CASE_STUDY:
Afin

Afin

COMPANY:

Afin

SECTOR:

Banking & Financial Services

SPECIALISM:

Start-up & Scale-up,Permanent Staffing

About

Afin Bank is a newly established digital-only lender in the UK, focusing on providing financial services to the African diaspora and other underserved groups.

Client Overview

Having recently secured their AWR license, Afin are gearing up to Launch the bank properly with lending due to take place. We have been engaged to search for several key hires in the banking Operations team, which will be imperative to the success of the bank.

Our Results

The Outcome

Vivo delivered a shortlist of five candidates on time. All five were progressed to first-stage interviews, with three moving on to the second stage and two taken through to the final stage. One standout candidate was offered the role. Vivo provided full support during their notice period negotiations, successfully reducing a six-month notice to 3 months.

Key results:

  • From initial briefing to offer date took just 3 weeks, moving faster than projected to secure the best candidate
  • All candidates performed strongly at interview
  • The business gave excellent feedback on the quality and fit of the successful hire

Afin Bank now has a Head of Customer Service in place who has made an immediate impact—introducing robust customer care processes, shaping service strategy, and helping to embed a service-first culture across the business. This appointment has strengthened Afin’s ability to deliver exceptional customer experiences and build long-term loyalty as the bank grows.

Our Approach

Vivo worked exclusively with the COO to identify a leader for the customer service team who could operate at both a strategic and hands-on level. The ideal candidate would bring experience from a fast-paced, regulated environment—ideally within a challenger bank or fintech—and demonstrate a deep understanding of operational excellence within the BTL and Mortgage space.

We provided detailed market intelligence to support the search, including salary benchmarking, competitor analysis, and insights into talent availability. Our approach combined targeted headhunting through relevant networks, strategic use of LinkedIn, and comprehensive market mapping. We placed a strong emphasis on cultural alignment and the ability to lead teams in a scaling business.

Employer branding support was also offered to help position Afin attractively in a competitive market.

Given the niche nature of the role, we agreed a clear and structured recruitment plan. We moved quickly, sharing market data and delivering a shortlist of high-calibre candidates within a week. Interviews were pre-scheduled across a two-week window to extend an offer within four weeks. We also factored in the likelihood of candidates having notice periods of three to six months

Why It Matters

This project demonstrates our deep understanding of the Midlands Banking Operations talent market—knowing where to find the right people, how to engage them effectively, and how to deliver at pace when timing is critical. It also highlights the importance of a well-defined brief and a disciplined, targeted recruitment process. This wasn’t just about filling a vacancy, it was about helping Afin Bank lay the foundations for a best-in-class customer service function.

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