NatWest has appointed Adeel Hyder as Managing Director of Business Banking, where he will lead the bank’s strategy to strengthen support for small and micro-businesses across the UK.
Hyder will join the bank on 1 June 2026 from Starling Bank.
He previously held roles at McKinsey & Company and TSB Bank, and most recently worked at Starling, where he contributed to the development and expansion of its digital business banking services.
In the new role, Hyder will report to Robert Begbie, CEO of Commercial & Institutional at NatWest, and will join the division’s Executive Committee.
Hyder said:
“I’m delighted to join NatWest and excited to lead its Business Banking business at such a pivotal moment. 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.”
Supporting SMEs remains a core part of NatWest’s strategy.
The bank’s Business Banking arm serves more than one million SMEs, including start-ups, small firms, high-growth businesses and community organisations.
The division also plays a role in the group’s funding base and is part of a wider digital transformation and growth programme planned for 2026.
NatWest has also announced plans to expand its NatWest Accelerator programme for entrepreneurs to a community of 50,000 participants in 2026.
The initiative forms part of the bank’s “Growing Together” plan, which focuses on regional growth, support for mid-market firms, infrastructure and housing, financial confidence, and innovation across the UK economy.
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