Metro Bank, the revolutionary high street bank, has today announced the appointments of Andy Hallett as Director of Property and Hannah-Louise Smith as Director of Cash Management and Deposits. Both will report directly to Mark Stokes, Managing Director of Commercial Banking.
Andy will be responsible for leading the bank’s commercial property business and Hannah-Louise will oversee growing Metro Bank’s operational cash deposits and net interest income.
Mark Stokes, Managing Director of Commercial Banking at Metro Bank, said: “Our commercial offering is going from strength-to-strength and both Andy and Hannah-Louise’s appointments will bring valuable experience to the growing commercial team. Their specialist expertise, coupled with their enthusiasm and passion for delivering superior customer service, will complement our team hugely as we continue to provide customers with an unparalleled banking experience.
Joining the leading challenger bank from NatWest, Andy was previously Managing Director – Real Estate Finance – responsible for running the national SME business and has over 15 years’ experience in real estate finance, spanning commercial, corporate, institutional and global banking markets.
Hannah-Louise was formerly UK Head of Liquidity Solutions for SME Banking at Lloyds Banking Group and has experience across SME and mid-market growth.
Andy commented: “I am delighted to be joining such a progressive and customer-focussed organisation, and playing my part in revolutionising British banking.”
Hannah-Louise commented: “I’ve admired the pace at which the bank has grown over the past six years, their commitment to superior levels of customer service and their innovative approach to revolutionising UK banking. I look forward to joining the team as we develop the bank’s commercial offering.”
Metro Bank’s commercial customers not only enjoy support from specialist sector experts, but also benefit from the bank’s commitment to traditional relationship banking. Its approach means it takes a case-by-case approach to lending, taking the time to get to know more than just the customer’s balance sheet, but the people and plans behind the organisation.
Metro Bank has a clear track record of supporting businesses, being the second largest provider of business funding last year, according to the Bank of England’s 2015 Funding for Lending Scheme figures. The bank also announced in its Q2 financial statement a 110% year-on-year increase in lending to £4.6bn, with loans to business customers representing 35% of total lending, and also reported a 74% year-on-year growth in deposits to £6.6bn, 52% of which was from business customers.