Unity Trust Bank unites Customer and Impact expertise to deliver greater value for purpose-led organisations
Unity Trust Bank is bringing together its Customer and Impact teams in a strategic move that strengthens its distinctive profit-and-purpose approach to banking and helps customers achieve stronger financial and social outcomes.
The values-driven business bank has created a more integrated customer proposition, combining specialist banking expertise with products designed to deliver social, economic and environmental impact with customers.
Joshua Meek has been promoted to chief customer & impact officer to lead the new function, which merges two key disciplines that underpin Unity’s double-bottom-line approach of delivering both sustainable financial performance and positive impact.
Since joining Unity in 2022, Joshua has helped embed impact measurement across the bank while supporting growth in mission-aligned sectors. His achievements include co-leading Unity’s Green Tariff lending, investing in Local Climate Bonds and co-creating Unity’s Money Market Loans proposition.
Joshua said: “At Unity, commercial success and social impact go hand in hand because both are fundamental to our double-bottom-line ambition.
“By bringing our Customer and Impact teams together, we’re creating a more joined-up experience for customers, giving them access to both expert banking support and deeper insight into the impact they create.
“This will help organisations unlock greater value from their relationship with Unity, supporting their growth ambitions while strengthening the positive outcomes they deliver for people, communities and the environment.”
A number of new roles have been created as part of the strategic integration.
Internal promotions include Liam Marshall, who moves from head of product to director of commercial strategy, and Leanna McEwan, who has been appointed head of commercial banking services from her previous role as relationship director.
External appointments include Sasha Afanasieva, formerly managing director of Impact at Big Issue Invest, who joins as head of impact & sustainability management, and Lizzie Colden, formerly executive director at SUMS Consulting, who joins as director of Customer Strategy.
Colin Fyfe, chief executive officer of Unity Trust Bank, said: “This marks an exciting new chapter in Unity’s 42-year history.
“By bringing together customer, commercial and impact expertise, we’re deepening the value we deliver to customers.
“Our vision is to be the bank of choice for all socially-minded organisations and we will continue to support our customers to grow sustainably.
“This also positions Unity strongly to deliver our ambition of doubling the size of the bank and doubling our impact by 2030.”
In the first half of 2026, Unity supported £155.7m in new lending. Almost half met the ABC of Enterprise Impact ‘C – Contribute to Solutions’ grade, meaning that the loans actively addressed social or environmental challenges, and 64% was distributed to disadvantaged communities driving purposeful change.