Mark Stokes, chief commercial officer at UTB

Ex-Metro Bank MD of commercial banking joins UTB




Mark Stokes (pictured above) has joined United Trust Bank as chief commercial officer, a newly created role he will be taking up on 1st October.

Mark has over 20 years of experience at executive committee level, working with several established banks including Lloyds Bank, RBS, Black Horse, and Chartered Trust. 

He was previously managing director of commercial banking at Metro Bank.

Under his leadership, Metro Bank’s commercial business balance sheet grew from £1.2bn to £3.5bn in the four years from 2016 to 2020.

In his new role, Mark will report directly to United Trust Bank group managing director, Harley Kagan. 

His key responsibilities include developing and managing UTB’s lending teams, its commercial strategy and proposition, and exploring opportunities for the bank to enter and develop new markets.

“United Trust Bank is at an exciting stage of its development, said Mark,  “it is a progressive and successful specialist bank with a demonstrated history of developing new markets and products, a vibrant culture, and a focus on effective delivery and profitability. 

“I’ve been really impressed by the people I have met and look forward to joining the team and helping to take the business to the next stage.”

Mark has broad business experience and knowledge of commercial banking including property, asset and motor finance and lending into commercial, SME and consumer markets. 

He has also led successful strategic reviews, merger and acquisition activity, and subsequent integration and change management programs. 

Harley added: “Mark has an excellent track record of developing and delivering successful growth strategies in the SME and specialist finance sectors. 

“We are very pleased that he has joined the bank, and his many years of experience in commercial banking — including property and asset finance lending — will further strengthen UTB’s executive team in the bank’s next exciting phase of growth.

“We have come through a period of unprecedented change as an even stronger business. 

“We have proven our resilience, dependability and demonstrable commitment to supporting our customers and broker partners through the most difficult economic challenges. 

“Mark will be building on UTB’s success, helping us to maintain our growth trajectory and ensuring we remain one of the UK’s leading specialist lenders.”

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