Metro Bank has appointed a new head of corporate banking for Wales and the South West of England.
Alison Whistance will be responsible for growing the high street lender's corporate banking presence and a dedicated team.
The former Lloyds Banking Group head of private capital, who has 15 years' experience in the sector, will be based in Cardiff.
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She said: “Metro Bank’s commitment to relationship banking and truly understanding the needs of its customers sets it apart.
"I’m really excited to get started and looking forward to catching up with my local professional and advisory network over the coming weeks and months to discuss how Metro Bank can represent some of the excellent businesses across Wales and the South West.”
Metro Bank works with owner-managed and sponsor-backed companies, and supports on a range of corporate banking activities including refinancing, acquisitions, management buy-outs/management buy-ins, business growth and working capital.
Cormac Burns, director of corporate banking at Metro Bank, said: “Alison’s appointment will help us to expand our corporate banking offering in Wales and the South West and we are delighted she’s joined the team.
"Metro Bank is committed to showing how successful relationship banking can be; becoming a trusted partner to all of our customers as we support their ambitions and growth objectives.”
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Metro Bank opened its first store in Wales five years ago at Queen Street in the centre of Cardiff. A year later it launched a call centre above its branch in Bristol’s Broadmead shopping quarter, creating more than 100 jobs at the time.
The appointment comes as high street banks continued their gradual return to lending for SMEs during the second quarter of the year.
The SME lending space has seen increasing competition in recent years with the entry of fintechs such as Allica and OakNorth, and shifts from firms like Metro Bank into the sector.
Challengers now represent 60 per cent of the market, in contrast to 2019 when the four biggest banks comprised 90 per cent of lending, according to City AM.