Gatehouse Bank has announced the launch of a new direct finance team, based in its recently opened customer service centre in Milton Keynes.

The challenger bank’s dedicated team will liaise directly with customers, complementing the bank’s long-standing intermediary network.

As part of this expansion, Gemma Donnelly has been appointed as head of direct finance. She joins from Aldermore Bank and previously worked for LSL property group, and has 13 years’ experience within the home finance market. She will lead the team of direct finance advisers as the department grows in the coming months.

Paul Stockwell, Gatehouse Bank’s chief commercial officer, said: “We are delighted that Gemma is joining us at this exciting time of growth.

“Her experience in direct finance will help develop this new area of the business and her appointment complements our fast growing intermediary distribution channel.

“This is the first of a number of new appointments that Gatehouse Bank is making in the near future as we continue to expand and develop our existing product range.”

Donnelly added: “I’m delighted to be joining Gatehouse Bank at such an exciting time. The opportunity to help shape the bank’s first step into direct finance and work with such a talented team was too good to pass up.”