Retail banking giant NatWest has appointed Adeel Hyder to head up its business banking division.

Hyder, who currently works at Starling Bank as managing director of SME banking, will take up a similar position at NatWest on June 1st.

When Hyder becomes NatWest’s new managing director of business banking, he’ll be responsible for leading a division that currently serves over a million British small and medium-sized businesses.

It provides bank accounts, loans, overdrafts, mortgages and other services designed specifically for the needs of business customers. These services are used by SMES ranging from startups to scaleups.

Hyder’s appointment comes as NatWest presses ahead with a 2026 digital transformation and growth programme for its business division, which includes plans to grow its startup accelerator programme to 50,000 entrepreneurs this year.

Set to lead these efforts, Hyder will no doubt be able to leverage his experience creating and scaling Starling Bank’s business banking arm. Along with working at Starling Bank, Hyder also spent time at McKinsey and TSB.

His previous roles saw him develop commercial leadership skills, oversee business performance and work closely with Britain’s SME community. These are attributes that make Hyder an “excellent addition” to NatWest’s leadership, according to Robert Begbie, CEO of commercial and institutional at NatWest.

Begbie, to whom Hyder will report directly and work alongside on the NatWest Executive Committee, added that Hyder will help the bank “strengthen support for start‑ups and deliver improved digital journeys for small business customers across the UK”.

Commenting on his looming appointment, Hyder expressed enthusiasm about joining NatWest at a “pivotal moment” for its business banking arm.

He added: “Small business entrepreneurs are the fundamental drivers and barometer of the health of the UK economy, and I look forward to working with colleagues across the bank to ensure entrepreneurs can focus on doing what they love while we save them time and help them stay in control of their finances through our solutions.”

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