Lloyds Bank’s manufacturing, consumer and leisure team has strengthened its support for businesses in London with two new appointments.

The team has recruited two new relationship managers, who will look after approximately 350 of Lloyds Bank’s SME customers across the city.

Kira Swannell joins from Lloyds Bank’s Midlands team, where she supported commercial banking customers in areas including foreign exchange (FX) trading and interest rate management. She will now have a portfolio of around 225 London firms, all of which trade internationally.

Martin Kane joined Lloyds Bank as a mortgage advisor in 2013, before moving to its business support team earlier this year. Martin will look after around 125 existing customers and is tasked with growing the bank’s manufacturing customer base enterprise in London.

The appointments are part of Lloyds Bank’s ongoing commitment to support its SME customers through the coronavirus crisis. Since March the team has helped to arrange Coronavirus Business Interruption Loans (CBILS) and Bounce Back Loans (BBLS) for London firms.

Kira and Martin will report to Kerrie Gordon, area director for manufacturing, consumer and leisure at Lloyds Bank. She said: “Both new additions bring valuable experience and fresh impetus to the team as we continuously strive to improve the service we offer to London businesses during this crucial time.

“Our September Business Barometer revealed that firms in the capital felt optimistic about the economy for the first time since March, but there is still a long way to go. Kira and Martin’s appointments mean we are even better placed to provide our customers with tailored and relationship-led support through the coming months.”