RBS Appoints Cryptocurrency Executive to Lead Digital SME Bank

By Adam Clark

Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC (RBS.LN) said Tuesday that it has appointed a cryptocurrency executive as head of its new digital bank for small businesses.

The U.K. lender said Marieke Flament has been appointed chief executive of Mettle, which it launched last year as a standalone service for small and medium-sized enterprises.

Ms. Flament was previously chief marketing officer and European managing director for U.S. cryptofinance company Circle.

"She has a proven track record of breaking boundaries in the finance sector, and hands-on knowledge of adapting to a constantly evolving tech landscape and providing new innovative solutions to meet customers' needs," Alison Rose, head of commercial-and-private banking at RBS, said.

The appointment is the latest in a number made by traditional U.K. banks from among their digital rivals.

Earlier this week, technology site TechCrunch reported that the founder of millennial-focused banking app Loot, Ollie Purdue, will join RBS after the U.K. startup fell into administration. Meanwhile, Barclays PLC (BARC.LN) appointed Megan Caywood as its new head of digital strategy in January, poaching her from online-only bank Starling.

Write to Adam Clark at [e-mail]; @AdamDowJones

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

June 18, 2019 06:55 ET (10:55 GMT)

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