Richard Bearman Chief Development Officer

Richard Bearman is the Bank’s Chief Development Officer. In his role as the Bank’s first Chief Development Officer, Richard will lead a central hub for business development and customer relationship management for the Bank’s delivery partners and fund managers, supporting the Investment and Banking businesses.

Richard will continue to build the Bank’s access to finance ecosystem across the UK’s Nations and regions, creating a simpler route for partners to come in and engage with the British Business Bank.  

Richard was previously Co-Chief Banking Officer and before that was the Managing Director, Small Business Lending at the Bank, which included responsibility for the Start Up Loans programme, which was rated by Forbes as its top-rated Small Business Loan and Start up Loan for three consecutive years. Richard has more than 25 years’ experience in banking and during that time has developed a real passion for working with and supporting entrepreneurs.

Prior to joining the Bank, Richard was UK Head of Small Business at HSBC, where he led and supported colleagues serving the UK SME market via face to face, telephony and digital channels. Richard set the strategic direction and led the business to evolve its channels and grow its customer base. Under Richard’s leadership, HSBC was voted Best Business Banking Provider in the Smart Money People British Bank Awards and Best Online Banking Provider in the Business Moneyfacts Awards.