The Cumberland Appoints Ben Hornby to Drive Commercial Growth in South Lakes and Lancashire

Quick Summary

The Cumberland Building Society has appointed Ben Hornby as Relationship Manager to enhance its commercial banking services in South Lakes and Lancashire. With 15 years of experience, Hornby will provide tailored lending, mortgages, and accounts to local SMEs, reinforcing the society's commitment to relationship-led regional banking.

How does The Cumberland support South Lakes and Lancashire businesses?

The Cumberland Building Society provides a locally rooted service designed to move away from the "faceless" nature of modern high-street banking. By appointing Ben Hornby, the society ensures that commercial banking services are delivered by experts who live and work within the communities they serve. This approach focuses on:

• Providing specialist commercial mortgages for sectors like hospitality and healthcare.
• Offering tailored business accounts and savings products for regional SMEs.
• Ensuring face-to-face relationship management to understand specific business ambitions.

Ben Hornby brings a wealth of expertise, having previously managed SME portfolios at Handelsbanken and spent 15 years at NatWest. His deep understanding of the local ecosystem allows for more nuanced lending decisions compared to centralized, algorithm-driven banks.

What results has The Cumberland delivered for regional SMEs?

The Cumberland has established itself as a key financial partner for Northern England and Scotland, focusing on sectors that are often underserved by national giants. By maintaining a mutual ownership model, the society prioritizes member needs over shareholder profits, allowing for long-term investment in regional economic growth.

• Over 10 years of experience in business finance brought by the new appointment.
• Support for hospitality and healthcare, critical pillars of the Lancashire economy.
• A people-first approach that prioritizes direct communication over automated transactions.

"Ben is exactly the kind of Relationship Manager we look for – someone who is genuinely embedded in the community he’s looking to serve." said Scott McKerracher, Head of Commercial at The Cumberland.

FF NEWS TAKE:

This appointment proves that commercial banking services are still won on the ground, not just in the cloud. While many Tier-1 banks are retreating from physical regions, The Cumberland is doubling down on local relationship banking. This move definitely moves the needle for Lancashire SMEs who value human expertise and local market knowledge over generic digital-only platforms. It’s a smart play for regional dominance.