Hampden & Co announces key new hire and second Edinburgh office

Edinburgh-based independent bank Hampden & Co has announced both a new second office in the capital and the appointment of Andrew Jackson to the newly-created post of head of banking management in their Mayfair, London office.

With over 30 years in private banking, he joins from the private bank Duncan Lawrie.

Graeme Hartop, CEO of Hampden & Co., said: “Andrew Jackson is one of private banking’s most respected and experienced practitioners and it is testimony to the success of our private banking proposition that he wants to become part of our team.”

Meanwhile, the lender, which first which opened in June 2015, has acquired a second Edinburgh premises close to their existing base in Charlotte Square.

The new office is just around the corner in South Charlotte Street and will house the operational and administration teams with clients still going to the existing Charlotte Square office for meetings with their private banker.

Mr Hartop said: “We don’t just provide private banking for an individual, we look at their entire banking needs and extend our services to their family and to their commercial businesses. When clients are looking to support their son or daughter, for example, by helping them with securing a mortgage, we would happily assist them.”

Hampden & Co see a wide range of high net worth individuals being interested in becoming clients, and frequently work with other advisers to high net worth clients as part of a broader team.

Mr Hartop, said: “Advisers such as wealth managers, accountants and lawyers can be hesitant to introduce their clients to a bank which offers services that compete with their own. By purely focusing on providing a professional, relationship-driven banking service, these advisers are happy to introduce their clients to us, as well as taking advantage of it themselves.”

Chairman Ray Entwistle, the former CEO and Chairman of Adam & Company, reflects on the growth of the bank, saying: “There is no doubt the large banks want to reduce costs, as we have seen with the recent branch closure announcements, and this creates a very de-personalised banking experience. Many successful people however still value a personal, professional service. That’s what we do, and it’s working.”

Alan Steel, the Chairman of Alan Steel Asset Management, reinforces the point, said: “Having been in Independent Financial Advice for 45 years now, I’m only too aware of what clients want regarding care of their wealth: trust, knowledge and quality of service. And that’s why my wife and I chose to bank with Hampden & Co. And we’ve invested in their future too. There’s confidence for you.”

Graeme Hartop added: “We are expanding our headcount and our premises. We’ve come a long way in less than three years and we will be announcing further hirings shortly.

“Our growth proves that there is a market for quality private banking and our belief that banking is a people business is paying off for us and our clients.”