Singer & Friedlander private banking is to open for business in Birmingham, a spokesman for the Kaupthing-owned banking group confirmed to WealthBriefing.

The new office will be led by Trevor Foster, the former Bank of Scotland regional director, who is exceptionally well connected in the Midlands and who joined Singer & Friedlander last year, according to the spokesman.

“The private banking business will be operational in early April and will have around 10 to 12 staff at the end of the year,” said the spokesman. “In effect, it’s an opportunity for us to re-start the clock in Birmingham.”

Separately, Kaupthing Singer & Friedlander is to open for business in Qatar, offering a full suite of investment banking, investment management and private banking services to the clients in the Gulf region from Doha.