Anuar Utemuratov, a Kazakh businessman, has joined the board of directors of British fintech company Pockit. In his new role, he will serve alongside other investors in the company, including former Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson and Revolut Chairman Martin Gilbert, Forbes Kazakhstan reported, citing City AM.
Founded by Virraj Jatania in 2014, Pockit provides banking services to people who struggle to open traditional bank accounts in the U.K. This is often due to a lack of credit history, a permanent address or a low credit score. Through its digital current account, prepaid cards and mobile app, customers can make payments across the U.K.
In 2017, the fintech startup raised £2.3 million through a share placement, bringing Ferguson and Gilbert on board as major shareholders. In 2023, Pockit secured $10 million in funding to support the growth of its user base. A year later, the company acquired the struggling fintech firm Monese to strengthen its technology capabilities.
Anuar Utemuratov is the son of Kazakh billionaire Bulat Utemuratov and the brother of businessman Alidar Utemuratov. In 2012, he brought the Burger King franchise to Kazakhstan and owned the restaurant chain until 2025. He currently serves on the board of ForteBank and is executive director of Nevastar Finance.
