TECHNOLOGY chat function . Next year we ’ ll have video and voice to accompany that . There ’ s a level of intelligence that ’ s been thought through to deliver the best customer experience .”
Atom ’ s biggest challenge at the start was funding . “ We ’ re a start-up and we don ’ t have big pockets ,” Bromley explains . “ Banking is certainly not for the faint-hearted .”
It ’ s a tightly-regulated industry , and start-ups have very little negotiation power . While many companies can launch with only a few hundred pounds behind them , banks require several million just to meet the basic regulations ; Atom had to raise £ 100 million at the very least , and managed £ 135 million to get started . “ That ’ s before getting a single penny of income . The shareholders want a return as soon as possible , so you immediately have to deliver at an incredible pace on a shoestring . But we ’ ve always got over our hurdles and have risen to the challenges of the job . Today we ’ re doing pretty damn well .”
Bromley and his team are deeply passionate about the concept of digital-only banking and its place in a sector that is otherwise outdated , and believes strongly in its mission statement of ‘ changing banking for good ’.
“ The future of the digital bank is based on what customers want , and the behaviour that customers are demanding ,” Bromley concludes . “ Having the speed and agility to stay with the technology that the high street can ’ t compete with , and a cost-income ratio which makes all the difference – that ’ s a pretty compelling proposition .” www . atombank . co . uk 89