Optimism in UK rising, despite 'disruptive' budget – bank chief

OPTIMISM in the UK is beginning to pick up, the boss of FTSE 250 lender Paragon has said, after sentiment was dampened by rampant tax speculation in the second half of 2025.

- SAMUEL NORMAN

Nigel Terrington, chief executive of Paragon

(Darren Quinton BPMSTE)

Nigel Terrington, the boss of Paragon bank, said that despite it being the early days of 2026, the mood was beginning to lift. “Obviously we're only in January but I would say it feels more optimistic”, he said.

It comes as Paragon gave markets a brief snapshot of its first quarter of the financial year, with commercial lending giving the bank a major boost.