Specialist bank’s new recruit to turbocharge people-first business banking

01 July 2024

An award-winning British bank has bolstered its growing operations north of the border with a seasoned Scottish finance expert.

Chris Pallis, who has 17 years of experience in finance with firms including Lloyds, Santander and Barclays, is Redwood Bank’s new business development manager in Scotland – and he is keen to use his impressive network of contacts to continue Redwood’s expansion in the Scottish business banking sector.

Chris said: “I was attracted to Redwood by its lending model, which really fits the Scottish market very well indeed.

“I also really liked the people-focused attitude of the business, where the decisions are made by colleagues rather than by algorithms. That fits exactly with my way of operating. And I was impressed by the way Redwood goes the extra mile to find solutions for businesses and landlords.

“My favourite part of the job is speaking to people, I spend a lot of my time driving around Scotland meeting brokers - it’s always good to get to know someone more personally.”

Scotland is a strong area for HMOs, from which mainstream banks tend to shy away. But with Redwood’s human approach to making decisions, rather than using algorithms, more landlords can benefit.

Chris said: “This can really make a difference for anyone looking to expand their Scottish property portfolio. As every application is viewed by one of our team, we can make a common-sense decision, instead of relying on what a computer says.”

Gary Wilkinson, CEO and Co-Founder of Redwood Bank, said: “We’re thrilled to welcome Chris, who will be vital as we continue our work to step up our operations in Scotland. His contacts and infectious enthusiasm will be massive positives for our team.

“His emphasis on getting out there and building relationships with people really chimes with our customer-centric model – real people helping real businesses. That’s what we’re all about and we’re delighted to have added such a great fit for Redwood.”

For further information, visit www.redwoodbank.co.uk.

Chris Pallis, Redwood Bank's business development manager in Scotland. Image: Redwood Bank