Atom bank poll reveals brokers are seeing growing Near Prime demand and expect it to increase further

27 May 2026

A new broker poll by Atom bank, one of the UK’s highest rated bank on Trustpilot*, has revealed brokers are seeing an increase in demand for Near Prime products, with further growth expected.

Brokers were polled on their experiences and opinions of Near Prime during a recent webinar, following the bank’s publication of the second edition of its Near Prime Index report.

Of those in attendance, the vast majority (81%) of brokers reported seeing an increase in clients with adverse credit or who have failed traditional credit scores over the last 12 months. This is a reduction from when brokers attended an Atom bank Near Prime webinar in December and 93% reported an increase.

However, the belief that Near Prime demand will grow in the months ahead has strengthened, with 89% of brokers stating they expect to advise more clients on Near Prime products over the course of 2026, compared with 74% of brokers in the last webinar poll.

Last year the Government announced plans to include financial education in the school curriculum, and brokers attending the webinar were asked which areas they felt were more important for inclusion from a mortgage and lending perspective. The real cost of borrowing and how debt can build up topped the survey, picked by 21% of respondents, ahead of how to avoid problem debt, and credit scores and credit reports (both 14%).

Building a better understanding of Near Prime

The webinar brought together a panel of experts, including Richard Harrison, Head of Mortgages at Atom bank, David Hollingworth, Associate Director at L&C Mortgages and Rachel Geddes, Strategic Lender Relationship Director at MAB. The discussion was chaired by Paul Hunt, co-founder of media agency Square 1 Media.

The conversation centred on themes raised in the latest Near Prime Index for H2 2025, which pinpointed particular challenges by first-time buyers who fall outside of Prime lending criteria, and the impact of ‘thin’ credit files.

The Index found that first-time buyers account for an increasing proportion of brokers’ Near Prime clients, while Atom bank’s own customer data suggests the majority of its Near Prime customers are those taking their first step onto the housing ladder. The Near Prime Index, which brings together economic data with broker experiences, included calls for more high LTV options, with brokers pinpointing deposit size as the biggest barrier to submitting applications for Near Prime first-time buyer clients.

Richard Harrison, Head of Mortgages at Atom bank, said:

“After the increases in Near Prime demand reported by brokers last year, the belief is there will be further growth to come. That demand comes from both those making their first step onto the housing ladder, and existing homeowners coming off fixed-rate deals and facing the prospect of much higher rates than anticipated as a result of the situation in the Middle East.

“With cost of living challenges continuing to feed through into borrower prospects, pushing more aspiring buyers outside of Prime criteria, it’s crucial that the industry takes the time to better understand these borrowers and what they need in order to meet their homebuying dreams.”

David Hollingworth, Associate Director at L&C Mortgages, added:

“We know that brokers are already seeing increasing numbers of customers who can fall outside of mainstream Prime criteria, whether because of payment issues in the past or a sparse credit file. With another surge in the cost of living expected it’s crucial for lenders to recognise this trend, and ensure Near Prime borrowers have access to funding, particularly first-time buyers. Saving for a deposit remains such a challenge that there’s real benefit in combining a more understanding approach to assessing creditworthiness with a broader range of higher LTV options.”