This is because the market is often divided between banks that carry risk but have high return potential and those that grow at a slow pace. Talking about the banking sector in 2015, it seems that it is an emerging bank that has got most traders talking. Virgin Money UK has fewer than 100 high street branches and a selection of basic products, but customers continue to flock to the bank. As it continues to take some market share away from the industry's biggest names, interest in Virgin Money UK shares has grown. Solid fundamentals Virgin Money UK hasn't let its small size hold it back when it comes to performance, in fact it can be argued that it has helped it. During the first half of 2015 the bank's pre-tax profit grew by 37%, bringing year-on-year performance to £81.8 million. From an investment perspective, Virgin Money UK shares are trading at a P/E premium of 16.5, which has worked to discourage investors. Even the 1.0% dividend yield did not cause much enthusiasm. While unglamorous in many ways, Virgin Money UK shares actually offer profit potential thanks to solid financial underpinnings.