I guess you can call me a charities specialist. I've almost always been involved with the voluntary sector in one way or another. I'm also a commercial banker in the Specialist Commercial Banking team but never thought my role at Coutts and my charity work would ever collide.

But in the mid 90's, when I began working in Commercial Banking, it became apparent that Coutts had a significant number of charities and not for profit organisations and perhaps my knowledge of charities could come in handy

So I began working on a paper which explored how Coutts could bring expertise and specialist advice to charities, drawing on my own experiences. The charities proposition was born, but that was simply the beginning.

Working with Investment Management, we developed a cutting edge investment proposition for charities, and then in 2004, I organised the "Philanthropy in the 21st Century" conference, which became the catalyst for the Strategic Philanthropy initiative. I hoped that we could begin to engage with our high net worth clients in their ability to give strategically.

As a private bank, it's very important that we encourage more clients to think strategically about their charitable donations. A large number don't know how to set up trusts and they're confused about giving, which is how Mark Evans and his team can help.

Clients value our expertise, there's no question about it. A lot of the business we get is on the back of them trusting that we know what we are talking about.

On a day-to-day basis, I look after around 100 clients, and I deal with charities where I can offer an added level of value. I may advise them on fundraising strategies and help them with their trust applications.

It's much more than a traditional banker role and I thoroughly enjoy it. But juggling work with my charity commitments has helped me become a specialist in time management! My charitable work is a real mixed bag of causes I enjoy supporting.

I am the honorary Commonwealth treasurer for The Royal Life Saving Society and from June 2009, I will take over as the deputy Commonwealth president. That's going to be a big role for me. I've been involved with them for 15 years, so I am enormously proud. It's reported that over 500,000 people drown every year. It's a huge problem, and life saving skills are urgently required around the world.

Often when I‘m approached by charities, they see Coutts being part of the package, but it's not. I draw a line and say it's me offering my services, not Coutts. I am immensely proud to work for Coutts, but it's about what I can bring to a role which is important.

When I received my MBE letter, it wasn't too much of a surprise. In 2006, a friend who I've worked with outside of the bank mentioned he wanted to put my name forward for the New Year's honours. But I was dead against it. It really wasn't my thing.

Eventually I agreed to it, but because I had dithered, it was too late to enter the 2007 New Year's honours list. I promptly forgot about it, but my friend hadn't. So when I opened the MBE letter in May, I smiled, and knew it was him who had submitted it.

It was deeply moving to think that someone had gone to the effort of completing the paperwork and thought I was worthy of a Royal honour. I also felt enormously proud of the journey I have been on. It's such an achievement.

I've received so many letters of congratulations and emails, it's wonderful. I'm keeping them all in a scrapbook which I plan to give to my children when they are older. Apparently my daughter can get married in St Paul's Cathedral now, but I haven't told her yet! She's only 17.

The MBE hasn't changed me at all. I will continue with my charity commitments as normal. But in terms of my daily work, the letters MBE on my business card send a clear message, especially in the voluntary sector, and it reflects well on Coutts.

I hope people will see that we are serious here at Coutts and I am in no doubt it will be a benefit to all of us.

By Rupa Sudra

For more information about Coutts proposition for Charities visit Coutts Charities