Hampshire Trust Bank has hired Alexia Evans as a lending director in its development finance team, which is focused on SME developers.  

Evans joins from Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, where she led the Israeli lender’s UK hotel loans, funding investment and development strategy. 

She has over 12 years of experience in real estate finance, with a background spanning residential, commercial and hotel lending. 

Hampshire Trust Bank says her appointment is in line with its “continued growth in development finance, as it builds its national presence and responds to increasing demand from SME developers for relationship-led funding, particularly on planning-led and more complex schemes”. 

Hampshire Trust Bank managing director of development finance Neil Leitch points out: “We’ve made clear, deliberate investments in building a team that reflects the realities of development today, from planning delays to funding certainty. 

“Alexia brings experience, commercial focus, and a structured approach to complex projects, and we’re pleased to have her on board.” 

Evans adds: “HTB’s understanding of the day-to-day challenges SME developers face, and the way it builds funding around real project needs, is what drew me to the team.  

“Whether it’s planning, timelines or delivery risks, the team brings a level of pragmatism that makes a real difference.”