They are growing in Asia and have been doing so for a while but they are also loosing some talented staff that weathered out the GFC with them and are now being poached out by the Tier 1 banks.
I have friends in front, middle, back office, IT and Ops that have all been targets of the likes of Deutsche, CSFB and especially the Australian banks.
They are certainly making a lot of noise in Singapore - they want everyone to know they are hiring all of over the show and are the big boys in town with their unlimited cheque books.
I think their plans for an 800 seat trading floor are wildly optimistic - which will make it the largest in Asia incidentally. They aren't even classified as a full service bank yet and it takes a while to build out a quality research department and drive the volumes through the trading desk.
Look at Chelsea & Man City. You might have the most money but you can't always buy your way to success!!
Although after all the sh*t of recent years, its good to see a self sustaining British Bank making some positive moves and taking the bull by the horns!