Masthaven has announced the appointment of James Blower as its head of savings.

Blower has a background in retail banking. He was the first savings director for Shawbrook Bank and was also the youngest bank managing director in Guernsey, having set up Clydesdale Bank International, which operated as a specialist offshore savings bank for National Australia Bank and grew deposits to over £1.6 billion.

Prior to joining Masthaven, Blower was responsible for setting up Harrods Bank savings business.

The planned bank is preparing to launch in the summer of 2016.

Jon Hall, who will lead Masthaven Bank as managing director, said: “We are delighted to welcome James, whose record in providing attractive and valued savings products and services speaks for itself. As head of savings James will be key to delivering Masthaven Bank’s flexible approach which will enable savers to make financial choices which better suit their goals and easily access a range of competitive online fixed-interest savings products.

“In James Blower, we have a proven expert with an enviable track record in understanding and delivering what customers want from their savings.”

Blower added: “I am delighted to be joining Masthaven Bank. Savers have been ignored for far too long and I look forward to providing the products and service to offer Masthaven Bank customers a really attractive alternative to the ‘one size fits all’ mentality of the big banks.”