with its corporate banking department to form a new corporate banking international business development team.

It is to be headed by senior manager Diane Brewer, who has been the manager of business development at BAM.

The Bank's vice president, corporate banking, Ross Corrigan, said: "Diane's sales experience began 12 years ago in New York, where she worked in institutional sales for a Wall Street-based financial service/money management firm.

"She brings with her not only a highly successful track record but an excellent understanding of the Bermudian institutional market place.

"We simply listened to our customers who wanted a primary contact within the bank. While many of our sophisticated clients have specific individuals within our treasury, investment and trust departments that they deal with on a day to day basis, they kept returning to the idea of a single bank officer who would oversee the entire bank relationship.

"The merged unit will concentrate its activities on insurance companies, professional firms and international clients and will be one of the final pieces of the jigsaw after a two month review.'' Ms Brewer said: "Each client will be assigned a primary contact, or business development manager. In addition, there will be the services of a large support team to respond to all telephone queries and a documentation team to assist in account opening procedures.''