New 'community' bank opens in Newbury

Metro Bank in Northbrook Street is open seven days a week

A NEW ‘community bank’ has opened its 39th UK store in Newbury.

Metro Bank, based in Northbrook Street, is promising to ‘bring the banking revolution” to the town and says that it feels UK banks have been “underserving” their customers.

The bank, which will be open seven days a week and employ 20 people, will also have in-store customer toilets and baby-changing facilities, as well as instant card replacements.

It also has free coin counting for customers and non-customers and safe deposit boxes for customers’ valuables.

Metro Bank’s managing director of regional banking, Iain Kirkpatrick, said: “We are different from other banks. We think banking should be easy, not difficult.

“If you lose your bank card, we have a card-printing facility so we can provide you with a replacement there and then rather than waiting for five days.

“We can set you up with an account, card, pin number and internet and telephone banking so you have everything you need on the day; there’s no waiting.

“We also take a picture of you when you set an account up so we don’t need to ask you a load of security questions every time you come in.”

When asked why Metro Bank chose to open in Newbury, he added: “Newbury is a lovely, interesting town with a good mix of businesses and customers who we feel have been underserved. Newbury is a great place for us to be. It has great history and a real community feel.”

Metro Bank launched in 2010.

The Newbury branch will be open from 8am until 8pm on Monday to Friday, from 8am until 6pm on Saturdays and 11am until 5pm on Sundays.