Founder chairman splits from Atom Bank

Anthony Thomson, the found‑ er and chairman of fast‑grow‑ ing challenger lender Atom Bank, has stepped down.

He held the position since the bank was established in 2014, steering the business through the process of gaining a bank‑ ing licence and raising more than £250 million of capital.

Atom Bank is widely rec‑ ognised as one of the fastest growing start‑up businesses in the UK, taking more than £1 billion of deposits since its launch and lending more than £1bn to small businesses and homeowners.

Thomson will be replaced by Bridget Rosewell.

Rosewell has been chair‑ woman of Atom’s audit com‑ mittee since 2014. She is also chairwoman of the Driver Vehicle Standards Agency and is on the board of Net‑ work Rail.

Thomson said: “Since hav‑ ing the idea for Atom Bank in early 2012 it has gone from being a big idea disguised as a small bank to a big idea and a big bank.

“I am immensely proud that Atom Bank has now com‑ pleted over £1bn of lending to households and small busi‑ nesses. This is a testament to the efforts of every person at Atom Bank, and to the support of all of our shareholders.

“I am an entrepreneur and champion of the customer first and foremost. I special‑ ise in disrupting, creating and building and I hope this will be my contribution to the Atom Bank story.

“I have loved doing this with Atom but, as the bank moves into a new phase of develop‑ ment, I feel the time is right for me to step down from the role of chairman.” 0 Anthony Thomson: ‘I am a champion of the customer’