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Metro Bank needs a boardroom shake-up after capital horror show

Vernon Hill’s cultish following may be Metro Bank’s downfall; confidence dents M&A ; and HSBC boss' reputation for thriftiness

Vice Chairman Vernon W. Hill During Opening Of The First Metro Bank Outlet In Holborn, London. (Photo by John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images)
Vice Chairman Vernon W. Hill During Opening Of The First Metro Bank Outlet In Holborn, London. (Photo by John Phillips/UK Press via Getty Images) Photo: UK Press / Getty Images

“There’s no substitute for experience”, so the saying goes. But Metro Bank’s recent capital horror show suggests that in its boardroom, less really may be more.

It has been a disastrous period for a bank fond of flagging its interloper status. While skittish markets mean negative news frequently produces an exaggerated response from investors, it was hard to make that case when Metro Bank shares slid 40% on January 23 after it revealed it had been miscalculating capital needed to set against its loanbook.

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