News from the Alba Team
“I believe in relationship banking, I always have”
We spoke to Alan Sim, Head of Lending, about life at Alba.
“There is a straight line between strategy, culture and the customer”.
“There’s a space in the market for a true direct relationship between SMEs and their bank. I believe in relationships, not one-off transactions. The Bank should be there to support its customers over the long term. When I speak with accountants, lawyers, valuers, they all agree.”
“I’ve never met a SME management team that doesn’t like talking about their business. It’s important we listen, understand their business model, their opportunities and challenges, providing appropriate funding solutions.”
“We’re a team with so much experience, it makes sense to tap into it. I’m not just talking about one person speaking to the customer, while the rest of the bank knows nothing about them. We’ll be most useful to customers when we pool our knowledge and experience across Credit and Business teams.”
“We have people who have worked in banking through several economic cycles; they know being short-termist and reactionary is rarely the best approach. They have the perspective and business knowledge to take the long view.”
“I like to think of ourselves as a trusted sounding board. Sometimes this means we’ll have different perspectives, maybe see a different way to provide funding for a business to move forward, but that’s where we’ll add value.”
“Trust comes from consistency and delivering what we say we’ll do”. For us that means credit-supported decisions. That may sound a bit jargony, but it simply means engagement between Business Development and Credit Teams in looking at loan applications early on. It can be really frustrating for a customer if the terms keep changing as an application progresses. Our aim is to get an agreed position at an early stage and follow that through.”
“There is a strong bond across the Alba team. We’ve come so far, so quickly. We could not have done any of it without a culture of mutual support. There’s an energy about the place, everybody is going in one direction.”
“We’re a small team, we rely on each other, we challenge each other to do better. There’s no working in silos. It’s fundamental to how we look after customers, and the whole Bank pulls together to make sure we meet our obligations and do the right thing.”
Finally, we asked Alan what single piece of advice he would give to people wanting to join Alba:
“You don’t get many chances to join a Bank in the early stages. If you have the opportunity to join a well capitalised, well funded Bank with a clear purpose, vision and strong culture, where everyone’s input is valued, why wouldn’t you grab it with both hands?
To view our current vacancies please click here
News from the Alba Team
“We’re building a new culture, not just a bank. That’s really exciting”.
We spoke to Gill Cairns, Head of Outsourcing and Procurement, about life at Alba.
“For other banks, SMEs are just a small part of what they do. For Alba, they are why we exist.”
“For other banks, SMEs may be just a small part of what they do. For Alba, they are why we exist. We built Alba literally from the ground up to serve SMEs, they are our bread and butter; everything is geared towards helping them grow.”
“It’s rare to be there at ground zero, when you can build something new. We are only at the start of this journey; we are here for the long term. Alba gives a rare chance to grow the SME proposition with freedom to think differently. We have big plans to grow, to serve more SMEs, and we’re only taking the first steps right now.”
“It’s about taking the longer term view. We’re new, and we’ll introduce more and more products and services over time. It’s the same for our customers; they’re looking to grow, their needs will evolve, and we’ll be there alongside them, offering support and encouragement.”
“It’s the culture we are building that makes us different. We don’t operate in silos, limited to our functions. Everybody has a voice and a chance to contribute; not everything goes right first time, but that’s ok, we share the load, and that’s because we’ve all seen what can be achieved when we do.”
“It’s probably not for those whose egos need to build empires – open communication, constructive feedback and working in small groups to solve problems means that we crack issues really quickly. When other people have better ideas than I do, I love that, because it always sparks a new idea in me and I’m off and running!”
Finally, we asked what single piece of advice Gill would give to people wanting to join Alba:
“Bring your passion, and leave your ego at the door. Talking of doors, you can simply stick your head around one and find people who are generous with their ideas and open to share. There is scope to stretch – you won’t end up leading an empire of thousands, but you’ll work with people who will involve you in new projects, and that will give you the chance to develop transferrable skills.”
To view our current vacancies please click here
News from the Alba Team
"Not many people get to build a new bank."
"We're going to make such a difference for SMEs. It's a partnership”. We spoke to Allan Ellis, Head of Operations, about his experiences working for Alba.
"3 words I would use to describe working for Alba? Ambitious, Dynamic, Customer-focused"
"I've learnt more working for Alba & new bank start-ups than in 14 years working for the old "top 5" banks. It's chalk and cheese. You're not pigeon-holed, you get to run with your ideas, and people listen to you. I own my destiny and hierarchy is not a thing - no matter what grade you are, you have a voice.
"Death by Powerpoint? No risk of that! We are rock-solid on governance; being a bank you have to do things right. But it's too easy to hide behind presentations and not stand up, express your opinion and be accountable. At Alba, we take responsibility and whilst it exposes you to challenge, it's challenge that helps you grow.
"Building a new bank is something special. It's unique. In the big banks I could be there for years and pass through without many people knowing I existed; at Alba I'm within a stone's throw of pretty much the whole team. It's just very satisfying because I remember, in previous jobs, timelines were so far away and you were so removed from change. Here at Alba roles are tailored around your skills and you are allowed to flourish.
If you can do something you are allowed to run with it; you don't have to pass off to others. And above all, you have to move quickly and do things right. The lasting impact will be to look back one day and say "I was part of something special there". That's unique, not many places can offer that.
"We're going to make such a difference for SMEs. We will take the time to really understand what makes them tick and their specific needs, where they are trying to get to, and how we can help. It's about a partnership, speaking frankly to each other and exploring ideas. We will use technology to support making sound lending decisions, not have it as the driver or to get in the way of customers, great people at the heart of everything what will set Alba apart. I’m so excited about us launching.
Finally, we asked Allan what advice he would give to somebody interested in working for Alba:
"Strap in - it's a wild ride! You can flourish at Alba - if you're ambitious, flexible, confident to go outside your comfort zone, and like a fast paced, varied environment where no two days are the same. If you want a chance to shine, to take responsibility and build a legacy ... Alba is the place for you.”
To view our current vacancies please click here