Keyte previously held the role of head of credit at Allica Bank.
He has 28 years’ experience in the industry, including roles at Lloyds Banking Group and Allied Irish Bank.
Mark Bampton, chief credit officer for Recognise Bank, said: “The UK’s SMEs are poorly served because so many of the mainstream banks have automated their lending and removed the people with real expert knowledge of business sectors and their financial needs.
“In Gavin we have somebody with a huge amount of experience of lending to the SME sector and a great understanding of what makes them tick.
“He will be a great asset in helping to shape our proposition as we increase our lending to small businesses by developing strong relationships with business owners and truly understanding their business.”
Keyte added: “I’m delighted to be joining Recognise Bank.
“Its focus on building real personal relationships with SMEs completely aligns with my views on how best to support the small business sector.
“Every business is different, so it’s vital that lenders have people with experience of SMEs to understand both their challenges and their opportunities.
“This an exciting time in the Bank’s development, but also a great opportunity for Recognise to support UK entrepreneurs and companies looking for finance to help them grow.”
