Challenger bank to open new branch in city centre, creating 25 jobs

Metro Bank is to open a new store in heart of Liverpool on Paradise Street, creating around 25 jobs.

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.

It follows the bank’s announcement last week that it is to open its first North West location in Manchester.

Metro Bank says it is known for its exceptional customer service and recently achieved the top spot in the CMA’s Service Quality Survey.

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.

This marks the second store confirmed in the North of England, following Manchester, as part of Metro Bank’s commitment to open 30 new stores in the North by 2025 – creating 750 new jobs and more than 100 apprenticeships.

This 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 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 Liverpool will become a hub for the community, hosting a range of business events and charity fundraisers for local people throughout the year.

Craig Donaldson, Metro Bank chief executive, said: “We’re really excited to be launching our first store in Liverpool later this year, as Metro Bank brings the banking revolution to the North of England.

“The city has long been home to many of the UK’s fastest growing businesses and we can’t wait to show everyone what great service and convenience is all about.”

Deputy Mayor of Liverpool, Gary Millar, said: “We’re always delighted when innovative new businesses join the Liverpool community and this is no exception.

“The city has a great history of nurturing SMEs and helping them develop into world beaters – I look forward to seeing Metro Bank continue this proud history with their focus on lending, community outreach, and outstanding customer service”.

The store will be located at 13-15 Paradise Street, and will have more than 2,000 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.