Clare Peel has joined as a business development manager, and will focus on maintaining and building relationships with brokers across the North East of England and Scotland.

Martin Bugden has been recruited by the bank as internal sales manager and will concentrate on supporting the bank's intermediary network from its London headquarters.

Clare – who has worked in the banking sector for over a decade – was a relationship manager at Shawbrook Bank prior to joining Hampshire Trust Bank.

She said: “Hampshire Trust Bank is a specialist bank that prides itself on building strong and lasting business relationships.

“These principles are aligned to my own.”

Martin has more than 10 years of experience in financial services, and previously worked as a corporate portfolio manager at Lombard.

Martin said: “Hampshire Trust Bank is on an exciting growth journey.

“I am looking forward to getting to know more of the brokers we work with and in helping the asset finance team drive further service improvements.”

Jon Maycock, managing director of asset finance at Hampshire Trust Bank, said: “Clare and Martin are welcome additions to our growing team.

“Brokers are at the heart of our proposition and we are focused on continually improving and enhancing the service we provide to our intermediary network.”