Hampden & Co has hired Allison McCowan from C Hoare & Co, the oldest private bank in the UK.

Ms McCowan specialises in providing lending solutions to private clients, a growth area at Edinburgh-based Hampden.

Mark Prentice, head of banking for Hampden & Co in Scotland, said: “We have been growing our presence in Scotland over the last few years and to have a banker of Allison’s calibre join the fold is great news for the team and our client base.

“Many of our clients seek to borrow money in unusual circumstances, so having someone who has the creativity and experience in these situations means that we can step up our activity in this space.”