Sweden-based bank Handelsbanken has strengthened its position in Edinburgh with a move to a new branch in the city’s West End.

The move supports the bank’s continued growth in the city, and follows recent appointments which bolster the team’s presence.

The new office is located at 40 Torphichen Street, with demand having seen the local relationship bank outgrow its previous West End home of 10 years at Haymarket Terrace.

Staffing numbers at Handelsbanken Edinburgh West End have more than doubled in the past decade to currently sit at 14.

The new branch is 40% larger than the previous office.

Housing corporate, private banking and wealth management staff, the expanded Edinburgh West End base is one of two Handelsbanken branches in the city and will act as a hub branch for the wider Scotland and Cumbria district, hosting training, leadership and development courses.

The move means the West End branch is now a similar scale to the bank’s East End premises in Waverley Gate.

Handelsbanken, founded in Sweden in 1871, opened its first branch in Scotland’s capital in 2009. It has been a fully-licenced UK bank since 2018, and has firm foundations to support continued growth in Edinburgh and beyond.

“Not only has our team of expert colleagues grown to meet the increasingly sophisticated needs of our customers … we also wanted a bright, modern, environmentally-friendly space to reflect our ambitious sustainability targets,” said Iain Henderson, Edinburgh West End Branch Manager.

“We wanted to take the time to find the right location, and we couldn’t be happier to be moving into 40 Torphichen Street. It not only places us in the heart of the West End, it also means we have the capacity to grow further as our offering develops …

“We are now able to offer a comfortable space for customers and colleagues alike, together with more meeting and social space enabling us to host more events, such as facilitating networking and presenting business and economic insights.

“Designed with Handelsbanken’s ‘Branch of the Future’ concept in mind, we hope this will provide a comfortable home for years to come.”

The design work for the new premises was completed by Simon Laird Associates, whilst Edinburgh firm Yule
and Yule Interior Solutions completed the high-spec fit out.