Monzo staffer named Which? 2019 Consumer Champion for gambling block innovation

Natalie Ledward, a vulnerable customer analyst at Monzo, has been named ‘Your Consumer Champion’ at the Which? Awards 2019.

The recognition comes after Ledward came up with the concept for Monzo’s gambling block for banking customers, which lets you stop transactions to bookmakers–either online or in a shop.

The block also includes a 48-hour cooling-off period if it is switched off, and limits on cash withdrawals.

Today Monzo’s gambling block is used by over 100,000 customers, including former gambler Danny Cheetham who said:

“I tried to work out how much I’d spent on gambling and I got up to over £100,000 in total.”

“I recently turned 30 and I’m nearly debt free. I owe a lot of that to Monzo and the fact that they’ve got the gambling block.”

The Which? ‘Your Consumer Champion’ award was introduced this year to recognise people who have made an outstanding contribution to improving the lives of consumers.

“We designed this award to shine a spotlight on the power that individuals in businesses have to create huge and lasting change on behalf of consumers,” said Which? Chief Executive Anabel Hoult.

“Natalie's story demonstrates this perfectly by showing the impact that one person can have to create positive change from inception to completion.”