RBS Coutts, the international private banking arm of RBS <RBS.L>, said it has hired eight new private bankers for its Southeast Asian team.

The bankers include Bruno Merlino, who joins from UBS <UBSN.VX> in Singapore where he was executive director and Indonesia desk head, RBS Coutts said in a statement.

 

Merlino will become team leader Indonesia.

 

The private bank also hired bankers who will focus on Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand.

 

RBS Coutts has hired 150 staff in Asia in the past year after an exodus in Singapore, as rivals poach from each other to keep up with the region's growing wealth.