Bank Aston a new bank based in Guernsey, has appointed its first two Non-Executive Directors, Claire Whittet, and Roy McGregor.
Claire Whittet has more than 40 years of banking experience, including senior roles at Rothschild & Co Bank International, Bank of Bermuda, and Bank of Scotland. She will focus on audit and risk for Bank Aston.
On joining Bank Aston, Mr Whittet said: “Offshore banking has long needed a new player. Bank Aston is building an offer that I have no doubt will disrupt the tired status quo currently serving the offshore community.”
She added: “In my conversations with the leadership team, I know that Bank Aston is taking regulatory responsibilities and risk extremely seriously and I am looking forward to guiding that area of the business in the coming years.”
Meanwhile Roy McGregor is the former CEO of Credit Suisse AG in the Channel Islands and is currently President of the Guernsey Tax Tribunal.
On his new position, Mr McGregor said: “Having been part of the offshore banking community for decades there is a considerable opportunity for a Bank that treats trustees, funds and family offices as its priority, rather than a ‘nice to have’.”
He continued: “I have been taken by the Bank’s understanding of its customer base and the pain points those customers have with traditional banking offers. The size of the market is huge and so is Bank Aston’s potential.”
Paul Gorman, the banks CEO commented on their appointments: ”We are proud and delighted to welcome Claire and Roy as our first two NEDs. Both Guernsey residents, they know the island’s financial services sector like the back of their hands. We are building a Guernsey based bank and our key people – its mind and its management – are here on the island.”
Mr Gorman said: ”They have unparalleled experience in offshore markets and I am looking forward to having their input as we build a bank that shakes up the offshore banking sector.”
Bank Aston was launched in June 2025 after receiving a licence from the Guernsey Financial Services Commission. It is the first locally licensed bank in Guernsey in almost 30 years.
The bank says it is currently building its products and services and plans to begin onboarding its first customers in the first half of 2026.
Kevin Brown, the Chairman of Bank Aston added: “Our first two independent Non-Executive Directors are of the highest calibre. In Roy and Claire we have secured the perfect blend of skillsets that will add true value to Bank Aston from governance through to connectivity.”
Mr Brown continued: ”Roy comes to us with a very strong governance experience on the island, his role in fiduciary and other financial institutions is well known and respected by the GFSC and the financial community here. That fits extremely well with Claire, whose focus is on the audit and risk side from decades with major banks.”
He concluded: ”The Guernsey regulator has been very supportive of Bank Aston over the past couple of years as we’ve progressed – but also very clear about what it requires of its financial community. Roy and Claire will help keep a regulator-like eye on what is the first bank on the island for thirty years.”