![](https://hanton.co.uk/files/2021/06/Alastair-Margaret-1024x683.jpg)
Social Entrepreneur & Banking Innovator
(1926 – 2021)
Alastair Hanton introduced Direct Debit to the UK, started National Girobank, founded the Fair Trade Foundation, and through his transport campaigning saved countless lives. He achieved a remarkable amount of change over a long life of enterprise & collaboration.
Inventor of the direct debit
In 1964 after a long struggle with the banking establishment he succeeded in introducing his system to the UK and Direct Debit was born.
![](https://hanton.co.uk/files/2021/06/alastair-direct-debit-1024x576.jpg)
“I began with the name automatic debit transfer (ADT) and then during the
discussion we shortened that… direct debit was, well, more direct…”