Member Article

Hampshire Trust Bank upsizes to new City of London HQ

Hampshire Trust Bank, which is one of the new generation of UK challenger banks, has moved into new premises in the City of London as it looks forward to further expansion in 2017.

The bank, which relaunched in 2014 as a specialist bank, has taken 21,000 sq ft of office space at 55 Bishopsgate in the Square Mile in a move that significantly expands on the footprint of their former headquarters next to the Barbican.

Commenting on the move, Chief Executive Officer, Mark Sismey-Durrant, said: “This is an exciting day for the bank. We have come a long way since our relaunch in 2014 and moving into our new headquarters will enable us to take the next step in our journey and continue on our strong growth trajectory.”

The move comes after the bank, which has a history dating back to the 1970s, turned a profit just over 12 months ago, and revealed impressive growth across its lending last August, including a 68% increase in customer deposits in 2015.

Since a management buyout in 2014, the bank has focused its lending on asset finance, property finance and commercial mortgages, and also offers savings accounts to individuals and businesses.

Sismey-Durrant said that as a result of its recent lending, the bank, which recently broke into triple-digits in terms of the size of its workforce, has provided support to UK housebuilding and its SME community.

He added: “We are currently financing the construction of more than 1,500 residential units for UK housebuilders and the vehicles and equipment for over 4,200 SMEs.

“With our launch into Commercial Mortgages last year and the continued increase in business and personal savings customers and deposits, we are in a strong position to fuel future growth and deepen and broaden the financial solutions we provide to UK SMEs in our chosen markets.”