About us
About us
We’re changing the way that
consumers and SMEs access funding
Is your business ready to grow?
With access to a plentiful supply of liquidity, we’re here to help you grow and achieve your business ambitions.
With a solid and trusted history in Conister Bank, we’re a consistent lender through periods of both boom and recession. And we’re good at spotting opportunities. Which is why we may lend to you at an earlier stage than the bigger banks – and some of our competitors.
Financing ambition for the long-term
Our structured finance, broker and direct divisions lend to non-bank lenders e.g. asset finance brokers for their own loan book, and SMEs across the UK. With a solid and trusted history in Conister Bank, we’re a consistent lender through periods of both boom and recession.
Our divisions
For brokers
We lend to SMEs across the UK with a personal but straightforward service that cuts to the chase.
For structured finance
Structured finance for non-bank lenders through a broad range of financial products.
For supplier finance
Finance solutions for suppliers to support the growth of UK businesses.
For customer finance
Finance solutions for customers to support the growth of UK businesses.
We’re always looking at new areas of exposure
We like to penetrate new markets – it’s what makes this exciting.
We create liquidity in places where it isn’t readily found. And we know the difference this can make when you dream big and have the ambition, ideas and drive to succeed.
We’re here to get things moving. Not for us the restrictions of metrics and matrixes, pricing and security, sectors and markets. We want to set you off on a quest to achieve your ambitions and create a solid financial and operational foundation for your business.
150-200
transactions per month
by brokers in 2019
£100m
funded to small businesses
via brokers in 2019
£15k
average loan to SMEs
via brokers in 2019
Business values that make a real difference
Customer focus
Our customers come first. We pride ourselves on being accessible. Driven by an understanding of our customer needs, we build long term relationships and deliver service.
Integrity
We are committed to acting ethically and transparently in all areas of our business, ensuring any identified risks are reviewed and dealt with prudently and with integrity.
Working together
Our people are at the heart of everything we do. We treat one another with respect and dignity, taking ownership and fostering a productive environment where people can contribute, innovate and excel.
Shaping the future
We are always looking to improve the way we work, delivering value to our customers and being active participants in the community. We embrace change by using our drive, skills, resources and the best available technologies to deliver sustainable results.
About Conister Bank
Conister Bank is an independent bank, named after Conister Rock in Douglas Bay. It was established in the Isle of Man in 1935 as Conister Trust and in 2009 changed its name to Conister Bank.
Conister Bank offers both Personal and Commercial Banking, providing a wide variety of financial products and services, including taking deposits and the provision of credit facilities and asset finance.
Conister Bank is wholly owned by Manx Financial Group who has subsidiaries engaged in a suite of financial services based in the Isle of Man and the UK.
Meet the Conister Directors
Douglas Grant
Executive Director
Douglas Grant was appointed as an Executive Director of Conister Finance & Leasing Ltd in December 2009.
He is the Chief Executive Officer of Manx Financial Group PLC and also the Managing Director of Conister Bank Limited. He has over 30 years’ experience working in finance, initially with Scottish Power, before moving to the industrial sector to work with ICI and then Allenwest.
Prior to joining Manx Financial Group PLC in October 2008, he was the group financial controller and later financial director of various UK and Isle of Man private sector companies and has extensive capital markets experience.
Denham Eke
Non-Executive Director
Denham Eke was appointed as a Non-Executive Director in May 2019.
He is the Executive Vice Chairman of Manx Financial Group PLC and is the Managing Director of Burnbrae Group Limited, a private international asset management company. He began his career in stockbroking with Sheppards & Chase before moving into corporate planning for Hogg Robinson plc, a major multinational insurance broker.
He is a director of many years standing of both public and private companies involved in the financial services, property, mining, and manufacturing sectors. He is chairman of Webis Holdings PLC and chief finance officer of Port Erin Biopharma Investments Limited which are both quoted on the London AIM market.
Haseeb Qureshi
Executive Director
Haseeb Qureshi was appointed as an Executive Director of Conister Finance & Leasing Ltd in October 2018.
He is a Chartered Accountant and a Certified Internal Auditor and has a history working within the financial services sector, in particular banking, e-gaming and with service providers.
Prior to joining the Group, Haseeb worked as a senior auditor in KPMG within external and internal audit and has experience within transaction services. He has also worked for an accounting services provider managing portfolio of corporate clients with a focus on commercial property investment structures.
Haseeb originally joined the Group in February 2016 as Head of Internal Audit and was promoted to Chief Operating Officer of Conister Bank Limited in May 2017. He was also appointed as Director of Conister Bank Limited in July 2019.
James Smeed
Executive Director
James Smeed was appointed as an Executive Director of Conister Finance & Leasing Ltd in April 2017.
He joined Manx Financial Group in August 2012 and prior to this, worked with KPMG as an audit manager where he also trained as a chartered accountant. He is a Chartered Accountant and a Chartered Tax Advisor.
He is the Group Finance Director of Manx Financial Group PLC and also the Finance Director of Conister Bank Limited.
Marcus Gregory
Executive Director
Marcus Gregory has over 20 years of experience working in the asset finance and commercial loans sector.
He was a founder of the finance brokerage Blue Star Business Solutions Limited in 2007, which was acquired by the Manx Financial Group PLC in April 2019.
He moved sideways to Conister Finance & Leasing (CFL) in September 2020 and was appointed as an Executive Director in April 2021.
He now heads up the broker division for CFL and is responsible for the planning and delivery of the strategy in the UK mainland market.
Mark Hayman
Executive Director
Mark Hayman brings over 20 years’ experience working across the supply chain within the asset finance and commercial loans sectors.
He was a founder of the finance brokerage Blue Star Business Solutions Limited in 2007, which was acquired by the Manx Financial Group PLC in April 2019.
Mark’s role as Executive Director will be advisory in nature, offering Conister expertise and oversight. His previous experience across the supply chain will support Conister in augmenting relationships within the finance and lending industry, particularly in developing supplier accounts.
