Atom Bank, the UK’s first bank designed for digital and optimised for mobile, announces that the restriction on its regulatory authorisation has been lifted, and as of today opens its virtual doors. Atom is the first of the new breed of challenger banks to launch, and all retail banking services are delivered via the App.

Built by Atom’s in-house design and development team, the innovative Atom App uses the Unity gaming platform to deliver a completely new banking experience. Face and voice biometrics are used to log-in to the App, with paper-free account opening in just a few taps. Atom also offers competitive pricing and is dedicated to ensuring customers get what they genuinely need from their bank, delivered in an engaging and simple way.

Atom will also be using machine learning technology to guide their Customer Support Team. The software learns which agents are getting the best results resolving customer queries and feeds that learning through to the rest of the team, making sure queries are handled consistently in the best way. They also plan to integrate the technology into the Atom App, giving customers the power to self-serve by getting immediate answers directly from the App.

The App will initially be made available to everyone who has pre-registered their interest through the Atom website, available now for iPhone and iPad users, with an Android version to follow shortly.

Atom’s launch marks the start of their journey, launching with competitive fixed term savings and simultaneously, offering secured lending to SME businesses, available through a number of specialist business intermediaries.

Atom’s Founder and Chairman Anthony Thomson said: “The team has achieved something that simply hasn’t been done before – we believe we have built a bank in record time, and we’re not planning to stop here. It is not a simple task, and having an amazing team working hard to deliver the seemingly impossible has been crucial. We are all fully committed to continuing to innovate and deliver a transparent way of banking that turns the old world on its head.”

During 2016, Atom will be unveiling a further range of products and continuous App enhancements, with a phased roll-out of services throughout the year. By the end of 2016, customers will have access to fixed savings, current accounts, overdrafts, debit and credit cards, instant access savings and residential mortgages, all serviced via the App.

Atom’s CEO, Mark Mullen said: “This is the start of a remarkable transformation of the banking landscape for everyone. Atom aims to offer a genuine alternative to the insidious and self-interested banks that dominate the UK banking landscape. Our approach will be to constantly evolve and extend our offering, with monthly updates to our App and a dedication to providing a better value, greater transparency and a much more innovative banking experience.