The press release issued by HM Treasury on 18 May 2026.
British businesses stand to benefit from billions in fresh financing being unlocked through reforms to the bank ring-fencing regime.
- Reforms to ring‑fencing to create a more agile and proportionate regime that reduces duplication within banks and removes barriers to lending and investment
- Proposed New Growth Allowance and wider product range could enable banks to provide up to £80 billion in additional support to businesses, channelling more financing into UK businesses, jobs and the economy
- Key protections remain unchanged – safeguarding depositors and ensuring the UK banking system stays resilient and secure
British businesses stand to benefit from billions in fresh financing being unlocked through reforms to the bank ring-fencing regime.
The reforms will create a more agile and proportionate framework for ring‑fencing that makes it easier for banks to operate efficiently without weakening protections for customers.
At the heart of the changes is a new Growth Allowance, which will let major banks use a limited portion of their balance sheets more flexibly, potentially unlocking up to £80 billion of additional financing for UK businesses – helping firms invest, expand and create jobs across the country.
The reforms will also give the Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) more flexibility to update and tailor the rules over time. Instead of relying on rigid legislation, more of the detail will sit in regulatory rules, allowing the PRA to adjust them more quickly as the financial system evolves. This will mean the PRA will be able to remove outdated requirements or adapt rules to reflect wider banking reforms.
Boosting growth across the economy is a top priority of the reforms, with the Treasury seeking to modernise and streamline the regime while removing unnecessary barriers to lending and investment in the UK.
The package, designed in close collaboration with the Bank of England, will continue to provide strong protections for depositors and ensure stability of the UK’s banking system.
Set out in a new report – Safeguarding Stability, Enabling Growth – the reforms will be delivered through the forthcoming Enhancing Financial Services Bill and subsequent legislation and form a central plank of the Financial Services Growth and Competitiveness Strategy.
At the heart of the changes is a clear objective for government: to ensure more financing can flow into UK businesses more easily and do so more easily: all while supporting innovation, expansion and higher living standards.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister, Rachel Blake said:
Where financial systems are inefficient, we will change them. These reforms will ensure more financing flows into UK businesses, and we can support growth and create jobs across the country.
This will unlock finance for growth while keeping the UK banking system resilient, competitive and fit for the future.
Alex Depledge, Entrepreneurship Advisor to the Chancellor, said:
This is exactly the kind of pro‑growth reform the UK needs. Too often, our fastest‑growing firms hit a wall of unnecessary friction just as they start to scale. These changes will unlock more of the capital founders need to keep building in the UK, while maintaining the financial stability that underpins investor confidence.
This is about backing ambition, cutting friction, and ensuring our banks can power the next generation of great British businesses to start, scale and stay here.”
Ring‑fencing is a key part of the UK’s post‑financial crisis banking reforms, requiring the largest UK banks to separate their core retail services – such as retail and SME deposits and lending – from riskier investment and trading activities. This helps to protect depositors, maintain access to banking services, and support financial stability if shocks occur.
Through the reforms banks will also be able to offer a broader range of products and services to support firms as they grow, including better hedging tools and greater access to programmes delivered through public financial institutions such as the British Business Bank and National Wealth Fund.
Maintaining protections and stability for consumers is essential to the reforms – ring‑fenced banks will continue to operate independently from investment banking activities, protecting retail deposits from volatility in global financial markets. The government will consult on the detail of the reforms to ensure protections are maintained while maximising the benefits for growth.
The government will also ensure the regime remains proportionate over time, including regular reviews of key thresholds and reporting requirements.