Lloyds Bank beefs up SME offering with key appointment

LLOYDS Bank Commercial Banking’s division which supports SMEs has expanded its Birmingham-based operation with the appointment of Richard Ford as business development director.

The appointment comes as Lloyds Bank looks to increase its lending support to strong performing SMEs in the region.

Ford will be part of the bank’s 50 strong Birmingham SME banking team, which supports businesses across the city and its surrounding areas. A highly experienced commercial banking professional, he brings more than 25 years of corporate banking experience to the role having originally joined Lloyds Bank in 1989.

Ford was previously a business development director for the large corporate team and for the last four years, he has headed the SME banking key markets team in Birmingham, with responsibility for managing a wide portfolio of businesses operating in sectors including healthcare, legal services and education.

In his new role, Ford will take responsibility for developing new customer relationships for Lloyds Bank targeting businesses with annual turnover of £10m to £25m. Working from Lloyds Bank’s flagship office on Colmore Row in Birmingham city centre, his remit will encompass international trade finance, acquisition finance, invoice finance and asset-based lending.

Andy Youngman, area sirector SME banking for Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Richard brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team.

“This senior appointment brings additional strength to our offering in the immediate Birmingham area at a time when we are looking to increase our lending to SMEs across the region and help businesses to achieve their growth objectives.”