Time Finance flags mismatch between SME borrowing and funding needs

• Time Finance warned that SMEs risk mismatching borrowing with business needs despite strong growth in lending.
• UK SME lending rose 24% year over year to £5.3 billion in Q2 2026, the fastest growth since recovery began in 2024.
• A separate report showed small business lending grew 63%; average loans exceeded £300,000 for the second consecutive quarter.
• Leasing finance applications had an 82% approval rate, compared with 43% for traditional bank loans.
• The analysis urged businesses to match financing to their needs, using Asset Finance, Invoice Finance or Asset Based Lending rather than defaulting to bank loans.

Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Time Finance plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 23, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.