Coutts, the private bank which is part of Royal Bank of Scotland, has bolstered its Manchester office with a double hire from Barclays Wealth as it continues to expand in the Lancashire region.

James Bardner, formerly a vice-president at Barclays Wealth, has joined as a senior private banker, while Neil Ferguson has been appointed as a financial planner. Ferguson was latterly a financial planner covering the Manchester area for Barclays Wealth.

Barclays Wealth however remains in an expansionary mood in Manchester, having recruited five private bankers for its office in the city since the beginning of the year.

In contrast, last month it emerged that Kleinwort Benson is to shutter its Manchester office as part of efforts to streamline its operations. Following the change, the firm’s Leeds office will function as the hub for its wealth management operations in the Lancashire area.