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DEMSA Column: Affordability Summit / DUAA update / Fraud Prevention / Vulnerability drills / Debt sector / AI / Collaborations / Events

In today’s bulletin: General update Affordability Summit DUAA 2025 – February updates AI voice cloning to commit financial crimes Collaborations Events Setting the scene General update What is interesting of late is the regulator reactions to the government on their progress on ‘growth’ initiatives that were communicated from last January 2025. There seem to be reminders that ‘we have done our bit’, but what has happened with the government fulfilling their end of the bargain. We covered the strong message… Read more

Protecting Consumer Privacy in 2026

Data is becoming central and every more important for our world – Consumer Privacy as a result is one of the hot topics for 2026… an anthem for us to mull over! Lyrics: DEMSA Music: via RO-AR.com

KEY THEMES+ ¦ DEMSA Summary

What you need to know this week Bank of England data (published 5/1/2026) showed net consumer credit borrowing rose to £2.1bn in November 2025, including £1.0bn on credit cards.Annual growth in total consumer credit increased to 8.1% in November, with credit card borrowing growth rising to 12.1%.Effective interest rates remained high, including interest-charging overdrafts at 21.57% and credit cards at 21.60%.Mortgage approvals for house purchase fell to 64,500, while remortgaging approvals rose to 36,600.StepChange recorded 3,958 website visitors on Christmas… Read more

AI Governance: The Strategic Imperative for 2026

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer just a futuristic concept – it’s now a core business function embedded in critical compliance and operational areas. ​ A joint 2024 survey by the Bank of England and the FCA revealed that 72% of UK-regulated firms are actively using or piloting AI and machine learning tools. ​ From fraud detection and customer onboarding to quality assurance and vulnerability identification, AI is starting to transform how businesses operate. However, with great power comes great… Read more

Empathy and Data – Managing Vulnerability Complexity

A discussion with Andrew Gething, Founder and Managing Director of MorganAsh, on the challenges of managing customer vulnerability across financial services and other sectors. The conversation explores how vulnerability management has evolved—from simplistic flagging to more nuanced, data-driven, and empathetic approaches—and highlights operational, regulatory, and technological barriers. It also delves into the FCA’s Consumer Duty, the role of AI, and how firms can use customer understanding to drive both compliance and strategic advantage. Find out more about MorganAsh -Here.… Read more

KEY THEMES+ ¦ DEMSA Summary

What you need to know this week The government is considering targeted action in the next Budget to tackle cost-of-living challenges, potentially including cuts to the 5% VAT rate on energy.UK manufacturing output grew by 0.7% in August 2025, contributing to slight national economic growth.Debit card transactions in July 2025 fell year-on-year by 0.7%, while credit card transactions rose 2.4%.The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) recorded 204 nationally significant cyber-attacks in the past year, more than double the previous 12… Read more