PHILADELPHIA, Aug 1 (Reuters) - UBS AG said on Sunday it plans to hire executives from Goldman Sachs Group Inc and Bank of America Corp to build its mortgages and lending business in the U.S.

Jonathan Kessler will be hired from Bank of America's Merrill unit and will serve as head of banking and lending solutions. Frank Destra, who previously ran the residential-lending business in Goldman's banking unit, will become head of mortgages in the UBS unit.

A spokesman for UBS confirmed the hirings, which were first reported by The Wall Street Journal.

UBS plans to hire more mortgage personnel in the coming months, the report said.

Bank of America was not immediately available to comment. Goldman declined to comment.