‘Structural shift’: Private bank Hampden opens North & Midlands base and hails Manchester dynamism

‘The area has emerged as one of the most dynamic economic centres outside London’

A private bank is opening its first Manchester office this week as it says there has been a “structural shift” in wealth creation in the UK beyond London and the South East. Hampden Bank is launching its new North and Midlands office at the Stock Exchange Hotel this Wednesday after announcing plans for the office last year.

Hampden has a base in Edinburgh, where it was founded in 2015, and another in London that it opened the same year. In its most recent accounts, covering FY 2025, the bank said it had broken through £1bn in deposits for the first time.

Haydn Aird, head of banking for North and Midlands at Hampden Bank, said: “We have expanded our presence in the region having recognised a structural shift in where wealth is being created across the UK. When you look at Greater Manchester and the wider North West, the area has emerged as one of the most dynamic economic centres outside London and that growth is translating to increasing levels of private wealth.

“The North West alone is home to tens of billions in entrepreneurial wealth across business owners, investors, and family enterprises, underpinned by strong activity across sectors including property, technology, and professional services.”

Tracey Davidson, CEO, Hampden Bank, said: “In a market increasingly shaped by commoditisation and digitisation, we continue to believe in the value of a personal relationship-led approach to private banking, one where technology enhances rather than replaces the human experience.

“Our new team covering the North and Midlands demonstrates our belief that clients value connecting in person, and this new base enables us to expand the bank outside of our existing locations in Scotland and the South of England.”