ClearBank Appoints Neil Drennan as Chief Technology Officer

ClearBank – enabler of real-time clearing and embedded banking – has announced the appointment of Neil Drennan as Chief Technology Officer (CTO). The move signals intent from the clearing bank to fortify its technical leadership as it scales its cloud-based API and payments infrastructure across the UK and Europe.

Neil joins the firm from Visa, where he spent three years as CTO for Visa Cross Border Solutions and Currencycloud. With over 15 years of experience spanning media and financial services – including stints at 10x Future Technologies and Amazon – he arrives with a proven track record of managing high-growth technology environments.

A focus on cloud-native excellence

During his tenure at Visa, Neil was instrumental in establishing the company’s Cloud Centre of Excellence (CCoE) programme. This initiative was designed to integrate cloud-native best practices into the core of Visa’s operations, a skill set that aligns directly with ClearBank’s foundational architecture.

As he moves into his new role, Neil will lead the technology team and join the Group executive team. His primary focus will involve the evolution of ClearBank’s infrastructure to support an increasingly diverse range of services. 

Last year, the bank expanded its reach through the launch of channel partnerships and embedded banking services for corporate clients, broadening its appeal to new customers.

Driving international growth

The appointment comes at a pivotal moment for the bank as it seeks to replicate its UK success in international markets. By leveraging a single API-based platform, ClearBank allows its partners to offer real-time payments and innovative banking services without the legacy constraints of traditional institutions.

Mark Fairless, Chief Executive Officer of ClearBank, says: “Neil will bring invaluable experience in streamlining and scaling our leading cloud-based platform, to support our on-going growth. 

“As we expand into new offerings and markets, our technology will continue to be a critical differentiator in the quality and resilience of our propositions for our clients. I look forward to working closely with Neil as part of our executive team to continue scaling ClearBank to new heights, and help clients deliver on their ambitions.”

Reshaping the banking landscape

Neil’s transition from a global giant like Visa to a specialist clearing bank highlights the ongoing shift in the financial ecosystem. The ability to blend regulatory rigour with the agility of cloud technology has become the benchmark for modern banking providers.

Commenting on his new role, Neil says: “I have admired the way in which ClearBank has shaken up the payments and banking sector over the last decade. Its unique approach of blending innovative cloud-based technology with trusted regulatory processes has established it as a leader in UK financial services, powering many of the fintech industry’s most exciting companies.

“I look forward to getting on board and bringing my experience of working with international clients to drive ClearBank’s growth over the next few years.”

By focusing on the technical evolution of its API, Neil aims to ensure that the bank remains the preferred partner for firms looking to integrate real-time financial services into their own customer journeys.