The UK wealth management arm of French bank Société Générale has opened an office in Edinburgh, following UK rival Barclays Wealth, which has been making inroads into the Scottish private banking market.

Société Générale Private Banking Hambros unveiled the office in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, this morning - the bank's first venture in Scotland. Mike Smith and Christopher Thomson will head the new office, both having joined the bank two years ago from UK peer Kleinwort Benson.