Hampshire Trust Bank

Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) plc is a British challenger bank that provides savings and lending to UK-based small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs), developers, professional landlords, charities and individuals.

The bank is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. As of March 2024, the bank manages more than £4.5 billion in customer deposits and holds total assets valued at £5.38 billion, placing it as the 47th largest bank in the UK. HTB’s headquarters are located at 80 Fenchurch Street, London.

History

Hampshire Trust Bank was founded in Fareham, Hampshire, in 1977 to provide savings and lending services to its local community. The bank was acquired by Alchemy Partners LLP, a UK-based private equity firm in 2014 and authorised to accept deposits the same year as part of its transformation into a specialist challenger bank serving the whole of the UK.

The bank also launched its commercial mortgages business following the acquisition, and more than doubled the value of new loans written in 2016. It posted its first half-year profits since the management buyout (£1.3m) in August 2016, with customer numbers increasing by almost 2,500 over the six month period.

In 2016, the bank relocated its headquarters to 55 Bishopsgate, London, before moving again in 2024 to the custom-built ninth floor of 80 Fenchurch Street. It has smaller customer support offices in both Birmingham and Leeds.

In February 2022, HTB acquired Wesleyan Bank from the Wesleyan Group. The business now operates as HTB Leasing & Finance Ltd.

In 2024, the bank completed its first mortgage securitisation, Winchester No. 1, valued at £300 million.

Operations

HTB has been carbon neutral since 2022 and is a UK registered Individual Savings Account (ISA) manager. It is also listed as having adopted the HMRC code of Practice on Taxation for Banks.

In 2024, the bank completed its first mortgage securitisation, Winchester No. 1, valued at £300 million. This was followed in January 2025 by the expansion of its business development broker team.

October 2025 saw another significant event for the Bank, as it issued £55 million in subordinated notes as part of its capital management strategy. Classified as Tier 2 capital, the notes (due to mature in January 2036) were aimed at institutional investors with the intention of strengthening the bank’s long-term financial position.