Founder and Chairman of Metro Bank, he is often credited with reinventing American banking. He is the founder, former Chairman and president of Commerce Bank which was acquired for $8.5 billion. In July 2010 he started Metrobank, the first high street bank to open in the UK in more than 100 years.

Vernon started his first bank by the age of 26. He applied retail principles from car dealerships and also used his insights from developing sites for McDonald's. Here he learned the importance of standardised presentation and scale economies in retailing.

Vernon believes that the value of a bank is in its deposits. He says that Customers will be willing to give more of their deposits in exchange for a better banking experience, and that great companies are built by creating Fans not Customers. By applying this philosophy, Vernon built Commerce bank into one of the largest banks in America with 15,000 team members, 500 branches and $50 billion of assets. It was purchased in July 2007 by TD Financial for $8.5 billion. Commerce was voted the best bank in America in 2006, 2007 and 2008 by JD Power and Associates for its absolute commitment to Customers. It also produced exceptional shareholder returns.

Vernon is Chairman of Pet Plan North America, Hill -Townsend, co-chairman of Bankstocks.com and principal of Saladworks. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.