key messages:

- Allica Bank accounted for 9.1% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#8 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Merchants, SMEs & Lending and Funding, IPOs & Listings.
- Visibility peaked in February 2026 at 19.9%, compared with 2.7% in July 2026.
- January 2026: Allica surpassed £1 billion in asset-finance lending, reported by FStech.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 41.3% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 5.16, net tone +83)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 19.8% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 1.75, net tone +96)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 15.1% of Allica Bank's coverage (theme index 0.69, net tone +89)

Notable positive coverage:

- 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.
- 25 February 2026, fintechfutures.com: [Allica Bank achieves unicorn status with $155m Series D](https://www.fintechfutures.com/venture-capital-funding/allica-bank-achieves-unicorn-status-with-155m-series-d). Allica Bank raised a $155 million Series D round at a $1.2 billion valuation, achieving unicorn status. The funding will support lending growth, technology investment and international expansion.

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

### OakNorth

**OakNorth broadened its lending profile through US and platform expansion**

OakNorth ranked 5th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (7.3%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 92 mentions and a net tone of +83.

OakNorth recorded 92 mentions from January to September, taking 6.6% of tracked-company mentions and ranking fifth on both pooled and average monthly share. Its 7.3% average monthly share was higher than its pooled share because each month carried equal weight, while the larger cohort totals in several later months coincided with lower OakNorth shares. The firm began strongly, ranking third in January and February as reporting covered Tom Harris’s appointment as chief technology officer, regional debt-finance hires and lending for EAG Bioenergy, Good REIT and Hypha Partners. February also brought Gergely Zaborszky’s appointment as chief financial officer and a $78m Manhattan office-conversion loan. OakNorth reached second place and 15.6% in March, alongside reporting on its Monite acquisition, £223m pre-tax profit, US growth, delayed net-zero target and entry into trade finance. Its share then fell to 5.1% and sixth place in April, when stories included financing for Medicare Insourcing Services and Best.Energy and the chief executive’s expectation that US business lending would overtake the UK operation. May and June combined further UK lending with the Rosa’s Thai and MSS International facilities, followed by the Fintex Capital specialty-finance alliance and discussion of Monite’s integration into business banking. Visibility narrowed to lending alone in July and August, when the Everflow financing, Abeona nursery facility and DataVita infrastructure loan appeared as OakNorth ranked eleventh and joint eighth respectively. September brought a recovery to 5.0% and eighth place, with lending for West Coast Estates, BetterHome Group and EET Retail broadening the transaction agenda again. Wider sector articles provided contextual mentions through savings comparisons, the Bank of England’s scale-up cohort, a funding panel, Flagstone’s account range and challenger-bank tax lobbying; they were not developments at OakNorth.

Key messages:

- OakNorth accounted for 6.6% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#11 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Merchants, SMEs & Lending and Products, Partnerships & Expansion.
- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 15.6%, compared with 1.8% in July 2026.
- January 2026: OakNorth appointed Tom Harris as chief technology officer, reported by FinTech Futures.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 48.9% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 5.88, net tone +96)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 19.6% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 0.91, net tone +78)
- Regulation & Policy: 13.0% of OakNorth's coverage (theme index 0.8, net tone +58)

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

### Funding Circle

**Funding Circle reaches second amid September leadership and results coverage**

Funding Circle ranked 6th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.8%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 87 mentions and a net tone of +56.

Across January to September, Funding Circle recorded 87 mentions, representing 6.3% of tracked-company mentions on a pooled basis and an average monthly share of 5.8%. Both measures ranked the firm sixth among the tracked cohort. The higher pooled share reflects the greater weight given to months with more cohort mentions, particularly September, while the monthly measure weights each month equally. Funding Circle began in ninth place in January, fell to joint tenth in February, ranked between joint seventh and ninth from March to June, then advanced to joint fifth in July, fourth in August and second in September. January’s coverage combined better-than-forecast 2025 revenue and profit with an Apple Pay launch carried in press-release and contributed copy. February centred on the £700 million Waterfall Asset Management agreement, while March and April broadened the agenda through profit-growth expectations, late-payment research, the Lovey integration and expanded FlexiPay funding. May’s five mentions included four contextual references in wider articles about artificial-intelligence training, start-up finance and revolving credit, alongside a commercial review of Funding Circle’s lending products. Volume increased to seven in June, although share fell to 3.5% and rank to ninth as cohort coverage expanded; stories included the renewed £200 million Deutsche Bank agreement and Funding Circle’s tenth public loan securitisation. July’s first-half trading update accompanied a move to joint fifth place, and August combined the £500 million Castlelake commitment with investment and broker coverage as the firm reached fourth. September marked the clearest competitive advance, with 35 mentions, a 15.9% share and second place amid reporting on upgraded guidance, Lisa Jacobs’s planned departure, further buybacks and renewed rugby sponsorship.

Key messages:

- Funding Circle accounted for 6.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #2-#10 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Financial Results & Valuations and Merchants, SMEs & Lending.
- Visibility peaked in September 2026 at 15.9%, compared with 2.5% in February 2026.
- January 2026: Funding Circle exceeded its 2025 forecasts and reached its 2026 revenue target early, reported by BusinessCloud.

Leading themes:

- Financial Results & Valuations: 47.1% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 4.07, net tone +63)
- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 27.6% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 2.79, net tone +63)
- Leadership, People & Culture: 14.9% of Funding Circle's coverage (theme index 4.75, net tone +15)

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 introduced Apple Pay for Cashback business credit card and FlexiPay customers, enabling device-based business payments. The launch supports its broader multi-product offering for UK SMEs.
- 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 agreed a £700m forward-flow agreement with Waterfall Asset Management, supported by Citi financing, to expand UK SME lending capacity. Waterfall will also acquire a £120m existing loan portfolio.

Notable negative coverage:

- 2 September 2026, reuters.com: [EXCLUSIVE: Banks rush to swap higher-risk credit assets for BoE cash](https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/banks-rush-swap-higher-risk-credit-assets-boe-cash-2026-09-02/). Reuters reports that UK banks are increasingly using higher-risk collateral at Bank of England liquidity auctions. It says a securitisation backed by loans originated through Funding Circle's platform was eligible collateral, with S&P estimating that almost a fifth of loans in that pool would likely default.
- 9 September 2026, investorschronicle.co.uk: [Funding Circle shares sink as CEO resigns](https://www.investorschronicle.co.uk/content/39132fe8-1b01-4971-9360-068755a2071a). Funding Circle shares fell 12% after CEO Lisa Jacobs announced her resignation. Jacobs is expected to leave no later than September 2027.

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

### Zilch

**European expansion and IPO planning framed Zilch’s year-to-date profile**

Zilch ranked 7th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.5%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 72 mentions and a net tone of +60.

Zilch recorded 72 mentions from January to September, representing 5.2% of tracked-company mentions and eighth place on pooled share and seventh on average monthly share. January established its strongest competitive position, at 10.1% and fourth place, as independent reporting covered the planned Fjord Bank acquisition, European banking ambitions and further dealmaking ahead of a possible public listing. Visibility then narrowed to 3.7% and joint tenth place in March, although stories included Zilch’s $176.7 million funding round and consumer-finance commentary from a company representative. May brought renewed product coverage through the launch of Visa Flexible Credential with Visa and Thredd, alongside contributed reporting on Florence Quirici’s appointment as chief corporate affairs officer. June expanded the agenda through independent coverage of Dame Clare Barclay’s board appointment, strategic consumer use of credit and Zilch’s cashback proposition. In July, share remained at 5.4% while rank improved from seventh to joint fifth; contemporaneous developments included the Rezolve Ai partnership, participation in AI-agent-initiated payments and the launch of Advance. August’s 7.2% share was accompanied by independent reporting on Zilch joining the FCA’s Scale-up Unit, while contributed copy introduced new membership tiers. September closed at 1.8% and 11th place, but its concentrated coverage carried substantial corporate detail as Zilch invited banks to pitch for a potential London IPO and reported progress towards profitability. Across the window, the profile moved from acquisition and funding ambitions into products, leadership, regulation and technology before returning to capital-markets planning. The 5.5% average monthly share was slightly above the 5.2% pooled share, with equal monthly weighting placing Zilch seventh and pooled share eighth.

Key messages:

- Zilch accounted for 5.2% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #4-#11 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Regulation & Policy and Products, Partnerships & Expansion.
- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 10.1%, compared with 1.8% in September 2026.
- January 2026: Fintech Futures reported Zilch’s agreement to acquire Fjord Bank to secure a European banking licence and accelerate continental expansion.

Leading themes:

- Regulation & Policy: 31.9% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 2.11, net tone +35)
- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 16.7% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 0.77, net tone +100)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 16.7% of Zilch's coverage (theme index 2.34, net tone +67)

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). London-based BNPL firm Zilch is acquiring Lithuania’s Fjord Bank for a reported $38 million to obtain a European banking licence and support expansion across Europe. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026 and broadens Zilch’s capabilities ahead of a potential IPO.
- 8 January 2026, fintechfutures.com: [Zilch to acquire Fjord Bank in European expansion](https://www.fintechfutures.com/m-a/zilch-to-acquire-lithuanian-challenger-fjord-bank-in-european-expansion-push). UK-based Zilch has agreed to acquire Lithuania's Fjord Bank to obtain a European banking licence and accelerate continental expansion. The deal is expected to close in the second half of 2026, subject to approvals.

Notable negative coverage:

- 25 July 2026, thesun.co.uk: [Urgent warning over Zilch’s new £100 pre-payday cash feature that could leave customers 'trapped' in borrowing cycle](https://www.thesun.co.uk/money/39839181/zilch-users-100-before-payday-debt-trap-warning/). Zilch is launching Advance, enabling eligible customers to access up to £100 before payday for a £3 transfer fee. Consumer and debt campaigners warn the feature could encourage repeat borrowing, while Zilch says affordability and open-banking checks apply.

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

### Stripe

**Stripe’s visibility swung from valuation stories to UK payments partnerships**

Stripe ranked 8th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.1%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 74 mentions and a net tone of +66.

Stripe recorded 74 measured mentions from January to September, representing 5.3% of tracked-company mentions and seventh place on a pooled basis. Its 5.1% average monthly share ranked eighth, reflecting the effect of giving equal weight to quieter months. Early visibility combined operational expansion with corporate-scale narratives: January included the Currys terminal rollout and JD Sports’ adoption of an AI-enabled commerce suite, while February centred on a $159 billion valuation and reports that Stripe was considering all or part of PayPal. The company fell from fifth place in January and joint fifth in February to joint seventh in March and joint tenth in April as its share narrowed from 9.2% to 2.2%. March retained a company profile examining its payments, stablecoin and AI-commerce operations, while April included MoneyGram solutions built on Stripe alongside wider sector references. Two secondary Stripe mentions were measured in May. June then brought the strongest volume recovery, with Lloyds Accept, Stripe Tour London product announcements, the UK extension of the Affirm partnership and Stripe’s replacement by Adyen on GOV.UK Pay all receiving coverage. July remained fourth by monthly rank, but its 18 mentions were heavily concentrated on reports of a joint $53 billion PayPal offer with Advent, alongside the separate Ryder Cup payments partnership. Visibility receded in August, when the only company-focused article was a practical payment-link guide, before September’s Bank of Ireland digital-transformation agreement provided the principal company-specific development. Across the period, Stripe’s profile alternated between partnership-led evidence of deployment and concentrated corporate-finance stories, producing a higher pooled share with seventh place on pooled share and eighth on average monthly share.

Key messages:

- Stripe accounted for 5.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #4-#11 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, Partnerships & Expansion and Funding, IPOs & Listings.
- Visibility peaked in January 2026 at 9.2%, compared with 1.9% in May 2026.
- January 2026: Stripe’s deployment of payment terminals across nearly 300 Currys stores — FinTech Global.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 39.2% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 1.92, net tone +62)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 28.4% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 2.54, net tone +76)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 10.8% of Stripe's coverage (theme index 0.77, net tone +75)

Notable positive coverage:

- 24 February 2026, m.economictimes.com: [Stripe valuation jumps to $159 billion in latest employee share sale](https://m.economictimes.com/tech/technology/stripe-valuation-jumps-to-159-billion-in-latest-employee-share-sale/articleshow/128756591.cms). 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.
- 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, finextra.com: [Stripe hits $159bn valuation](https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/47349/stripe-hits-159bn-valuation). Stripe agreed a tender offer valuing it at $159 billion and reported $1.9 trillion in 2025 payment volume.

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

### SumUp

**SumUp broadened its profile from merchant tools to football partnerships**

SumUp ranked 9th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (5.0%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 66 mentions and a net tone of +88.

SumUp recorded 66 mentions from January to September, representing 4.7% of tracked-company mentions across the full window and ninth place on that basis. Its average monthly share was higher at 5.0%, ranking ninth, because this measure gives each month equal weight while the pooled result gives greater weight to months with more cohort coverage. Visibility opened at 0.9% and 12th place in January, when Coffee Intelligence examined SumUp’s role in faster café payments and maintaining payment choice. February brought 3.7% and ninth place, alongside independent reporting on the £25 Solo Lite card reader. March produced the highest share, 12.8% and third place, as stories covered the Sage-powered tax service, Upvest investing partnership and preparations for a possible European flotation. Share then fell to 2.2% in April, although reporting continued on possible London listing plans and the launch of SumUp Loyalty, the SumUp Local app and SumUp Register. May’s rise to 6.7% came entirely from contextual references in broader reporting, including card-reader comparisons, digital tipping and fintech hiring forecasts, rather than reports of a SumUp development. June reached the period low of 0.5% and 12th place despite Finovate reporting the company’s launch in Canada. Consumer accounts widened the range of subjects in July, while August combined further personal-account visibility with the Newcastle United training-kit partnership and a return to joint fifth place. September closed at 8.6% and third place, with 19 mentions dominated by the Manchester United sleeve partnership and supplemented by reporting on SumUp’s ambition to make its personal account a primary banking proposition.

Key messages:

- SumUp accounted for 4.7% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #3-#12 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, Partnerships & Expansion and Funding, IPOs & Listings.
- Visibility peaked in March 2026 at 12.8%, compared with 0.5% in June 2026.
- January 2026: Coffee Intelligence examined SumUp’s point-of-sale role in faster café payments and the need to preserve payment choice.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 65.2% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 3.4, net tone +100)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 12.1% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 1, net tone +50)
- Consumer Payments & BNPL: 9.1% of SumUp's coverage (theme index 1.2, net tone +83)

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, credit transfers and direct debits. The arrangement builds on its existing UK Faster Payments and Bacs connection and aims to simplify infrastructure for its merchants.
- 24 March 2026, finextra.com: [SumUp to provide in-app investing to merchant clients](https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/47481/sumup-to-provide-in-app-investing-to-merchant-clients). SumUp has partnered with Upvest to offer merchants in-app access to fractional money market funds, beginning in Germany. The service is planned for a wider European and UK rollout.

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

### GoCardless

**GoCardless coverage broadened from bank payments to acquisition and AI**

GoCardless ranked 10th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (4.2%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 61 mentions and a net tone of +79.

GoCardless recorded 61 mentions from January to September, ranking tenth by both its 4.4% pooled share of tracked-company mentions and its 4.2% average monthly share. The slightly higher pooled figure reflects the greater weight given to busier cohort months, including June and September, when GoCardless was comparatively visible. Coverage opened with the £12bn Octopus Energy Direct Debit migration and then narrowed sharply in February, when two articles mentioned the company, including a contextual inclusion in BusinessCloud’s UK fintech unicorn ranking. March restored a product-led profile through the first live recurring Pay by Bank transaction for Jellyfish Energy and GoCardless’s reported adoption by more than 35,000 businesses. April was the strongest competitive month, at 10.1% and third place, alongside independent reporting on revenue growth, narrower losses, the first adjusted EBITDA-positive quarter and a restructuring affecting about 90 roles. Stories that month also covered commercial variable recurring payments, the RMS integration and Mollie’s agreed acquisition. Following a quieter May centred on the pending Mollie transaction, GoCardless rose to 7.0% and fifth place in June. Independent reporting in June covered the launch of Recurring Pay by Bank and the FundTap partnership, while contributed material detailed the Intelligent Billing integration and Mollie’s European expansion plans. July’s smaller 2.7% share nevertheless included the Sage Pay by Bank integration, before August narrowed to partnership and pricing coverage at 1.6%. September lifted GoCardless to 5.9% and seventh place as independent articles covered Mollie’s completed €1.1bn acquisition, the first live UK agentic bank payment and the Data Energy deployment.

Key messages:

- GoCardless accounted for 4.4% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #3-#12 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, Partnerships & Expansion and Funding, IPOs & Listings.
- Visibility peaked in April 2026 at 10.1%, compared with 1.2% in February 2026.
- January 2026: GoCardless completed Octopus Energy’s migration of 5.5 million mandates and £12bn in payments, reported by The Fintech Times.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 41.0% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 2, net tone +92)
- Technology, AI & Infrastructure: 16.4% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 6.6, net tone +90)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 14.8% of GoCardless's coverage (theme index 1.23, net tone +78)

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 a UK Direct Debit migration for Octopus Energy, moving 5.5 million mandates and £12 billion in payments without disruption. The platform is expected to reduce customer refund times to one or two days through automated self-service processing.
- 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). Communicate Telecoms has adopted GoCardless’ AI-powered Same Day Settlement+ tool to receive Direct Debit payments two days sooner. The expanded seven-year partnership aims to improve payment success, billing automation and cash flow.
- 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 adopted its open-banking payment products since 2021, supporting Pay by Bank adoption in the UK. It highlights intelligent routing, broad payer coverage and reported 99.5% uptime.

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

### Checkout.com

**Profitability and partnerships framed Checkout.com’s uneven year-to-date visibility**

Checkout.com ranked 11th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (3.1%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 40 mentions and a net tone of +75.

Checkout.com recorded 40 mentions from January to September, representing 2.9% of tracked-company mentions on a pooled basis and an average monthly share of 3.1%; it ranked 11th on both measures. Its strongest competitive position came in February, when share rose to 6.2% and the company climbed from eighth to joint fifth. Independent reporting that month covered its return to full-year profitability, payment volume exceeding $300bn and continued hiring, while Ashley Paulus’s appointment broadened the agenda beyond financial performance. January had established a strong expansion narrative through the Blue EMI acquisition, plans for a Vilnius technology centre and conditional approval for a US merchant-acquirer bank charter. Share fell to 4.6% in March and 3.6% in April, alongside stories about the Trip.com partnership, US expansion plans and Checkout.com’s integration with SAP Commerce Cloud. After one measured secondary mention in May, the company reached June with a 2.5% share and tenth place; stories included its BLIK membership, stablecoin collaboration with Coinbase and selection by Microsoft for EMEA payments. One secondary mention was measured in July, before share reached 4.0% and eighth place in August. August reporting examined Checkout.com’s role in roughly half of Coinbase’s non-US acquiring, its payment-orchestration approach, agentic-commerce research and reported valuation. Share then fell to 1.4% and twelfth place in September, when independent reporting covered annualised net revenue of $750m and an expected adjusted EBITDA of about $150m for 2026. Across the window, the profile moved from regulatory and geographic expansion towards profitability, enterprise partnerships, stablecoins, payment performance and agentic commerce, but visibility was intermittent rather than sustained.

Key messages:

- Checkout.com accounted for 2.9% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #5-#12 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Products, Partnerships & Expansion and Financial Results & Valuations.
- Visibility peaked in February 2026 at 6.2%, compared with 0.5% in July 2026.
- January 2026: Checkout.com secured conditional approval for a US merchant-acquirer bank charter, reported by Payments Dive.

Leading themes:

- Products, Partnerships & Expansion: 42.5% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 2.05, net tone +100)
- Financial Results & Valuations: 22.5% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 1.66, net tone +78)
- Technology, AI & Infrastructure: 12.5% of Checkout.com's coverage (theme index 4.44, net tone +40)

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

### iwoca

**Funding, partnerships and SME research broaden iwoca’s profile**

iwoca ranked 12th of 12 by average monthly share of coverage (2.3%) in the UK Payments & Fintech benchmark for 2026 year to date, with 32 mentions and a net tone of +66.

Across January to September, iwoca secured 32 mentions and ranked 12th by both its 2.3% average monthly share and 2.3% pooled share of tracked-company mentions. Its visibility generally placed it between ninth and 12th, before a July concentration lifted it to seventh with a 3.2% share. Coverage was anchored in SME lending, but the underlying agenda moved between integrations, research, funding and corporate-development reporting. January combined Binq’s integration of iwoca’s broker API with iwoca research on small-business concerns about costs and economic uncertainty. March introduced Credit Compass through press-release copy, adding business-credit education to the lending narrative. Independent reporting in June covered commissioned research linking access to iwoca finance with SME survival and economic contribution. July brought the sharpest corporate inflection, with independent outlets reporting a £250m debt facility and the appointment of Qatalyst Partners amid speculation about a potential sale valued above £1bn. August returned the focus to SME demand and distribution, including research on borrowing for expansion and MoneySuperMarket’s provision of access to iwoca lending through its new business-banking app. September extended that distribution story through the Starling Bank integration, while separate reporting detailed £1.5bn of 2025 lending, revenue growth, profit and a new SME credit card. Taken together, the period developed iwoca’s profile from a specialist lending and research voice into a broader account encompassing embedded distribution, funding capacity and corporate scale.

Key messages:

- iwoca accounted for 2.3% of tracked-company mentions; its monthly rank was #7-#12 among 12.
- Coverage concentrated on Merchants, SMEs & Lending and Funding, IPOs & Listings.
- Visibility peaked in July 2026 at 3.2%, compared with 1% in June 2026.
- January 2026: Binq integrated iwoca’s broker API to provide real-time funding assessments and loans of £1,000 to £1m, reported by FS Tech.

Leading themes:

- Merchants, SMEs & Lending: 68.8% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 7.13, net tone +64)
- Funding, IPOs & Listings: 21.9% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 1.85, net tone +71)
- Other: 9.4% of iwoca's coverage (theme index 3.26, net tone +67)

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 launched Credit Compass, a free UK SME tool providing business-credit data, explanations and improvement guidance. It plans to add Open Banking account connectivity later in 2026.
- 22 July 2026, news.sky.com: [Small business lender Iwoca finds Qatalyst for £1bn sale](https://news.sky.com/story/small-business-lender-iwoca-finds-qatalyst-for-1bn-sale-13565964). Iwoca has hired Qatalyst Partners to oversee a potential sale expected to value the UK SME lender at more than £1bn. The company reported rapid growth in SME customers and new lending.

- [iwoca deep dive](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd?entity=iwoca&view=deep-dive)
- [iwoca PDF report](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd/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 – H1 2026](https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-h1.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", 2026 year to date (1 January 2026–30 September 2026), published 4 October 2026. https://www.omniscan.ai/benchmarks/uk-fintech-2026-ytd