Alba Bank partners with ClearBank to manage payments for SMEs

Alba Bank, the UK’s newest challenger bank dedicated to supporting SMEs, has partnered with ClearBank, the enabler of real-time clearing and embedded banking, to manage payments for its customers.

Tha Alba Bank, am banca dùbhlannach as ùire san RA a tha gu sònraichte airson taic a thoirt do SMEn, air com-pàirteachadh le ClearBank, a tha comasach air glanadh fìor-ùine agus bancaireachd freumhaichte, gus pàighidhean airson an luchd-ceannach a riaghladh.

Alba Bank will be leveraging ClearBank and Mambu’s partnership to offer near real-time payments to its customer base and will be accessing these services via a single API integration. Alba will be able to connect with multiple payment schemes, including Bacs, CHAPS and Faster Payments, all allowing transactions to clear rapidly and over a secure platform.

Bidh Alba Bank a’ faighinn buannachd bho ClearBank agus com-pàirteachas Mambu gus pàighidhean faisg air fìor-ùine a thabhann don bhunait luchd-ceannach aca agus bidh iad a’ faighinn cothrom air na seirbheisean sin tro aon amalachadh API. Bidh e comasach do dh’Alba ceangal a dhèanamh ri iomadh sgeama pàighidh, a’ gabhail a-steach Bacs, CHAPS agus Pàighidhean nas luaithe, uile a’ leigeil le gnothaichean a dhol air adhart gu sgiobalta agus thairis air àrd-ùrlar tèarainte.

Founded by Scottish entrepreneur, Jim McColl in 2018, with its headquarters in Glasgow, Alba Bank was established to provide commercial finance to UK SMEs which remain underserved by the mainstream banks. Bucking the trend of remote contact centres favoured by the big banks, Alba is developing a network of regional commercial finance experts with the experience to work alongside SMEs as they grow.

Air a stèidheachadh leis an neach-tionnsgain Albannach, Jim McColl ann an 2018, leis a’ phrìomh oifis aige ann an Glaschu, chaidh Banca Alba a stèidheachadh gus ionmhas malairteach a sholarachadh do SMEn san RA nach eil fhathast a’ faighinn seirbheis gu leòr leis na bancaichean gnàthach. A’ dol an aghaidh a’ ghluasad de ionadan conaltraidh iomallach as fheàrr leis na bancaichean mòra, tha Alba a’ leasachadh lìonra de eòlaichean ionmhais malairteach roinneil aig a bheil an eòlas a bhith ag obair còmhla ri SMEn fhad ‘s a tha iad a’ fàs.

Alba was, earlier this year, granted its banking licence by the UK Prudential Regulatory Authority (PRA) and the FCA, allowing it to move into mobilisation, during which time it is currently focusing on building out its team, operations and infrastructure.

Fhuair Alba, na bu thràithe am-bliadhna, a cead bancaidh le Ùghdarras Riaghlaidh Stuamachd na RA (PRA) agus an FCA, a’ leigeil leis gluasad gu gluasad, agus rè na h-ùine sin tha i an-dràsta ag amas air a sgioba, gnìomhachd agus bun-structar a thogail a-mach.

Sandeep Kadam, Chief Technology Officer at Alba Bank, said: “Building our bank with industry-leading partners is the best way for Alba to scale quickly, in the knowledge that we’re being supported by the very best in the business. ClearBank has established a superb reputation among financial institutions and will provide us with the speed, agility and security that we need to help our SME customers grow and prosper.”

Thuirt Sandeep Kadam, Prìomh Oifigear Teicneòlais aig Banca Alba: “Is e togail ar banca le com-pàirtichean a tha air thoiseach air gnìomhachas an dòigh as fheàrr airson Alba a bhith a’ sgèile gu sgiobalta, le fios gu bheil sinn a’ faighinn taic bhon fheadhainn as fheàrr sa ghnìomhachas. Tha ClearBank air cliù air leth a stèidheachadh am measg institiudan ionmhais agus bheir e dhuinn an astar, an sùbailteachd agus an tèarainteachd a dh’ fheumas sinn gus ar teachdaichean SME a chuideachadh a’ fàs agus a’ soirbheachadh.”

John Salter, Chief Customer Officer at ClearBank, added: “Just like Alba, ClearBank designed and built its entire IT system from scratch, bolstering competition and innovation in financial services, allowing for more efficient and cost-effective transactions for our customers. We’re delighted to be working with Alba as they prepare to launch and scale in the market.”

Thuirt John Salter, Prìomh Oifigear Luchd-ceannach aig ClearBank: “Dìreach mar Alba, dhealbhaich agus thog ClearBank an siostam IT gu lèir aige bhon fhìor thoiseach, a’ neartachadh farpais agus ùr-ghnàthachadh ann an seirbheisean ionmhais, a’ toirt cothrom do ghnothaichean nas èifeachdaiche agus nas cosg-èifeachdaiche don luchd-ceannach againn. Tha sinn air leth toilichte a bhith ag obair còmhla ri Alba agus iad ag ullachadh airson cur air bhog agus sgèile sa mhargaidh.”

Following the recent appointments of Robert Sharpe as Chair and Andy Lewis as Chief Risk Officer, the bank has also announced a partnership with Mambu, the SaaS cloud-native lending engine which will enable Alba to build a variety of loan offerings tailored to customer needs.

Às deidh Raibeart Sharpe a bhith air a chur an dreuchd o chionn ghoirid mar Chathraiche agus Anndra Lewis mar Phrìomh Oifigear Cunnairt, tha am banca cuideachd air com-pàirteachas ainmeachadh le Mambu, an einnsean iasaid dùthchasach sgòthan SaaS a leigeas le Alba diofar thabhartasan iasaid a thogail a rèir feumalachdan luchd-cleachdaidh.

Since launch in 2017, ClearBank has more than 700 employees based across the UK, with over 200 financial institutions using its platform. ClearBank works with 16 of the UK’s newest banks.

Bho chaidh a chuir air bhog ann an 2017, tha còrr air 700 neach-obrach aig ClearBank stèidhichte air feadh na RA, le còrr air 200 institiud ionmhais a’ cleachdadh an àrd-ùrlar aca. Bidh ClearBank ag obair le 16 de na bancaichean as ùire san RA.