In 1819, tailor James Poole opened an account at Coutts, marking the start of the relationship between the bank and Savile Row tailor. Since then, Henry Poole & Co has dressed numerous Coutts clients and family members, including the trailblazing philanthropist, Angela Burdett-Coutts, granddaughter of Thomas, a Coutts Senior Partner from 1775 until his death in 1822. At the beginning of the 20th century, Coutts enabled Henry Poole to expand into Europe, opening branches in Paris and Berlin. Henry Poole became the largest fully bespoke tailoring house in the world, employing over 300 tailors.
Coutts has long supported entrepreneurs and this legacy remains to this very day through its continued banking, lending, investment and advice services to over 20,000 highly successful entrepreneurs. Providing the same excellent service, Coutts supports traditional businesses like Henry Poole but also boasts an impressive insight into modern day fields such as interactive entertainment and the latest cutting-edge technology.
In 2019, Coutts and Henry Poole celebrated their partnership by co-designing a limited-edition ink-blue House Special cloth, with a double-pinstripe representing two centuries of fruitful collaboration. Coutts also mounted an exhibition of Henry Poole’s historic customer ledgers dating back to 1846, after a ten-year project to restore and catalogue them.
Honouring their longstanding collaboration, Coutts is now proudly issuing a new Business Debit Card that visually echoes a dinner jacket. The blue dinner jacket in question was designed by Henry Poole in 1865 for the Prince of Wales, later Edward VII. This short, tail-less evening jacket became extremely popular in America as the tuxedo and is still worn all over the world today.
Coutts was the first UK headquartered private bank to achieve the coveted B Corp status, leading them to consider sustainability across everything they do, with this is mind the new card will be made from 86% recycled materials.
Henry Poole & Co is also on track to achieve Planet Mark certification – a sustainability certification which recognises and supports progress in the transition to a net zero world.
‘Embracing creators and entrepreneurship has long been part of our purpose’ says Peter Flavel, CEO of Coutts. ‘We respect and encourage those who break with convention and think a little differently, and our history with Henry Poole & Co is just one example of the many long and successful business relationships we’ve built and nurtured. Times may change but pioneers will always have a home with us at Coutts.’
