Some key people have left the Bermuda Commercial Bank. Edith G. Conyers, head of the bank's international corporate management subsidiary left last week to work for Forum Fund Services Ltd., an exempt company.

The bank's subsidiary acted as a corporate manager and mutual fund administrator. Ms Conyers had been with the bank for 12 years.

Barbara Faiella also left the bank a month ago. She was the head of BCB Merrill Lynch Asset Management, a joint venture between the Bermuda Commercial Bank and Merrill Lynch Asset Management to sell offshore funds. Ms Faella has gone to work at Invesco Global Asset Management. Ms Faiella had been with the bank for two years.

Robin Zuill, the bank's international marketing officer, is leaving the bank this week. She will join the Bermuda Stock Exchange to work in marketing.

A spokesperson said the three had all left for their own reasons and not because of any restructuring at the bank, as has occurred at the Bank of Bermuda Ltd. and at the Bank of N.T. Butterfield and Son Ltd.

No replacements for the positions have been announced as of yet.

The bank recorded a 37 percent increase in profits to $1.3 million for the six months ended March 31.

The bank also announced earlier this year it was cutting its last ties with the local retail market by discontinuing selling mortgages through wholly-owned subsidiary Somers Mortgage and Finance Ltd. No new loans are being made although the bank is still taking deposit money.

The bank markets itself as a niche player catering to international business.

Last year Peter Roberts, a former Transworld Oil USA, Inc. executive, took over from Audette Exel as managing director of the bank. At about the same time chief financial officer Tony Nagel left to head Full Service Trade System. He was replaced by controller Greta Heimbach.

"Several programmes of enhancement to the bank's key systems and personnel are current and expected to further support BCB's objectives of service, systems and minimum risk,'' Mr. Roberts stated in response to a question about staff turnover at Bermuda Commercial Bank.

The bank has 67 employees.

Robin Zuill Edith Conyers