COUTTS & CO EXPANDS BERKSHIRE TEAM

15th March 2005

Coutts & Co, one of the UK’s leading private banks, has announced the expansion of its Eton-based Berkshire office to meet increasing demand for its wealth management services in the region, which saw its client base double in 2004.

Nigel Hawkins has joined as senior manager and will be taking over the management of the teams both in Eton and Oxford. He joins from HSBC where he spent 12 years in a variety of management roles, latterly in the Middle East and Channel Islands.

David Field has been appointed private banker to the office and will aim to expand the business in the Slough region. With over 24 years experience in financial services, David joins from his role as private client manager for Bank of Scotland Investment Services, where he advised High Net Worth clients.

Mandy Harvey, regional client group head, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Nigel and David to the team, an expansion which marks the continued success of Coutts in the region. With their many years experience, we are confident that they will successfully continue to build upon our existing clients throughout Berkshire and help us to lay the foundation for further expansion.

"This is an exciting phase of expansion for all of Coutts’ regional offices and we are delighted that we are able to utilise our new appointment to build on the success of 2004."

Nigel commented: "I am delighted to be taking over two such successful teams and look forward to the challenge of growing the business further in 2005. I have been impressed by Coutts’ commitment to expanding its presence in the region and look forward to the challenge ahead."

Coutts unveiled plans for significant expansion of its regional office network at the end of 2003. As part of its expansion plans, the private bank has been increasing the number of private bankers in its regional offices by as much as 60%. It also has plans to open two new offices, the locations of which are still to be confirmed.

-ends-

For further information please contact:

Claire Symonds, Regional PR Manager, Coutts & Co. Tel: 020 7957 2650, mob: 07970 001149, email: claire.symonds@coutts.com

Notes to editors:

Coutts & Co

  • Coutts is the international private banking arm of The Royal Bank of Scotland Group. The Royal Bank of Scotland Group is one of the world's largest banking groups.

  • Coutts manages the wealth of 90,000 high net worth clients worldwide through a network of 50 offices globally.

  • The first Coutts regional office to be opened was Eton in 1961. The most recent new opening was Liverpool, late last year. Today, Coutts has regional offices in Bath, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Eton, Guildford, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham, Oxford, Tunbridge Wells & Winchester.

  • Coutts offers clients a range of products and services covering sophisticated investment products together with expertise in trust and fiduciary services and UK tax and banking services.

  • Coutts has twice been awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards

  • Coutts & Co is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. Registered in England No. 36695. Registered office: 440 Strand, London, WC2R 0QS
  • Calls may be recorded