Our people | Paul Holmes

Paul Holmes, Underwriter

Responsible for evaluating loans at Redwood Bank, Paul’s role is critical in ensuring swift and well thought out decisions are made and fed back to the customer. Having previously worked as a Credit Underwriter for another Challenger bank, Paul’s career has been spent in property and banking.
 

Tell us more about your role and why you were keen to join Redwood Bank?

Redwood was and still is a new and exciting organisation that offers a different approach to lending. They also can act fast. When I met the people at my interview, I was sold and realised it was a place I wanted to be. Since starting, I’ve seen just how reactive the team are. My role means that I get to interact with the senior management team and colleagues from across the Bank. I meet and deal with lots of different people and have the opportunity to learn something new every day. It’s fast paced so there’s never a dull moment.
 

Redwood is now two years old; how do you see the Bank evolving in years to come?

I think it will continue to grow and our technology will evolve further. We will be able to offer an increasing array of products and our processes will get quicker and quicker. This will mean ever better news for our customers.

Challenger vs High Street Banks – is there a place for both?

I think that in 2020 there is a need for both, due to the different generations who use the industry. However, in the future, the need for so many existing High Street banks may cease. We will continue to see branches disappear as technology moves forward. I also think that the large banks will move more online like most Challenger banks, and the vast majority of retail transactions will be carried out by media and communication devices.

What advice would you give to someone starting off in banking?

If you work for the right organisation, I would urge anyone to listen and learn from experienced staff members. Step back and consider everything before making  a decision, and respect the traditions of the industry.
 

And finally, please tell us something we don’t know?
 

I used to love heavy metal. So much so that I had long hair and snapped my Metallica tape from over playing it. I used to walk around in ripped jeans with a shirt tied around my waist, head banging to ‘Rage Against the Machine’ (if anyone remembers them)! My music tastes have mellowed slightly now. If I move too quickly, I’ll get a headache!