JN Bank UK welcomes new CEO amid £20m investment
JN Bank UK is delighted to announce the appointment of Chris Waring as chief executive officer, as the bank accelerates its growth strategy with a clear vision for the future of UK banking. This appointment comes on the heels of a recent £20m investment from Step One Money UK Limited (SOMU), which will drive the bank’s innovation and support its market expansion.
Chris Waring is an experienced UK banking leader with substantial expertise in leading specialist finance businesses. He joined JN Bank UK in early 2023 as chief commercial officer, bringing with him a wealth of experience in financial services. Prior to this, Chris developed Honeycomb Finance, which was eventually sold to Allium Money and later acquired by Tandem Bank in 2020.
Over the course of his career, Chris has held director-level positions across financial services, retail, and legal firms. In 2024, he was appointed as managing director Banking at JN Bank UK, where he helped shape the bank’s future strategy.
Following the departure of the previous CEO, Chris was appointed Acting CEO, successfully leading the bank through a key transitional period and positioning it for the next phase of development.
With his extensive background in the UK financial services sector, Chris is now poised to lead JN Bank UK into its next stage of growth, focused on delivering exceptional value and fostering long-term relationships with customers.
“We are entering an exciting chapter at JN Bank UK,” said Chris Waring. “With a strong commitment to innovation and customer-centric solutions, we aim to empower our customers and create a lasting impact on their financial futures. We are focused on offering a comprehensive range of financial products that provide stability, trust, and importantly value and relevance to our customers. The bank recently reintroduced its attractive line of deposit offerings and has been pleased with the positive reception from the market. Our vision is to build on the 150-year legacy of The Jamaica National Group and evolve to meet the changing needs of customers in a fast-paced, digital world.”
As part of its growth strategy, JN Bank UK is expanding its product offerings, ensuring that customers have access to a broader range of solutions to meet their financial goals. The recent investment from SOMU will support the bank’s focus on enhancing its technological capabilities, improving customer experiences, and driving future growth.
Michael Childress, director at SOMU, commented, “Chris is well known in the UK banking sector and his appointment marks an exciting step forward for JN Bank UK as we continue to build on our reputation for trust, stability, and innovation. With fresh investment and Chris’ leadership, we are confident that JN Bank UK is well-positioned to lead the way in transforming banking for the digital age.”
With a rich 150-year legacy as part of the former majority group owner, The Jamaica National Group, JN Bank UK remains steadfast in its commitment to stability, innovation, and exceptional customer service. Alongside its new majority shareholder, SOMU, the bank will pursue an ambitious growth strategy for the years ahead whilst retaining these values.