FORTIS Bank has grown its Kent business by 22 per cent in the past year. The European-based international group, which has an office in Tunbridge Wells, has seen strong profits growth in the United Kingdom.

Lisa Jessup, the bank's assistant director in the county, said that outside its home base in Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg, the bank's profits growth was strongest in the UK. "Despite the difficult market conditions we are operating in, Fortis in the UK continues to go from strength to strength and remains committed to growing the business in line with its development plans," she said.

"Reflecting this position, our offices in Kent have grown 22 per cent in line with customer requirements, which is testament to our continued commitment to providing proximity banking services to middle market companies in the region."

Fortis Bank, which operates in 65 countries, has been involved in a number of significant local transactions, including the £2 million management buyout of Ashford-based Letraset, and funding Ardo Shearway's new £8 million development near Ashford.