UK fintech company, ClearBank, has appointed David Samper as Group Chief Financial Officer, bringing in an experienced financial services executive to lead the organisation through its European expansion strategy and next phase of international growth. Samper joins from Newcastle Building Society, where he served as CFO for over six years.
The appointment comes at a pivotal time for ClearBank, which recently secured a Credit Institution License from the European Central Bank, supervised by De Nederlandsche Bank, marking a key milestone in the bank’s internationalisation strategy. The company has passported into 15 European markets over the past year.
Extensive Financial Services Background
Samper brings 30 years of leadership experience across strategic finance, M&A, and business transformation in both private and public companies. At Newcastle Building Society, he led a transformative growth strategy that doubled the Society’s assets to nearly £7 billion and delivered the successful merger with Manchester Building Society in 2023.
His career includes senior finance positions at Sainsbury’s Bank, where he worked for six years, and NatWest Group, where he spent over a decade in various senior roles, including head of finance for UK corporate banking.
Samper succeeds Mark Fairless, who was appointed as Group Chief Executive Officer in March after previously serving as Group CFO since 2023.
Strategic Appointment for International Growth
ClearBank CEO Mark Fairless welcomed the appointment, saying:
“I’m thrilled to have someone of David’s experience and calibre join the business. His deep expertise across finance, strategy and regulation, spanning both public and private sectors, brings tremendous strength to our leadership team. As we scale to unlock our clients’ potential, his contribution will be key to ClearBank’s next phase of international growth.”
Samper’s appointment follows a period of significant growth for ClearBank. The company reported group fee-based income increased 63% to £53.3 million in 2024, with the UK business posting pre-tax profits for the second consecutive year.
However, the expansion has come with costs. In April, the bank reported a pre-tax loss of £4.4 million in its first group financial results, with the company attributing this to costs related to its European expansion, implementation of a new group structure, and the shift away from interest fee income.
Market Position and Client Base
Founded in 2017, ClearBank has established itself as one of the UK’s leading fintech and embedded banking infrastructure providers. The company provides API access to financial institutions for regulated banking infrastructure and real-time clearing services.
ClearBank serves a roster of prominent fintech clients including Revolut, Tide, Chip, TrueLayer, Coinbase, Raisin, and Airwallex. The bank’s infrastructure supports these clients’ banking operations through its real-time clearing and embedded banking capabilities.
Looking Ahead
Samper expressed enthusiasm about joining the company:
“ClearBank’s reputation for technological innovation, best-in-class regulatory compliance and a strong growth strategy makes it one of the most exciting financial services businesses to be a part of. I’m delighted to be joining at such a pivotal time and look forward to supporting the next phase of growth in the UK and abroad.”
His appointment comes as ClearBank positions itself for further international expansion, leveraging its European Central Bank license to extend its services across the European Economic Area. The company’s focus on strategic finance, capital markets, investor relations, regulatory engagement, and technology transformation aligns with Samper’s background and expertise.
With the regulatory foundation now in place for European operations and a seasoned CFO at the helm of its financial strategy, ClearBank appears well-positioned to capitalise on growing demand for embedded banking infrastructure across both UK and European markets.
