Anthony Thomson co-founded Metro Bank and then co-founded Atom Bank with Mark Mullen, the former CEO of First Direct. He was Atom's chairman until 2018.
Atom was incorporated in July 2013 and won a full UK banking licence in June 2015. BBVA agreed a substantial pre-launch stake in November 2015. The bank launched to registered users in April 2016, with a wider launch in October, and has no branches.
In 2022 Atom raised £75m at a £435m valuation and moved its 430 staff to a four-day week. A £100m round in November 2023 from BBVA, Toscafund and Infinity Investments Partners valued it at £362m.
In 2024 Atom made its first annual pre-tax profit since launch, with a £27m operating profit on revenue of £99.1m. Net income was £12.5m.