COUTTS & CO MAKES SENIOR APPOINTMENT FOR BOURNEMOUTH

15 March 2005

Coutts & Co, one of the UK’s leading private banks, has announced the appointment of a new senior manager to its team in Bournemouth, marking the continued success of Coutts in the region.

Mike Archer joins the team from his role as senior manager of Coutts’ Executives client group, where he lead one of the top performing London teams. Based between, Bournemouth, Winchester and Bath he will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of all three offices.

Mike has over 25 year’s financial services experience within the RBS Group (previously NatWest), and joined Coutts from NatWest in 1998. He has a wide breadth of experience with Coutts, having initially joined to manage the Winchester office, before transferring to London to co-manage the then newly formed ‘entrepreneurs’ client group – which has since become one the of the Bank’s fastest growing business areas.

Danny Dixon, regional client group head, commented: "We are delighted to welcome Mike to the team at what has been a very exciting time for our operations throughout the southern regions.

"The Bournemouth office had a very successful 2004, and we look forward to the team building on this success in 2005."

Mike Archer added; "I relish the opportunity of a new challenge in what has been a long and enjoyable career within the Group."

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 was awarded ‘Best Use of Long-Only Multi-Manager Structures’ at the Private Asset Management Awards 2005 for the third year running.

  • 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