Recognise Bank appoints Luke Watson as Director of Intermediary Sales and Lending

15 April 2026

Recognise Bank has appointed Luke Watson as Director of Intermediary Sales and Lending, as it continues to strengthen its intermediary proposition and support the next phase of its growth strategy.

Luke brings more than 20 years’ experience across commercial real estate lending, underwriting, and credit risk. He has a strong track record of building and leading high-performing teams. delivering operational improvements, and enhancing broker engagement, most recently supporting lending volumes of approximately £2bn per annum.

His expertise spans commercial investment, bridging, and buy-to-let lending, underpinned by deep technical knowledge and a pragmatic, relationship-led approach to credit.

Prior to joining Recognise Bank, Luke held senior leadership roles at Shawbrook Bank and Amicus Commercial Mortgages, where he played a key role in scaling lending operations, strengthening credit frameworks, and driving strategic change. He has also held real estate lending roles at Aldermore and Santander.

In his new role, Luke will focus on strengthening intermediary relationships, enhancing the bank’s lending proposition, and delivering sustainable growth through disciplined, high-quality credit.

Luke Watson, Director of Intermediary Sales and Lending at Recognise Bank, said:

“I’m delighted to be joining Recognise Bank and to be working with such a strong team at an exciting point in the bank’s journey.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always enjoyed building teams, developing people, and working closely with brokers to get deals done the right way. Recognise has a great platform to do that, combining solid credit fundamentals with a flexible, relationship-led approach.

“I’m really looking forward to getting started, meeting our intermediary partners and helping to drive the next phase of growth.”

Caroline Luxmore, Chief Commercial Officer at Recognise Bank, added:

“Luke’s appointment is a significant step forward as we continue to invest in our intermediary growth strategy. His depth of experience, leadership capability and strong track record in building high-performing teams make him an excellent fit for Recognise.

“We are committed to delivering a responsive, relationship-driven service to brokers and Luke’s expertise will be instrumental in further strengthening our proposition and supporting our continued growth.”

Recognise Bank continues to expand its intermediary offering, providing flexible, relationship-led lending solutions designed to support brokers and their clients across a wide range of commercial property transactions.

To learn more about Recognise Bank’s commercial property lending, visit: https://recognisebank.co.uk/