COUTTS & CO EXPANDS HAMPSHIRE TEAM WITH TWO NEW APPOINTMENTS

22 March 2005

Coutts & Co, one of the UK’s leading private banks, has announced its continued expansion in Hampshire, with the appointment of a new private banker and senior manager, to its Winchester based office.

The appointments mark the continued success of Coutts in the region and have been made in response to increasing demand for the bank’s wealth management services. Mike Archer joins the team as senior manager and will be responsible for overseeing the strategic direction of the Hampshire, Bournemouth and Bath offices.

Mike has over 25 year’s financial services experience within the RBS Group (previously NatWest), and joined Coutts from NatWest in 1998. He returns to Hampshire after a six year absence, having initially joined to manage the Winchester office, before transferring to London to co-manage the then newly formed ‘entrepreneurs’ client group.

Martyn Begbour has also joined as senior private banker with specific responsibility for developing the business in Southampton and the surrounding area. With over 20 years experience in financial services, he joins from HSBC where he previously headed up the business development team of its Private Clients division.

Danny Dixon, regional client group head, 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 southern regions.

"The Hampshire office had a very successful 2004, achieving a fantastic 18% increase in its client base over 12 months, serving to demonstrate the continuous success of the business in the County."

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’ for the third time at the Private Asset Management Awards 2005

• 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