Duncan Lawrie Private Bank has opened its new regional offices in Bristol’s historic Queen Square, as part of the firm's continued expansion across the southwestern region of the country.

The firm’s expansion plans within the southwest have been influenced by recent figures from a YouGov commissioned report, conducted with 1,008 UK high net worth individuals with more than £250,000 (around $388,000) investable assets, which revealed that more than three quarters (77 per cent) of those in the southwest said they would prefer  a more traditional approach to banking. Respondents said that a “traditional” personal relationship with a bank manager was preferable to the modern “de-humanised” approach.

From its new Bristol base, the firm will provide client services across all areas within the southwestern region of England, including Somerset, Gloucestershire, Dorset, Devon, Cornwall and South Wales.

Overall, the bank has some 4,500 clients representing around £700 million in assets. The bank has been shortlisted for an award at the WealthBriefing Awards 2013 event to be held in London on 2 May, when the winners are to be announced.