Bank of Bermuda yesterday announced it will open an office in San Francisco for its Global Fund Services division.

The US office is part of an expansion of GFS and will provide a complete range of fund administration services to the alternative investment industry on the West Coast, the bank said in a release.

?Together with Japan and South Africa, this is the third office we have opened this year and demonstrates a clear commitment to the expansion of our global network to provide solutions to the world?s alternative asset industry,? said Paul Smith, head of Bank of Bermuda?s Global Fund Services division.

?San Francisco is a vital part of that industry and is also strategic to us in our desire to further develop our US domestic business.?

The bank said the San Francisco office will support the California and West Coast intermediaries and clients at a local level, ?creating close relationships and developing an intimate knowledge of client needs?.

The bank said it will build on the expertise in the bank?s New York office, which specialises in the provision of alternative fund services to both US and offshore managers.

The San Francisco office will offer specialised fund accounting and valuation services utilising the Advent Geneva platform, complex tax calculations and investor services for domestic partnerships, utilising Advent Partner software and offshore investor services through Koger NTAS, said the bank.

In addition, clients of the San Francisco office will also benefit from a variety of new modular technology solutions currently underway, it said in an official bank release.

The office will be headed by Scott Epstein, currently vice president and senior client services manager for Bank of Bermuda (New York) Ltd.

Mr. Epstein has over 11 years of experience in the investment industry and since he joined the bank, he has been responsible for managing a multi-disciplined service team, dealing with accounting and valuation, front-end custody and investor services.

His responsibilities include client relationship management and dealing with regulatory authorities, auditors and lawyers.

Mr. Epstein has been a key member within GFS?s Alliance Partner technology program with Advent Software. He was previously a vice president at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., Inc.- Investment Research and Management where he was responsible for overseeing the operations on various investment products totalling over $13 billion.

Mr. Epstein said: ?The hedge fund industry on the West Coast has experienced rapid growth.

?It is essential that we have a full presence in a vibrant market of this size in order to continue to provide global solutions to our client base.?