Hampshire Trust Bank (HTB) has appointed Alexia Evans as lending director within its development finance division, as it continues to scale its national presence and support SME developers with increasingly complex funding needs.
Evans (pictured) brings more than 12 years’ experience in real estate finance to the role, having worked across residential, commercial and hotel lending. She joins the bank from Mizrahi-Tefahot Bank, where she was responsible for leading the UK hotel lending strategy, including funding investment, development and value-add projects.
Her appointment forms part of HTB’s strategic investment in its development finance offering, which has seen a series of hires in recent months as the bank looks to bolster its regional reach and specialist expertise. Demand for planning-led and more structured funding solutions has been rising, particularly among SME developers looking for a relationship-led approach and funding certainty.
Evans said she was drawn to HTB by its pragmatic, project-focused approach to supporting developers. “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,” she said. “Whether it’s planning, timelines or delivery risks, the team brings a level of pragmatism that makes a real difference. I’ve spent my career working on projects that require flexibility and structured support, and I’m looking forward to contributing to the Bank’s continued growth.”
Alongside her lending responsibilities, Evans is an active member of Women in Property and mentors early-career professionals, supporting diversity and representation across the real estate sector.
Neil Leitch, managing director of development finance at HTB, said the appointment underlined the bank’s commitment to building a team attuned to the practical realities of development funding. “We’ve made clear, deliberate investments in building a team that reflects the realities of development today, from planning delays to funding certainty,” he said.
“Alexia brings experience, commercial focus, and a structured approach to complex projects, and we’re pleased to have her on board. Over the past year we’ve strengthened every part of the business, from origination through to underwriting, and her appointment is another step forward as we scale with confidence and clarity of purpose.”
