Who will be named Lender of the Year at the Finance Connect Summer Awards?

At the Finance Connect Summer Awards 2026, the prestigious Lender of the Year Award, sponsored by NETSOL Technologies, stands as the ultimate recognition of excellence across the asset, auto, equipment and receivables finance sectors.

This award celebrates a market-leading lender that has demonstrated outstanding commitment to the industry, combining innovation, strong performance, and a relentless focus on customer experience to set the benchmark for others to follow.

Celebrating the best of the best

The Lender of the Year Award is not open for direct entry. Instead, it represents a culmination of success across the industry, with all community category winners automatically entered into consideration.

These categories include:

• Asset Finance Provider of the Year
• Auto Finance Provider of the Year
• Equipment Finance Provider of the Year
• Factoring Finance Provider of the Year
• Invoice Finance Provider of the Year
• Asset Based Lending Finance Provider of the Year

For organisations aiming to compete for this top accolade, entering the community categories is essential.

To explore categories and submit your nominations, visit: https://afcawardsuk.com/2026/en/page/categories

Entries close on 1st May, so now is the time to showcase your achievements.

Setting the standard: Allica Bank

In just a few years, Allica has combined proprietary technology with a relationship-led approach to transform how established SMEs access finance. Its growth tells a powerful story – lending over £3 billion to UK businesses, with asset finance playing a significant role in that expansion.

Reflecting on the win, Brandon Hall, Head of Broker Sales – Asset Finance at Allica, said:

“The whole team at Allica Bank is incredibly proud to be named Lender of the Year 2025. This recognition is a true testament to the hard work, innovation, and dedication we’ve poured into building a relationship-led, tech-enabled asset finance offering that genuinely meets the needs of brokers and their clients.”

Allica’s success lies in its ability to balance cutting-edge technology with human expertise. From machine learning-driven credit processes and automation-led efficiencies to maintaining a 24-hour service-level agreement, the bank has demonstrated how innovation can scale without compromising service quality.

With strong broker satisfaction, rapid growth, and continued investment in new products and sectors – from green energy to healthcare – Allica has set a compelling benchmark for future contenders.

Defining excellence in lending

The Lender of the Year Award recognises more than just financial performance. Judges will be looking for a lender that:

• Demonstrates outstanding commitment to the sector
• Leads with innovation in products, services, or operations
• Delivers a truly customer-focused experience for brokers and clients
• Acts as an exemplary light in the industry, influencing and inspiring others

It is this combination of vision, execution, and impact that defines a true market leader.

Join us at the Finance Connect Summer Awards 2026

Book your table now to be part of this flagship event: https://afcawardsuk.com/2026/en/page/tickets

For full details on categories, criteria, and nominations, visit: https://afcawardsuk.com/2026/en/page/categories