Duncan Lawrie Bank
Encyclopedia
Duncan Lawrie Limited, known simply as Duncan Lawrie, is a small private bank
with its head office in Belgravia
, London. Founded in 1860, the bank offers a bespoke service, with an emphasis on a personal relationship, to high net worth individual
s.
To this day, Duncan Lawrie remains one of the smallest and most prestigious banks in London. The bank has several offices across the United Kingdom including a large branch in Bristol
, a country estate in Kent
, an offshore branch in the Isle of Man
as well as their grand head office in London's Belgravia
district.. Duncan Lawrie have also recently opened a representative office in Kolkata offering banking and investment management services to private clients resident in India.
s with their services reflecting this. Along with daily banking requirements, Duncan Lawrie also offers Trust and Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investment Management
and International Services from their offshore branch. In 2005 the bank purchased Douglas Deakin Young, and in 2007 they also acquired Hill Martin and Hill Martin Asset Management. Together they run much of the Financial Planning and Investment Management sections of the bank.
announced Duncan Lawrie as the main benefactor of the Duncan Lawrie Dagger
, the largest prize for crime writing . The Bank also supplies financial services for several large charities, especially within the Arts, such as the Arvon Foundation
.
Private bank
Private banks are banks that are not incorporated. A private bank is owned by either an individual or a general partner with limited partner...
with its head office in Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
, London. Founded in 1860, the bank offers a bespoke service, with an emphasis on a personal relationship, to high net worth individual
High net worth individual
A high-net-worth individual is a person with a high net worth. In the private banking business, these individuals typically are defined as having investable assets in excess of US$1 million. As explained below, the U.S...
s.
History
The bank was founded by Alexander Lawrie and Walter Duncan, two businessmen who travelled to Calcutta in the early nineteenth century to make their fortunes. After returning to London they merged their merchanting houses to create the bank in 1860.To this day, Duncan Lawrie remains one of the smallest and most prestigious banks in London. The bank has several offices across the United Kingdom including a large branch in Bristol
Queen Square, Bristol
Queen Square is a garden square in the centre of Bristol, England. It was originally a fashionable residential address, but now most of the buildings are in office use....
, a country estate in Kent
Wrotham
Wrotham is a village situated on the Pilgrims' Way in Kent, at the foot of the North Downs. It is located one mile north of Borough Green and approximately five miles east of Sevenoaks. It is within the junction of the M20 and M26 motorways....
, an offshore branch in the Isle of Man
Isle of Man
The Isle of Man , otherwise known simply as Mann , is a self-governing British Crown Dependency, located in the Irish Sea between the islands of Great Britain and Ireland, within the British Isles. The head of state is Queen Elizabeth II, who holds the title of Lord of Mann. The Lord of Mann is...
as well as their grand head office in London's Belgravia
Belgravia
Belgravia is a district of central London in the City of Westminster and the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Noted for its immensely expensive residential properties, it is one of the wealthiest districts in the world...
district.. Duncan Lawrie have also recently opened a representative office in Kolkata offering banking and investment management services to private clients resident in India.
Clientele
While the bank places much emphasis on confidentiality and never reveals clientele, it is widely believed that numerous aristocrats, politicians, entrepreneurs and media figures hold accounts with the bank.Services
Duncan Lawrie predominantly holds accounts for high net worth individualHigh net worth individual
A high-net-worth individual is a person with a high net worth. In the private banking business, these individuals typically are defined as having investable assets in excess of US$1 million. As explained below, the U.S...
s with their services reflecting this. Along with daily banking requirements, Duncan Lawrie also offers Trust and Estate Planning, Financial Planning, Investment Management
Investment management
Investment management is the professional management of various securities and assets in order to meet specified investment goals for the benefit of the investors...
and International Services from their offshore branch. In 2005 the bank purchased Douglas Deakin Young, and in 2007 they also acquired Hill Martin and Hill Martin Asset Management. Together they run much of the Financial Planning and Investment Management sections of the bank.
Charitable Support
In 2006 the Crime Writers' AssociationCrime Writers' Association
The Crime Writers Association is a writers' association in the United Kingdom. Founded by John Creasey in 1953, it is currently chaired by Peter James and claims 450+ members....
announced Duncan Lawrie as the main benefactor of the Duncan Lawrie Dagger
Gold Dagger
The Gold Dagger Award was an award given annually by the Crime Writers' Association for the best crime novel of the year.For its first five years, the organization's top honor was known as the Crossed Red Herring Award....
, the largest prize for crime writing . The Bank also supplies financial services for several large charities, especially within the Arts, such as the Arvon Foundation
Arvon Foundation
The Arvon Foundation is a charitable organisation in the United Kingdom which promotes creative writing. It is based in the Free Word Centre for literature, literacy and free expression in London.-History:...
.