NACFB broker membership tops 1,400 firms following another year of growth
The National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers (NACFB), the UK’s leading trade body for commercial finance brokers, has recorded a fifth consecutive year of membership growth, driven by increases in both broker and lender membership.
As of January 2026, the number of NACFB Member firms rose to 1,414, up from 1,338 in January 2025, representing a 6% year-on-year increase. During 2025, the Association welcomed more than 100 new independent commercial finance broker firms, alongside growth across the wider membership base.
For the first time in its history, the NACFB has also surpassed the milestone of 3,000 registered individual brokers, with 3,011 brokers now operating across 1,414 Member firms. The growth reflects both an expanding intermediary market and deeper engagement with the trade body as brokers seek professional support, representation and guidance.
The Association also recorded continued growth among its Patron commercial lenders. Patron numbers increased from 162 to 177 over the year, a 9% rise, underlining sustained lender commitment to intermediary-led distribution.
The sustained growth comes during a period of renewed focus and investment for the trade body, led by a strengthened senior leadership team. Over the past year, the NACFB has continued to invest in its broker Assurance framework, strengthening oversight, consistency and standards, while enhancing the practical services, compliance support and guidance available to Members operating in an increasingly complex regulatory and economic environment.
Growth on the lender side was supported by a targeted strategy to broaden representation across key funding sectors. In particular, the NACFB welcomed several major asset finance lenders as Patrons during 2025, including Simply Asset Finance, Siemens Financial Services and Investec, strengthening the Association’s asset-finance offering and reflecting the increasing diversity of broker-introduced funding solutions.
Jim Higginbotham, CEO of the NACFB, said: “Delivering a fifth consecutive year of growth is a strong endorsement of the NACFB’s role within the commercial finance ecosystem. This sustained, high-quality growth gives us greater confidence and capacity to represent brokers, engage lenders and policymakers, and clearly position the Association as the home of responsible commercial finance broking. Our focus remains on raising standards and ensuring brokers remain fully central to how UK businesses access finance.”
Charlotte Loomes, operations director at the NACFB, added: “Behind these figures is strong engagement with the practical support we provide. Brokers are actively using our Assurance framework, guidance and services, which reinforces our focus on helping Members operate confidently, professionally and in the best interests of their clients.”
The announcement coincides with the opening of registration for the UK’s largest commercial finance event. The NACFB Commercial Finance Expo 2026will return to Hall 3A of Birmingham’s NEC on Wednesday 10 June 2026, bringing brokers, lenders and industry stakeholders together for the flagship annual gathering of the intermediary market.
In terms of market impact, NACFB Member brokers originated an estimated £27bn of commercial lending in 2024, underlining the scale of intermediary-led finance across the UK SME economy. Updated findings from the Association’s latest broker and lender surveys will be published later this month.