Yorkshire Building Society to close a Birmingham branch

YORKSHIRE Building Society (YBS) is to close 10% of its branch network – including a central Birmingham branch – as part of a review of its high street presence and will scrap two of its sub-brands.

The Society currently has YBS branches in New Street, Bull Street and High Street and a Chelsea Building Society branch in New Street. 

As part of restructuring plans, Chelsea Building Society will disappear with the remaining branches being rebranded as Yorkshire Building Society.

The group said the closure of 22 branches will put 13 jobs at risk, with most staff being redeployed.

Chris Pilling, YBS chief executive, said: “Our branch network always has been, and remains, at the heart of our business, providing the face-to-face service that many of our members prefer.

“These planned changes will make us more efficient and will deliver greater long-term value to new and existing members.”

Chelsea became part of YBS Group in 2010 and the name will now disappear, along with seven of its branches.

The branch closure programme affects nine YBS outlets, at Birmingham, Bradford John Street, Edinburgh Stafford Street, Barnsley, Bournemouth, Bristol, Chatham, Hampstead and Sutton.

YBS, which is 150 years old, employs 2,700 people across Yorkshire and the Humber, which accounts for about 60% of the total workforce. It will have 208 branches, once the restructuring process is completed later this year.