UK Finance has confirmed that almost 90% of the UK’s mortgage market is now covered by its Financial Abuse Code after eight more lenders signed up.
The move strengthens support for customers experiencing domestic or economic abuse and brings the total number of firms signing the Code to 33, covering 49 brands.
The Financial Abuse Code, relaunched in April 2025, aligns fully with the FCA’s Consumer Duty.
It provides practical measures for lenders to help victim-survivors, including identifying economic abuse, offering account freezes or restructures, and ensuring consistent, empathetic support.
Mortgage-related economic abuse can involve restricting access to funds, forcing borrowing in a partner’s name, or sabotaging a household’s ability to meet payment obligations.
The new signatories are: Coventry Building Society, Cumberland Building Society, Fleet Mortgages, Ikano Bank, Monzo, Principality Building Society, Progressive Building Society, and Shawbrook (including The Mortgage Lender and Bluestone Mortgages Ltd). All have committed to full compliance by 1 November 2026.
HELPING VICTIM-SURVIVORS
Eric Leenders (main picture, inset), managing director of personal finance at UK Finance, said: “Financial abuse can happen to anyone. With more lenders joining the Code, coverage across the mortgage market has been strengthened significantly.
“By working with specialist charities and our members, we are helping victim-survivors to receive consistent and empathetic support whilst regaining independence and control of their money.”
DEVASTATING IMPACT
Lucy Rigby MP, Economic Secretary to the Treasury, added: “Economic abuse causes devastation in the lives of far too many.
“As City Minister, I am grateful to UK Finance for their work to develop and promote the Financial Abuse Code in recognition of the key role financial services firms have in supporting victim-survivors.
“I look forward to the further progress government and industry will make to tackle this issue together through the Financial Inclusion Strategy.”
SIGNIFICANT MILESTONE
Sam Smethers, CEO of Surviving Economic Abuse, said: “The fact that another nine firms have signed up to the Code means that 90% of the mortgage market is now covered – a significant milestone.
“This is particularly important given that around 750,000 women in the UK have experienced a current or ex-partner economically abusing them through joint mortgages, plunging them into debt and ever closer to homelessness.
“At SEA, we are proud to have worked closely with UK Finance to support the development of the Code.
“We look forward to continuing our partnership in the months and years ahead as we tackle joint mortgage abuse, support credit restoration, and ensure survivors have access to the financial protections and support they need to rebuild their lives free from economic abuse.”
