MUSICIAN and entrepreneur Will.i.am has joined a digital-only bank based in the North-East.

Atom has announced The Voice coach has become the company’s first strategic board adviser.

Will.i.am, who has previously launched his own smartphone and smartwatch, said: “Our lives are faster than ever before, but the banking industry hasn’t kept up.

“The scale of Atom’s ambition to help people understand and manage their money better, and its clever use of technology to give people an entire bank on their phones, is awesome. I’m looking forward to working with Atom to achieve success in everything we will do together.”

Will.i.am was named T3 magazine’s tech personality of the year in 2016 and launched his own line of wireless earphones.

The Durham-based financial firm launched as an app in 2016 offering savings accounts, business lending and retail mortgages through intermediaries.

Founder Anthony Thomson said: “Like us, Will.i.am believes that technology can better and simplify our lives.

“Will.i.am’s unique view on the world and knowledge of future trends will be a great asset for us.”