The owner of Kent Reliance increased its loan book by 5% in the first three months of the year and enjoyed strong numbers of mortgage applications.

Small firms are suffering as big banks continue to close branches outside towns and cities.

An insurer has returned to the black as it continues to hunt for takeovers.

Private bank Duncan Lawrie has left a huge dent in the finances of its former owner after its decision to split and sell off the institution.

Insurance business Towergate has revealed it boosted profitability and income last year – days after announcing 133 job losses.

Insurance group Swinton has earmarked 84 branches for closure as its customers move online.

An insurer is to cut back its central finance teams, putting 133 jobs at risk.

A law firm has announced a 19 promotions across its legal and business services team, including two new partners.

Accountancy firm Kreston Reeves is to merge with a London practice a year after it completed the takeover of another rival.

Lloyds Banking Group has announced it is pulling out of four towns in Kent as part of 100 branch closures, resulting in over 200 job losses.

The owner of Kent Reliance grew its underlying pre-tax profits to £137 million last year.

The Chancellor upped taxes for the self-employed to tackle a growing trend of people using the tax advantages without generating growth, say experts.

An insurance broker has made its first acquisition of the year and says there are “several others in the pipeline”.

A Kent MP has urged the government to rethink a proposal announced in the budget to raise National Insurance contributions.

A Kent practice saw off competition from national rivals to win the best collaboration prize at the MPF Management Excellence Awards.

Pubs were the big winners from the Spring Budget but many firms said the Chancellor ducked the chance to carry out business rate reforms.

Traders have criticised the Chancellor for increasing national insurance contributions for the self-employed, allegedly breaking a manifesto pledge.

Follow the first Spring Budget delivered by Chancellor Philip Hammond.

Young entrepreneur Carl Lincoln was forced to rethink his start-up’s business plan after entering a saturated market place.

RBS customers told branch opening hours being cut to three days per week later in the year after posting £7bn annual loss last week.