Anthony Thomson is one of the most distinctive figures in modern banking, known for building successful institutions across multiple continents and reshaping how customers experience financial services. He first made his mark by co-founding City Financial Marketing, which grew into Europe’s largest financial services marketing agency. That early success set the foundation for a career defined by curiosity, resilience and an appetite for ambitious ideas that challenge the status quo. His belief that profit should follow genuine customer value became the thread running through every venture he touched, from high street banking to mobile-only challenger banks and now private banking for global family offices.
Over the past two decades, Anthony has gone further than almost anyone in turning that philosophy into real businesses. He was the co-founder and founding chairman of Metro Bank, the UK’s first new high street bank in more than 150 years. After stepping away, he created Atom Bank, the UK’s first bank built exclusively for mobile devices. Shortly afterwards he moved to Sydney to become co-founder and chairman of 86 400, Australia’s first smart bank, which was later acquired for $440 million. Today he is co-founder and chairman of Velorai, the Family Offices Bank based in Jersey. With four banks founded across three geographies, he is widely viewed as a rare talent who can turn a blank sheet of paper into a fully functioning, high growth financial institution.
Alongside those ventures, Anthony has continued to influence financial services on the global stage. He has served as an independent non executive director at WIO Bank, the UAE’s fastest growing bank, and sits on the advisory board of ila Bank, a leading digital bank operating in Bahrain and Jordan. He chairs archie, a growth accelerator working with fintechs across the UK, US, Europe, the UAE and Australia. His academic contributions include roles as Visiting Professor at London Metropolitan University and Goldman Visiting Professor at Newcastle University Business School, where he shares lessons drawn from building and scaling complex organisations.
Anthony is also the co-author of ‘No Small Change’, a widely praised examination of how financial services needs to rethink marketing to serve people better. His speaking style blends sharp insight with direct honesty, shaped by years spent launching banks, navigating regulation, leading diverse teams and working with entrepreneurs worldwide. Whether addressing leadership, innovation, customer experience or business growth, he brings stories from boardrooms, startup war rooms and global markets. Audiences leave with practical ideas, renewed confidence and a clear sense of how bold thinking, strong values and decisive action can reshape entire industries.
