Zopa, the British digital bank pioneer with 2 million customers, has partnered with eco-tech company Hive to help millions of UK homeowners spread the upfront cost of their greener home upgrades. 

The partnership brings a new financing option for up to 20 million UK homes². Customers can now apply for a personal loan from Zopa directly through the Hive website to finance Hive eco-tech such as solar and battery installations.

Demand for solar is accelerating as households look for more control over their energy supply and greater protection from volatile energy prices. UK Government data shows 269,000 solar installations were completed in 2025, the highest ever recorded in a calendar year and 37% higher than the year before3. This trend has continued in 2026 with 9 of the 10 strongest months on record for solar deployment having occurred within the last 12 months4.

By enabling financing through Zopa, eligible Hive customers now have the option to spread the cost of installing eco-tech across up to seven years, giving them greater flexibility and confidence when upgrading their homes.

Customers can get a personalised loan quote in 3 minutes with no impact to their credit score, with most customers accessing their money in under 2 hours once their loan has been approved.  The loans range from £1,000 to £50,000, with a representative APR of 8.9%. Final rates are personalised to each customer’s individual circumstances5. 

Zopa will provide the regulated lending product and manage the finance journey, including quote, application, credit assessment, loan disbursal and servicing.

Tim Waterman, Chief Commercial Officer at Zopa Bank, said: “Helping households transition to cleaner, more energy-efficient homes is increasingly important amid volatile energy prices and rising household bills. Yet, for many people, the upfront cost of installing solar panels, battery storage or heat pumps remains the biggest obstacle to making this change and getting the advantage of monthly savings. 

“By bringing together Zopa’s best-in-class digital lending experience and customer-centricity with Hive’s expertise in smart home and green energy solutions, we’re removing that barrier. Together, we’re making it easier for millions of homeowners to invest in a greener future through a simple, transparent and fully regulated digital finance journey that helps spread the cost of home upgrades.”

Susan Wells, Director of EV & Solar at Hive, said: “Solar is becoming an increasingly attractive option for homeowners looking to lower their energy bills and take greater control of their energy use. But for many, the upfront cost remains one of the biggest barriers.

Our partnership with Zopa helps remove that hurdle by giving eligible customers the option to spread the cost of a solar installation. It's another way we're making greener home technology more accessible, helping more households enjoy the benefits of generating their own energy and taking greater control over how they power their homes.”

Hive has more than 2.5 million customers; it helps households take more control of their energy use through smart heating, solar, EV charging, heat pumps and other eco-tech products. Its Hive Thermostat customers can save an average of £158.40 a year, while customers with solar panels can save up to 83%¹ on their electricity bills.

The new partnership also marks the launch of Zopa for Business, Zopa’s bolstered business offering that brings payments, retail finance, auto finance and embedded partnerships into a single platform. 

Designed to help businesses accept payments, offer finance and complete more sales by integrating once without juggling multiple providers, it follows Zopa’s acquisition of payments platform Rvvup in 2025 and point-of-sale finance platform DivideBuy in 2023.

One of the UK’s highest rated and most celebrated financial brands, Zopa has been recognised with over 10 British Bank Awards, holds a Trustpilot rating of 4.6/5, and has one of the highest customer satisfaction scores in the industry.