The firm says Alaster Leslie has worked in commercial banking since 2015, in various roles at RBS and TSB, allowing him to support small and medium-sized businesses.

It adds that Leslie’s most recent position as a business development manager for TSB, which saw him “develop a network of strong sector relationships, which he brings with him to his new role, having worked with a wide range of businesses to support their lending requirements”.

The second addition to its northern team is Kim Donovan, who has wide-ranging knowledge of commercial lending, having worked in the industry for over 38 years.

The lender says Donovan has “a wealth of experience and established relationships” in the healthcare and owner-occupier sectors from her time as a business development manager at TSB and a senior portfolio manager at Lloyds Banking Group.

YBS Commercial Mortgages regional director for the North team Mark Heckels says: “This recruitment drive demonstrates our commitment to strengthening our regional teams to ensure we provide the best possible support to the commercial market, and to all our clients.”