Nationwide Building Society has announced a significant leadership appointment that will affect its entire membership base of 16 million customers.
New Leadership for Business Banking Expansion
The mutual has confirmed that Hannah Bernard OBE will become its new Group Director of Business Banking, with her role becoming effective from January 2026. This strategic hire marks a crucial step in Nationwide's expansion into business banking services following its landmark acquisition of Virgin Money in 2024.
Hannah Bernard brings substantial experience from her previous position as Head of Business Banking at Barclays UK, where she was responsible for driving profitable performance, growth, and future strategy. Her career also includes senior roles as Deputy CEO at Sainsbury's Bank and Director of Customer Experience at Sainsbury's Supermarkets.
Proven Track Record and Government Recognition
Beyond her corporate achievements, Bernard is recognised for her work supporting female entrepreneurs. In 2024, she was appointed by the UK Government as co-chair of the Invest in Women Taskforce, which focuses on addressing the investment funding gap faced by female founders.
Dame Debbie Crosbie DBE, Group Chief Executive Officer of Nationwide Building Society, commented on the appointment: "We intend to bring the same customer focus to business banking that Nationwide has been so successful with in retail banking. Hannah's commercial acumen, customer-first approach and experience means we can quickly bring the benefits of mutuality at scale to business banking for the first time in the UK."
Realising the Potential of Virgin Money Acquisition
Nationwide became the first large-scale mutual to offer business banking following its acquisition of Virgin Money last year. Bernard will lead the development and implementation of Nationwide's business banking strategy, aiming to extend the benefits of its mutual model to businesses across the United Kingdom.
Hannah Bernard OBE expressed her enthusiasm for the new role: "Nationwide is one of the strongest brands in the UK and its customer service is industry leading. I'm looking forward to combining these strengths into a strategy for business banking that is distinctive in the UK and realises the potential of the Virgin Money acquisition."
Her comprehensive CV includes leadership positions at Barclays UK spanning from 2015 to 2025, covering roles in mortgages, personal banking, and business banking, providing her with the extensive financial services expertise needed to drive Nationwide's new venture forward.
