Debbie Crosbie
British banker (born 1970)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Dame Deborah Anne Crosbie DBE (born 30 March 1970) is a British banker who has been the chief executive of the Nationwide Building Society since June 2022.[1] She was previously the CEO of TSB Bank from May 2019.[2]
Debbie Crosbie | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 March 1970 Glasgow, Scotland |
| Education | University of Strathclyde |
| Occupation | Banker |
| Title | CEO, Nationwide Building Society |
| Term | June 2022– |
| Predecessor | Joe Garner |
| Children | 1 |
Early life
Crosbie was born and raised in Glasgow, the daughter of an engineer father and a social care manager mother.[3] She attended Boclair Academy[1] and earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Strathclyde.[4]
Career
Crosbie started her career in the Prudential graduate training programme, working in the City of London.[3] In 1997, she joined Clydesdale Bank as a project manager, rising to chief operating officer (COO) in January 2015.[2][3]
In November 2018, TSB Bank announced Crosbie as its new CEO, to succeed Paul Pester in May 2019.[5][6] In June 2022, she succeeded Joe Garner, as chief executive of the Nationwide Building Society.[7]
In 2025, after overseeing the merger with Virgin Money and declaring Nationwide's 'record breaking' £2.8bn annual return, she was described by The Independent, as Britain's "most successful woman banker."[8] Crosbie's subsequent increase in remuneration was controversial, as the mutual did not allow members a 'binding' vote on this decision.[9]
In December 2025, Nationwide was fined £44 million by the Financial Conduct Authority for having weak financial crime controls and missing opportunities to identify fraudulent Covid furlough payments. One customer had been able to use a personal current account to receive £27.3 million of fraudulent furlough payments over 13 months, £26 million of that in only eight days.[10]
In late 2025, Crosbie was appointed Woman in Finance Champion in the United Kingdom, a nomination announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in December 2025. The role, an unpaid ministerial appointment that she has held since 1 January 2026, aims to accelerate the advancement of women into senior leadership positions within the financial sector. She succeeded Dame Amanda Blanc, former CEO of Aviva.[citation needed]
Honours
Crosbie was made a Dame of the British Empire for services to financial services in the King's birthday honours 2025.[11]
Personal life
Crosbie is married and has a daughter.[1]
