Chetwood Bank Appoints Investment Banking Veteran Melanie Czarra as Non-Executive Director

Chetwood Bank has appointed Melanie Czarra as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board Risk Committee, bringing 30 years of investment banking experience to the digital lender. For fintech professionals, this high-level hire signals a tightening of governance as the bank scales its wholesale and specialist lending operations in an increasingly complex regulatory environment.

What was announced

The appointment sees Melanie Czarra take on the Senior Management Function 10 (SMF 10) role, succeeding Duncan Martin, who is stepping down in December 2024 after a six-year tenure. Czarra’s remit includes reviewing the bank’s risk management framework, overseeing governance and culture, and ensuring the strategic direction balances growth opportunities with rigorous risk mitigation. Her arrival coincides with a period of diversification for the bank as it expands its footprint in the UK financial services market.

Czarra’s career began on Wall Street at Chemical Bank, which is now part of JP Morgan, and includes executive positions at several high-profile institutions including Goldman Sachs & Co, Citi, UBS Investment Bank, and Mizuho International. Her expertise spans capital markets, structured finance, private credit, and large-scale financing. This institutional background is paired with experience in the SME sector; after retiring from banking, Czarra founded and led three companies across the retail, hospitality, and luxury goods sectors.

In addition to her new role at Chetwood Bank, Czarra holds several board positions that reflect a focus on social impact and governance. She is an independent member of the Remuneration Committee at Scotiabank and sits on the boards of two housing associations, Abri Group and Vectis Housing Association. This combination of institutional finance, entrepreneurial leadership, and social impact governance is intended to support Chetwood Bank’s long-term growth and its commitment to building resilient communities.

"My responsibilities include reviewing our risk management framework to ensure we understand risk and mitigating excessive risk whilst taking appropriate risk opportunities to grow the business. I’m also responsible for overseeing the bank’s governance, culture and strategic direction, working with the executive team to ensure we continue to thrive."

Melanie Czarra, Non-Executive Director and Chair of the Board Risk Committee at Chetwood Bank.

The companies involved

Chetwood Bank is a UK-based digital bank that has established itself as a significant player in the specialist lending and savings market. Unlike many neo-banks that focus solely on retail apps, Chetwood has built a reputation for using data and technology to create targeted financial products that address specific customer needs. The firm operates with a full UK banking licence, allowing it to hold deposits and provide a regulated alternative to traditional high-street lenders.

The bank has recently been in a phase of significant expansion, moving beyond its initial focus to encompass a broader range of financial services. Under the leadership of CEO Paul Noble, the bank has prioritised a "lean" operational model, leveraging its proprietary technology stack to maintain lower costs than legacy incumbents. As it matures, the bank is increasingly focusing on wholesale banking and specialist lending, positioning itself as a sophisticated bridge between institutional capital and niche credit markets. This strategy is supported by its ability to manufacture products for both its own brand and for third-party partners.

What FF News has reported before

FF News has closely followed Chetwood Bank’s evolution as it scales its physical and operational footprint. In September 2026, the bank significantly increased its presence in the capital by opening a new London headquarters in Tower 42. This followed the June 2026 announcement that the firm had launched a Wholesale Banking division, supported by a new leadership team to drive institutional growth.

The bank’s expansion into specialist lending was further evidenced by CHL Mortgages launching a new bridging proposition in August 2026. Additionally, Chetwood has contributed to industry discourse through its data-driven insights, such as research revealing that 39% of UK adults lack a £300 emergency buffer, highlighting the bank's focus on the financial resilience of the UK population.

What this means

This appointment reflects a broader trend in the UK fintech sector where maturing "challenger" banks are aggressively recruiting heavyweights from Tier 1 investment banks to satisfy increasing regulatory scrutiny. By bringing in a veteran with deep experience in structured finance and private credit, Chetwood Bank is shoring up its defenses as it moves into more complex wholesale markets. The move puts pressure on other mid-tier digital lenders to prove they have the institutional-grade risk oversight necessary to handle larger, more diverse balance sheets. The central question for the sector remains whether these traditional banking veterans can maintain the agility of a fintech while imposing the rigid governance frameworks required by the PRA.