by business editor Trevor Sturgess

Kent man Andy Golding is coming home to run the county's newest bank.

He is to head OneSavings Bank Plc, which was created in February when the former Kent Reliance Building Society transformed into a mutual and banking hybrid.

He grew up and lived in Maidstone until his mid-twenties and has been CEO of the 160-year old Saffron Building Society for the past five years.

He moves into his new role at Sun Pier, Chatham, in the new year, taking over from interim CEO Jeremy Wood who took on the job after "Maverick" Mike Lazenby quit suddenly in February.

Mr Wood steadied the organisation after members narrowly backed the transformation of the building society into a bank and provident society.

The change triggered a £50m injection by private equity investor J C Flowers, enabling Kent Reliance – which had faced an uncertain future without the change – to resume mortgage lending, and compete more effectively with bailed-out banks on savings products. Kent Reliance Banking Services has since opened new branches and given a facelift to existing ones.

Mr Golding said: "Having grown up and lived in Maidstone until my mid twenties, I am looking forward to getting back to the old stomping ground and continuing the development of Kent Reliance to better serve its local communities and members, whilst growing the business for the future."

Chairman Malcolm McCaig said Mr Golding had the required vision and leadership "to enable us to continue the progress made in achieving our vision for the future."