Metro Bank, which provides banking services to Everton FC, will open its branch in Paradise Street in Liverpool One in early December. Tony McDonough reports
Liverpool’s newest bank is almost ready to open and will create 25 jobs, be open 362 days a year and promises to be “dog friendly”.
Metro Bank, which provides banking services to Everton FC, will open its branch in Paradise Street, opening every day of the year except Christmas Day, New Year’s Day and Easter Sunday, with opening hours extending well into the evening.
Metro Bank Liverpool is the company’s 71st branch and its first in the North of England and will open its doors in Paradise Street in Liverpool One for a day-long celebration on Friday, December 6. It will open in Manchester the following week.
The expansion is part of Metro Bank’s efforts to inject much needed competition into the small business banking market following the £120m funding it was awarded from the Capability & Innovation Fund.
Metro Bank, which provides banking services to Everton FC, has suffered a torrid few months. It was founded in 2010 by Vernon Hill but he resigned as chairman in October, leaving his successor to handle a regulatory investigation into an accounting error.
Shortly after, its third quarter results for the three months to September 30 revealed a loss of £6.7m compared with £900,000 in the second quarter, due to its “transformation and remediation programmes”.
The city centre outlet will offer business, personal and private banking services from early in the morning until late at night, seven-days-a-week. 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.
The dog-friendly bank has created around 25 new jobs for local people and will have more than 1,500 Safe Deposit Boxes for customers to store their valuables with access seven days a week. Boxes are available to be reserved now.
To mark the opening, Metro Bank is inviting businesses, residents and four-legged friends to a two-day grand opening party. The fun will kick off at 8am on Friday, December 6, with entertainment including stilt walkers, a DJ, free manicures and face painting.
Customers will be welcomed by local director, Gary Owens and store manager, Vicky Newby. They promise it will become a hub for the community, hosting a range of business events and charity fundraisers for local people throughout the year.
On top of this, the store will run its Money Zone – Metro Bank’s financial education programme for key stage three and key stage four pupils – as well as regular craft events throughout the year.
Craig Donaldson, chief executive at Metro Bank, said: “We are thrilled to be opening our first store in the north of England and finally bring a real choice in how people bank to the city of Liverpool.
“For too long customers – especially small businesses – have been underserved and undervalued by traditional high street banks so we’re delighted to offer top customer service to the residents and local businesses of Liverpool and the North West.”
The new bank has the backing of Liverpool Mayor Joe Anderson, who added: “This is particularly important at a time when big banks are retreating from the high street, making it harder for people to access services in the traditional way.”