Arbuthnot Latham

Arbuthnot Latham is a British private and merchant bank headquartered in London and operating as the principal subsidiary of Arbuthnot Banking Group plc. Its business combines private banking, commercial banking, and wealth management, with services aimed at high-net-worth individuals, families, entrepreneurs, professionals, and selected commercial clients. The firm is also one of the United Kingdom’s 12 accepting houses, a historical banking status associated with institutions that accepted and financed trade bills. The business traces its origins to 13 May 1833, when Alfred Latham and John A. Arbuthnot established a general merchant enterprise at 33 Great St Helen’s in the City of London. The firm gradually expanded into finance and lending. Although its early activity was rooted in merchant trading, its long-term identity developed around banking, credit, investment, and relationship-based financial services. Arbuthnot Latham’s ownership changed several times during the twentieth century. In 1981, the Arbuthnot family’s direct involvement ended when the bank was acquired by Dow Scandia, a consortium majority-owned by Dow Chemical Company. Henry Angest joined the business during this period. Dow Scandia subsequently sold the bank to other investors, and by 1990 the business had passed through four owners and the Arbuthnot Latham name had been retired. Angest later acquired Arbuthnot Fund Managers in 1991, restoring control of the Arbuthnot Latham name, and acquired Aitken Hume Bank in 1994. Aitken Hume was renamed Arbuthnot Latham & Co. in August 1994. The modern firm organizes its activities into three broad areas. Private banking includes relationship-led services for executives and entrepreneurs, clients in sports, media and entertainment, specialist customer groups, and treasury-related needs. Commercial banking provides lending and financing solutions across areas such as buy-to-let, real estate finance, media, asset-based lending, specialist finance, and asset finance. Wealth management includes investment management, wealth planning, and retirement planning. The bank has maintained a strong London presence throughout its history. From 2004 to 2014 it occupied Ropemaker Street, before moving to Wilson Street after acquiring a freehold property in the Moorgate area. Since 2024 its headquarters has been in a refurbished building beside Finsbury Circus named Arbuthnot House. The firm also has offices in Manchester, Exeter, Bristol, and Gatwick Airport. Its Manchester private banking business expanded significantly in the late 2010s and early 2020s. An international office in Dubai operated until 2021, closing amid financial pressures associated in part with the COVID-19 pandemic. Arbuthnot Latham positions itself as a specialist, relationship-driven bank rather than a mass-market retail institution. Its proposition centers on tailored lending, investment and planning advice, and sector knowledge for clients whose financial circumstances may require more customized solutions. The parent group is listed on the Alternative Investment Market under the symbol ARBB, while Arbuthnot Latham itself is a wholly owned operating subsidiary. The bank remains active in private banking, commercial finance, and wealth management in the United Kingdom.

Arbuthnot Latham originated on 13 May 1833, when Alfred Latham and John A. Arbuthnot founded a general merchant business at 33 Great St Helen’s in the City of London. The firm’s initial activity was not limited to deposit banking. It operated as a merchant enterprise and progressively became involved in finance, lending, and related commercial transactions. This merchant-bank heritage remains important to the institution’s identity. During the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, the business developed within London’s financial district. Its name and ownership changed over time, and the firm’s activities broadened beyond its original general-merchandising base. In 1981, the Arbuthnot family’s involvement ended when the bank was acquired by Dow Scandia, a consortium in which Dow Chemical Company held the majority interest. Henry Angest joined the bank during this phase. Dow later sold the business to new investors. By 1990, the organization had experienced four different owners and the Arbuthnot Latham name had been discontinued. A subsequent reconstruction restored the name to the banking group. In 1991, Henry Angest acquired Arbuthnot Fund Managers, through which the Arbuthnot Latham name was brought back into use. In 1994, he acquired Aitken Hume Bank for an estimated £3.2 million. Aitken Hume was renamed Arbuthnot Latham & Co. in August of that year, providing the corporate foundation for the present business. The modern Arbuthnot Latham operates as the principal and wholly owned subsidiary of Arbuthnot Banking Group plc. The parent was previously known as Secure Trust Banking Group and is traded on the Alternative Investment Market under the symbol ARBB. Arbuthnot Latham itself is not separately listed. The group structure enables the bank to operate as a specialist financial-services business while remaining part of a publicly traded banking group. The institution’s current operating model is divided into private banking, commercial banking, and wealth management. Private banking serves high-net-worth individuals and families through client groupings that include executives and entrepreneurs, sports, media and entertainment, specialist clients, and treasury. Commercial banking provides lending and structured finance through areas such as buy-to-let, real estate finance, media, lending solutions, asset-based lending, specialist finance, and asset finance. Wealth management incorporates investment management, wealth planning, and retirement planning. Arbuthnot Latham has remained closely associated with the City of London. From 2004 to 2014, it was based at Ropemaker Street. In 2014, it acquired a freehold property on Wilson Street in the Moorgate area and moved its headquarters there. In 2024, the firm relocated to a refurbished building beside Finsbury Circus, which it named Arbuthnot House. Its regional network includes Manchester, Exeter, Bristol, and Gatwick Airport. Manchester became an important growth location: its private banking balance sheet was reported to have increased from £20 million in 2016 to more than £300 million in 2021. The firm also maintained an international presence in Dubai through an office in the Dubai International Financial Centre. That office closed in 2021, with the COVID-19-related deterioration in earnings cited as one factor. In the United Kingdom, the bank has continued to emphasize specialist relationships and tailored financial solutions rather than high-volume consumer banking. Recognition such as City A.M.’s 2019 Bank of the Year award and a 2020 WealthBriefing MENA award for its discretionary fund management offering reflected its positioning across banking and investment services.

• 2024

  Move to Arbuthnot House

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  The headquarters moved to a refurbished building by Finsbury Circus, named Arbuthnot House.

• 2021

  Dubai office closure

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  The firm closed its Dubai international office.

• 2020

  WealthBriefing MENA recognition

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  Its investment arm won a WealthBriefing MENA award for Best Private Bank–Discretionary Fund Management Offering.

• 2019

  City A.M. Bank of the Year

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  The firm won City A.M.’s Bank of the Year award.

• 2014

  Move to Wilson Street

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  After acquiring a freehold property in the Moorgate area, Arbuthnot Latham moved its headquarters to Wilson Street.

• 2004

  Headquarters moves to Ropemaker Street

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  The bank moved its headquarters to Ropemaker Street in the City of London.

• 1994

  Aitken Hume Bank acquired and renamed

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Angest acquired Aitken Hume Bank for an estimated £3.2 million; it was renamed Arbuthnot Latham & Co. in August.

• 1991

  Arbuthnot name restored

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  Henry Angest acquired Arbuthnot Fund Managers, restoring the Arbuthnot Latham name to the business.

• 1981

  Acquisition by Dow Scandia

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  The Arbuthnot family’s direct involvement ended when the bank was acquired by Dow Scandia, a consortium majority-owned by Dow Chemical Company.

• 1833

  Founding in the City of London

  [1]Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org

  Alfred Latham and John A. Arbuthnot founded a general merchant business at 33 Great St Helen’s on 13 May 1833.

A specialist UK private bank combining relationship-led private banking, commercial finance, and wealth management for high-net-worth and specialist clients.

• Private banking

  Private Banking

  Arbuthnot Latham’s private banking business provides relationship-led banking and tailored lending for high-net-worth individuals, families, executives, entrepreneurs, and specialist client groups. Its internal focus areas include executives and entrepreneurs, sports, media and entertainment, specialist clients, and treasury. The proposition is designed for clients whose borrowing, liquidity, and broader financial requirements may not fit standardized mass-market banking products.

• Commercial banking

  Commercial Banking

  Commercial banking covers lending and structured finance for businesses and property-related clients. The areas identified by the bank include lending solutions, buy-to-let, real estate finance, media, specialist lending, asset-based lending, specialist finance, and asset finance. These activities extend the firm’s merchant-bank heritage into contemporary commercial and specialist credit markets.

• Wealth management

  Wealth Management

  The wealth management business combines investment management with planning services. Its principal areas are investment management, wealth planning, and retirement planning. The investment arm has also been associated with discretionary fund management, a service in which investment decisions are managed on behalf of clients according to agreed objectives and risk parameters.

• Commercial finance

  Real Estate Finance

  Real estate finance is one of Arbuthnot Latham’s specialist commercial banking activities. It sits alongside buy-to-let and other lending solutions and supports the bank’s focus on tailored financing for property-related clients. Specific product terms, lending volumes, and current portfolio details are not established in the supplied sources.

• 2024

  Headquarters relocation to Arbuthnot HouseStrategy

  Background

  After periods at Ropemaker Street and Wilson Street, the bank continued its long-standing City of London presence.

  Action taken

  The headquarters moved to a refurbished building beside Finsbury Circus, renamed Arbuthnot House.

  Aftermath

  The relocation provided the firm with a new central London headquarters.

  Source

• 2021

  Closure of Dubai officeStrategy

  Background

  Arbuthnot Latham reviewed its international footprint amid a decline in earnings associated in part with the COVID-19 pandemic.

  Action taken

  The firm closed its office in Dubai’s International Financial Centre.

  Aftermath

  The business concentrated its disclosed operating footprint on the United Kingdom.

  Source

• 1994

  Acquisition of Aitken Hume BankM&A

  Background

  Following the restoration of the Arbuthnot Latham name through the acquisition of Arbuthnot Fund Managers, Henry Angest acquired Aitken Hume Bank.

  Action taken

  Aitken Hume Bank was acquired for an estimated £3.2 million and renamed Arbuthnot Latham & Co. in August 1994.

  Aftermath

  The transaction established the present Arbuthnot Latham banking identity.

  Estimated acquisition price. £3.2 million (1994)

  Source

1. 1Arbuthnot Lathamen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Arbuthnot Latham official websitearbuthnotlatham.co.uk