Co-operative Bank, Birmingham

THE Co-operative Bank, part of the Co-operative Group, operates a corporate banking centre (CBC) from offices on Colmore Row in Birmingham.

Since the start of 2011, the Birmingham CBC grew new business deposits, a solid indicator of how the Bank is increasingly seen as a genuine alternative by corporate customers.

Overall, the organisation is continuing to emerge strongly from the world financial crisis with operating profits up 20% in its latest interim results. 

It has continued to lend with lending balances up by more than 40%, in a period when many organisations scaled back their support.

The Birmingham CBC provides a regional, sector-leading service through relationship managers Steven Pamely, Mike Gammon, Dean Pedley and Adam Pincher – the latter two having recently joined the Bank. Steve Dominey is its deposits manager, part of a 16-strong team.

The team operates small customer portfolios and works on developing long-term relationships – with many customers choosing to stay with the bank.

Senior corporate manager Steven Pamely said: “The prospects for healthy economic recovery in the short term are remote. These are very challenging times for businesses and the external risks, added to the UK’s domestic economic conditions, are not insignificant.

“While we might expect the next two years to remain tough, this does not mean we should expect a double-dip recession, although clearly there is a risk of that.

“We provide support to our customers to ensure we fully understand their business and help them deal with the challenges.”

Each year the Birmingham CBC is attracting more deposits and lending more money and that continues to be its plan.

“We face many of the same challenges as our customers. We want to remain a strong and profitable bank and support our corporate customers to ensure they overcome the challenges,” Mr Pamely added.

“Many businesses have responded by focusing on lowering costs, managing working capital and cash tightly and generally focusing on efficiency.

“We were recently voted the most supportive business bank for customers and many of our business customers have chosen to stay with us for many years.”