So-called challenger banks are in most cases small modern retail banks which challenge longer-established institutes by offering modern financial technology and are more focused on the customer. This way they want to “challenge” the old banks. Challenger banks are also called neo banks. Prior to changes in the British regulatory landscape, there had hardly been any competition in the market. Basically, there were only four players. In 2010, Metro Bank received the first bank license in 100 years.