COUTTS & CO EXPANDS BRISTOL PRIVATE BANKING TEAM WITH TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS

07 March 2005

Coutts & Co, one of he UK’s leading private banks, has announced its continued expansion in the South West, with the appointment of a new private banker and senior banker, to its Bristol office. The appointments mark the continued success of Coutts in the region and come on the back of an extremely successful year for the team in 2004.

Rob Ormond joins as senior banker south west and will manage the Bristol office. His role will include responsibility of marketing and business development for the team. He has nearly 30 years experience in financial services with Lloyds TSB, latterly acting as a relationship director for the Wessex region.

Dave Bowen has been appointed private banker, and will help continue to expand the business in Bristol and the surrounding regions. He joins from Towry Law where he was a fully licensed personal and corporate financial adviser.

Paul Kirk, senior manager with responsibility for Wales and the South West commented: "We are delighted that we have been able to further expand the team at what has been a very exciting time for our operations throughout the South West.

"The Bristol office had a very successful 2004 and this combined with the recent expansion in Bath, all serve to demonstrate the continuous success of the business in the South West."

Rob Ormond added; "I am delighted to be joining Coutts at what is such an exciting time for the business. We are confident that we can make 2005 our most successful year to date and I look forward to the challenge of making that happen."

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, over the last year, 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