Meet the team

As part of the savings team at Charity Bank, Tayeba is committed to delivering exceptional customer service. Her primary responsibilities include assisting individuals with opening accounts, performing administrative tasks, and providing comprehensive support to both new and existing customers. Tayeba strives to ensure that all customer needs are met efficiently, effectively, and with a friendly, helpful attitude.

“I joined Charity Bank in 2023 and feel incredibly fortunate to work for an organisation that supports numerous charities and social organisations. My role allows me to contribute to the bank’s mission of making a positive impact on the community.

Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my husband and our two young boys. I’m very grateful to work for an organisation that allows me to balance my professional and personal life.”

Denise has 35 years experience in Commercial Banking, having started her banking career at NatWest on a Management Development programme. She joined Charity bank in January 2023 and feels privileged to have worked in the Not-For-Profit sector for 15 years as a Banking specialist. Denise has worked with a range of Charities, Social Enterprises, Community Interest Companies as well as professionals within the sector throughout my career.

“Charity Bank is a bank for the sector, owned by the Sector, and it really does make a difference to the organisations who seek funding to fulfil their mission. As an ethical lending manager, I’m passionate about working with these organisations, spending time to understand their operational and financial models and risk assessing if loan funding is right for them. I will additionally provide support to the organisations throughout the process. I also enjoy taking part in sector events across the North region as well.”

Kirstie has worked in banking specific finance and treasury roles for over 20 years and joined Charity bank in 2017, becoming CFO in 2021.

Mike was appointed as a non-executive director in 2017, and as senior independent non-executive director in 2022. He had been an advisor to the Charity Bank board credit committee since 2014.

Mike worked in investment and corporate banking in London, the Middle and Far East. He retired in 2015 as CEO of the South East Asian operations of an international bank where he also managed the group’s international principal investment management portfolio. He has a wide experience of corporate lending and recovery, risk management and financial advisory.

Since 2019 Mike has also been a non-executive director of the Ocean Housing Group, a housing association and property developer in the west country, where he chairs the audit and risk committee.

Nicola joined Charity Bank in June 2022 as a member of the HR team. Administering payroll and our benefit schemes for all of our colleagues, she also coordinates and delivers a range of learning and development activities within the Bank.

Nicola is a Level 7 qualified, CIPD graduate member with 15 years’ experience working in Human Resources in the retail and banking sectors. During her time overseas, she worked as an English Teacher, gaining her Diploma in Education & Training in order to support the education of others and now utilises these skills in her day-to-day activities within the Bank.

During Nicola’s time away from work, she enjoys travelling overseas and spending time with family and friends. She likes to keep active by attending Pilates classes and belongs to a local running group.

Jonathan joined Charity Bank in June 2020. He is currently a Non-Executive Director at Nomura Europe Holdings and a member of the Audit and Risk Committee of the Wellcome Trust.

Jonathan has extensive experience of investment, corporate and retail banking. He was a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Management Board and Group Controller and Treasurer of Barclays Bank Plc. He was Finance Director and Head of Strategy for the Wholesale business of Lloyds Banking Group prior to his retirement in 2012. He was a founder Director of the British Business Bank. He was a Trustee of Sparks, The Children’s medical research charity for 11 years and Chair for 5 years and has also served as a Director of the Business Disability Forum.

Jonathan holds a degree in Engineering Science from Oxford University and is a qualified Chartered Accountant. Jonathan was awarded an OBE for services to Small Business Finance in the New Year Honours 2021.

Samantha joined Charity Bank in June 2022 as a level 7 qualified, Chartered member of the CIPD with over 20 years experience of working within Human Resources and Recruitment both nationally and internationally within the not for profit and private sectors.

An Insights Discovery Practitioner, she is also registered with the British Psychological Society as a Test User for ability, personality and occupational test administration.

Samantha is a keen runner and regularly participates in ‘Parkrun’ in addition to completing a number of longer distance runs. She’s also a keen skier and enjoys the opportunity to undertake these hobbies in various locations around the world when she can.

“My role within Human Resources is accountable for the full employee lifecycle with the Bank, helping to support colleagues in making Charity Bank a great place to work through innovative work practices and continual review of our employee experience. The ethics of the Bank align with my own core values of being open, collaborative and inclusive.”

Alan Hodson was appointed as Chairman in May 2019. Alan retired from UBS in June 2005, having been the Global Head of Equities, a member of the Executive Committee of UBS Investment Bank and of the UBS AG Group Managing Board.

He has since held positions on a variety of financial and charity boards, including as Chairman of Trustees of the Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity.

Mark has been at the forefront of marketing and communications strategies for Charity Bank for over 20 years, supporting its growth from a £6m pilot fund to a £350m+ impact-driven bank. His responsibilities extend to investor relations, social impact, and participation in the Net Zero working group. Mark holds a Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing, a BA Honours Degree, and a Chartered Postgraduate Diploma in Marketing.

His experience includes providing communications consultancy to the National Council for Persons with Disabilities in Kenya and volunteering in various capacities for social sector organizations. Additionally, Mark holds a Level 3 Certificate in Counselling Studies and is a qualified First Aider.

“My role is focused on raising awareness of how loans, savings, and investments can be powerful forces for good. I am continually inspired by the people behind the organisations we collaborate with, and it is a privilege to share the stories of how these charities and social enterprises are making a positive impact on lives.”

Micol is the Finance Assistant and is part of the Finance Team at Charity Bank. She finds the position interesting and varied. Micol has worked in Accounts & Finance most of her working career and enjoys it, however this is the first position she has held in the banking field and also her first charity related role.

“I enjoy working and building up relationships with my colleagues and suppliers. Working for a bank that loans and invests into the Charity sector is a bonus. Knowing that Charity Bank assists charities and organisations that need help the most makes me happy to be part of making a positive contribution towards them obtaining their goals.”

“In my role as Credit Manager, I ensure charities and social purpose organisations receive the funding they need to make a positive impact in their communities.”

David enjoys supporting charities and social enterprises in his role and is committed to fostering positive change through financial support at Charity Bank.

Natasha joined Charity Bank in February 2014 as the HR Manager and has held various HR roles since then.

She is currently the Director of Human Resources, and is responsible for the strategic development of the HR function. Natasha oversees and manages all aspects of HR to create an engaged and empowered environment which maximises the performance and potential of all staff to enable Charity Bank to be a high performing, efficient and effective organisation in the delivery of its business strategy and objectives.

Natasha is an experienced HR generalist with over 20 years’ experience gained within Professional Services and Banking. She also holds a BA (hons) Degree in Employment Studies and Marketing and is CIPD qualified.

“Aside from work, I am a busy mum to two children and enjoy spending time with family and friends, walks in the countryside, yoga and going to the theatre.

I’m proud to be part of a company that is striving to create a workplace where everyone feels truly valued and respected. The four-day week has enhanced people’s work-life balance and the bank’s dedication diversity and inclusion really make Charity Bank stand out as a great place to work.”

As the Senior Treasury Manager at Charity Bank, David’s primary responsibility is to assist the Head of Treasury in completing essential regulatory documents such as ILAAP, ICAAP, and the Recovery Plan.

Besides his treasury work, he also pursues his passion for running. David has been running a marathon every year since 2015, and still finds joy in it – “Running helps me to maintain my physical and mental health, challenge myself and set new goals.”

David started with Charity Bank in early 2023 and feels his days are varied and dynamic, involving tasks such as financial modelling, researching depositor behaviour, reading policies & regulations, and writing key sections of our regulatory documents. His role ensures the robustness of our stress tests and regulatory frameworks, which is critical for the bank’s longevity and mission fulfilment. David finds great reward in collaborating with a fantastic team on diverse projects to meet our ever-evolving business needs.

“Working at Charity Bank allows me to engage in challenging and rewarding work, while being part of an ethical organisation. I value seeing the tangible impact the bank has on communities through borrower visits and talks. The bank supports my professional growth by encouraging participation in industry courses and networking events. The four-day work week and remote working options are significant benefits that truly allow an excellent work-life balance. Our financing of charities and social enterprises highlights our commitment to serving underprivileged communities. It is a joy working in this supportive, respectful, and impactful environment!”

“My role as the Head of Savings Operations plays an important part in creating a lasting social change in our communities. The savings products we offer earn our customers a return whilst supporting the extraordinary work of charities and social enterprises across the UK. The values that Charity Bank and our customers hold inspires me on a daily basis.”

Justin has 20 years’ experience in the financial sector and for the last two years he has led the Charity Bank Savings Team in supporting deposit growth that in turn complements our lending activity.

Justin loves spending time with his family. When time allows Justin enjoys gym sessions and cycling. He is about to embark on learning Spanish which has been a long-term ambition.

Samantha’s role involves overseeing the drawdowns and repayments for the Bank. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to ensuring smooth financial transactions, she makes sure that borrowers receive the necessary funds promptly and that repayments are managed efficiently. Samantha’s expertise contributes to the bank’s mission of supporting positive social impact through responsible lending.

“I am new to the Banking sector but I couldn’t think of a better organisation to be a part of. A vital part of understanding our customers is being able to visit and see what they do. I was lucky enough to have the chance to visit Strength and Learning Through Horses to witness how they include horses in their work to support children to overcome issues outside of a typical schooling environment. Being able to watch some of the activities and hear from the staff and students was an amazing opportunity.”

Scott is a Compliance Officer at Charity Bank, within the Compliance team. He assesses the effectiveness of policies, procedures, associated controls designed to mitigate risk, and reporting of relevant MI. Scott’s role also includes the ongoing assessment of regulatory developments and assessment of the impact these have on the Bank. He is also involved with aspects of Financial Crime and works closely with Charity Bank’s MLRO.

“I enjoy the sense of family that is fostered within Charity Bank, even though we are a small Bank (but growing!). The ability to talk to senior stakeholders from a social or workplace setting is also a refreshing change.

The Compliance role keeps me on my toes with an environment that is changing constantly, allowing me to have a presence in all aspects of the bank and really understand what drives each team. Charity Bank’s unique environment really allows us to take the customers on the journey with us and help as many great causes as possible.”

Helen is part of the savings team and her role is to carry out administrative duties, assist our customers and to help people who are looking to open accounts.

Helen has worked within the charity sector for fifteen years and has previously worked for CAF Bank and Cancer Research UK.

“I enjoy helping new customers find the right investment for their needs and find Charity Bank’s values align with my own. I also enjoy working in a collaborative and friendly team. In my spare time I like socialising, music and yoga.”

David joined Charity Bank in 2020, but his association with the Bank goes back to it’s formative years when he formed a strong working relationship with it as part of the NatWest Charities Team in London. He is now delighted to be part of the Impact Lending Team helping organisations to fulfil their mission.

David’s role is to navigate our borrowers through their loan journey acting as their main point of contact from gathering of information, right through to getting the loan finance they require put in place.

“The best part of my role is meeting our customers and seeing first hand the impact they create in their particular area. Nothing beats seeing an organisation delivering meaningful social impact.”

Bernie joined the bank in 2017, bringing with her a wealth of experience from her previous roles. Before this, she spent a decade at Ulster Bank and also worked at PwC, which laid the foundation for her career. Throughout Bernie’s career, she’s had the privilege of working with a diverse customer base across Northern Ireland and mainland UK. Her clients have included faith-based organisations, housing associations, specialist care organisations, and homeless charities.

“I love Charity Bank and all that we represent – The impact of the loans we provide is immense. The charities and organisations we support are changing the lives of so many people.”

“My team focuses on providing investment to smaller charities and social enterprise delivering positive social impact in the UK. We manage all Charity Bank investments under £500,000, including our innovative programs which provide grants, unsecured loans and other support. We passionately believe that smaller localized organizations can provide the most impactful solutions to social issues. It is a pleasure to work in a team focused on helping charities and social enterprises delivery their plans.”

Daniel has worked in the social investment space for over 15 years. He joined the bank in 2021, having previously been deputy-CEO at a leading UK Social Investor. Daniel was the former non-executive director for London Community Land Trust and EJAF Social Impact CIC (part of the wider Elton John Aids Foundation), as well as founder of the East Wick Growth Fund, a local level social investment program.

Sarah’s role mainly focuses around the monthly accounts and budgets. She has worked in Finance for around 20 years and but this is her first job in banking. Sarah’s previous roles have been in the Media/Advertising industry.

Eileen’s background is facilities and office management and she enjoys the variety the role brings as no two days are the same.

“Making sure that our lovely Charity Bank staff have a safe and comfortable environment to work in is important and I take pride in being a part of making that happen.

It’s nice to go home at the end of your working day knowing you have been a part of something good.”

I’m the Chief Risk Officer at Charity Bank. With my team, I’m responsible for overseeing the risks taken by the bank’s departments, and keeping us in line with the many rules and regulations a bank must follow. We also work on preventing the bank from being used as a tool in financial crime, and make sure the personal data of our customers and staff is properly protected. There’s rarely a dull moment in risk management and every day is varied – which is great as it means you don’t get stuck in a rut! I’ve been involved in risk management for most of my career since 2006, working at Metro Bank, Lloyds Banking Group, and EY before coming to Charity Bank.

‘The part I enjoy most about working at Charity Bank is being able to work for an organisation that really makes a difference. I love to see what the financial support we give can do for charities and social sector organisations. On top of that, my friendly, supportive, wonderful colleagues are genuinely great to work with.