Anthony Thomson

Anthony Thomson is a global fintech entrepreneur and one of the most sought after keynote speakers in financial services. He is known for creating and chairing four banks across three continents, including Metro Bank, Atom Bank and 86 400, a distinction no one else in the world has achieved. As Co founder and Chairman of Velorai, Anthony brings decades of experience in banking, marketing and customer led innovation, shaped by years of building organisations that challenge the norm and change how people interact with money.

Anthony’s journey began in direct marketing at Sun Life of Canada in London. That early exposure to customer psychology shaped the approach he carried through his entire career. In 1987 he co-founded City Financial Marketing, which became Europe’s largest financial specialist communications group before its sale to Publicis. This period laid the foundation for his belief that good marketing must always serve the consumer. Soon after, he co-founded The Financial Services Forum, helping redefine standards in marketing across the sector. Alongside his commercial work, Anthony gave back through academia, serving as Visiting Professor at London Metropolitan University and later as Goldman Visiting Professor at Newcastle University Business School, supporting future leaders through practical insight.

Anthony’s impact on global banking is significant. He co-founded Metro Bank, the first new high street bank in the UK in more than 150 years, championing a model built on convenience and service. He went on to become founder and chair of Atom Bank, Europe’s first mobile-only bank, later valued at over $1 billion. In Australia he co-founded 86 400, the country’s first smart bank, eventually leading its sale to National Australia Bank for $440 million. Today he chairs archie, supports fast growth fintechs across multiple regions, and serves as iNED at WIO Bank as well as adviser to ila in Bahrain and Jordan. He is also co-author of ‘No Small Change’, a book widely praised for its sharp industry insight and lively storytelling.

Event planners choose Anthony because he speaks with clarity, warmth and real world authority. His experiences offer organisations a front row look at how financial services evolve when innovation and customer focus work together. Anthony covers fintech disruption, customer centricity, entrepreneurship, high growth leadership, marketing and the future of banking, helping audiences understand how to approach transformation with confidence. His talks combine practical learning with memorable examples, giving teams ideas they can use immediately. Anthony’s record, perspective and energy make him a powerful choice for conferences, leadership gatherings and financial services events of every kind.