A revolution in British banking, is set to open a brand-new store in a prime location in Manchester’s Arndale Shopping Centre later in 2019, creating around 25 new jobs for local people in the city. The store will combine face-to-face banking with state-of-the-art technology, providing residents and businesses with a customer-focused and convenient banking experience.
The city centre store will offer business, personal and private banking services to the local community, from early in the morning until late at night, seven-days-a-week. Metro Bank is known for its exceptional customer service and recently achieved the top spot in the CMA’s Service Quality Survey1. Customers will be able to visit the store, with no appointment needed, and open a personal or business account on-the-spot, leaving with their debit card in hand, along with internet and mobile banking set-up.
Metro Bank has selected Manchester as its first site in the North of England, with 29 more stores set to open in the North by 2025 – creating 750 new jobs and over 100 apprenticeships in the North. This expansion is part of Metro Bank’s efforts to inject much needed competition into the small business banking market following the £120million funding it was awarded from the Capability & Innovation Fund.
Metro Bank is the fastest-growing challenger bank for business current accounts in the UK, supporting tens of thousands of SMEs. Local professionals will benefit from Local Business Managers ready to help them run and grow their businesses, as well as having free access to the Forum of Private Business’ wealth of bespoke resources and free use of the store’s meeting space. Metro Bank Manchester will become a hub for the community, hosting a range of business events and charity fundraisers for local people throughout the year.
Craig Donaldson, Chief Executive Officer at Metro Bank said: “Bringing the banking revolution to the North of England is a real milestone for Metro Bank. We’re thrilled to be arriving in Manchester later this year, we simply can’t wait as we know Manchester is such a hub for growing British businesses.”
Sir Richard Leese, Leader of Manchester City Council, said: “Manchester continues to be an attractive place for new business and it’s great to see Metro Bank choose the city as their first location in the north. The group’s focus on supporting SMEs chimes with the City Council’s own ambition to help new business flourish, and it’s also encouraging to see their commitment to creating new employment and apprenticeship opportunities for local people that will support the city’s continued economic growth.”
The store will be located at 45 Market Street & Unit 4/5 Arndale, Manchester, M1 1WR, and will have over 3,000 safe deposit boxes for customers to store their valuables, as well as free coin counting facilities for children and adults alike.
The store will also deliver its free financial education programme, Money Zones, to schools and youth groups in the area. The National Curriculum approved training, which is provided through classroom and store-based sessions, has already supported more than 100,000 children across the UK with their financial literacy.
All stores are open at the most convenient time for local people from 8am to 8pm Monday to Fridays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays, 362 days a year.
