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The growth of private credit in the UK: the “new” threat to financial stability

8 February 2026 / Author(s): Dr Vincenzo Bavoso
Issue: February 2026 / Categories: Feature

This article looks at some of the vulnerabilities that emerge from the growth of private credit, particularly in light of the systemic stability concerns that have been raised by the Bank of England in the UK, and other policymakers globally. It provides an understanding of the shift of key intermediation activities from banks to non-banks, the causes of this trend, and the challenges it poses to regulators. This article argues that the growth of private credit today has its roots in pre-2008 shadow banking, and it is ill-suited to address questions of access to finance for the real economy.

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