Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance has appointed Colin Muir as portfolio and structuring director for its Midlands operations, as the business strengthens its commitment to supporting SMEs across the UK.
The appointment marks the third anniversary of the opening of the firm's Birmingham office in 2018. The firm has seen significant growth in the region, with over £150m of client facilities now managed in the Midlands office.
Colin joins the business from NatWest, where during his 32 years, he was responsible for establishing and growing the firm's Commercial ABL team, which saw more than £125m of funds advanced to UK SMEs in an 18-month period. He has also held management roles in a number of the firm's Midlands offices, with roles across new business, risk and client management.
In his new role at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, Colin will be responsible for supporting and managing the firm's Midlands portfolio. This will include relationship management, as well as providing flexible solutions that enable growth for the region's SMEs.
Established in 2014, the Commercial Finance arm of the FTSE-listed bank provides a full-suite of flexible asset-based lending and invoice finance products, ranging in size from £3m to £50m, to small and medium sized businesses.
Colin Muir, portfolio and structuring director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, said: "Secure Trust Bank has built an outstanding reputation in recent years for its success in markets where high street lenders typically struggle, and I have admired some of the deals they have done in the last seven years. I was looking for a new challenge in the ABL space, and with the freedom to approach deals in a more tailored and agile way, Secure Trust represents the ideal place for me to get that experience."
David Parsons, regional managing director at Secure Trust Bank Commercial Finance, said: "During his time at NatWest, Colin has demonstrated his ability not only to manage a team and structure deals successfully, but also has a real talent for supporting his clients through both challenging circumstances and in times of growth. This ability is crucial at Secure Trust Bank, as our flexible approach to lending enables our portfolio to have greater freedom and control over their finance, and our portfolio team is proactive when it comes to capitalising on growth opportunities. I am convinced that Colin will be an invaluable addition to the team, and I look forward to working closely with him over the coming months."