Anthony Thomson, former Founder and Chairman of Atom Bank and Metro Bank in the UK, has been formally appointed 86 400’s Chairman of the Board.

Thomson is joined by Belinda Cooney, current Chief Financial Officer of Interactive, Australia’s largest privately held IT services organisation; and Akiko Jackson, who is currently advising a number of organisations in both the public and private sectors. Between them, Cooney and Jackson have almost 60 years’ experience leading some of Australia’s most innovative businesses.

Cooney previously worked with Macquarie for 23 years and previously PwC. She’s also an Advisory Board member of CSIRO’s Data61.

Jackson is a career banker of 25 years with a background in strategy and consulting. She started with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group and has since built a career advising major financial institutions throughout the world, including Westpac, Sinsei Bank in Japan, and CommBank, as well as the public sector, like the Department of Human Services.

As 86 400’s major shareholder, Cuscal has two seats on the Board, which are occupied by Craig Kennedy, Managing Director, and Sean O’Donoghue, Chief Financial Officer.

Kennedy has led Cuscal for almost ten years, is currently a director of NPP Australia and a member of the Australian Payments Council. O’Donoghue has been Cuscal’s Chief Financial Officer for the past four years and has held senior roles with KPMG, LendLease, and Westpac.

Anthony Thomson, 86 400’s chair said: “We’re building the bank that Australians deserve, and to do that we need to have the best people. We’ve already assembled a team of more than 70 on the ground, and I’m delighted to have Akiko and Belinda join the Board. The sheer wealth of experience they bring to the team is invaluable, and I look forward to working with them to build a bank that Australians can finally be proud of.”

Belinda Cooney says, “We’re on the cusp of something very exciting - a banking revolution which will use technology to give Australians greater choice and better value. What the team at 86 400 have been able to achieve so far is truly phenomenal, and I’m excited to be part of the team building a bank with innovation at its core.”

On her appointment to the 86 400 Board, Akiko Jackson said: “We have an opportunity, and a responsibility, to ensure that Australians have a genuine alternative to the Big Four. A bank which puts customer interest’s first. Building a bank from scratch isn’t easy, but it’s a challenge that we’re all up for, and one that I’m excited to be a part of.”