NatWest reaffirms commitment to high street banking with £370k investment in city branch
“We're hugely proud of the transformation of our Sunderland branch”
NatWest has invested over £370,000 in improving the customer experience at its city centre bank which the bank’s chiefs say reaffirms their commitment to maintain a physical presence in Sunderland.
As more people have moved to online banking, around 6,700 bank and building society branches have closed across the UK since January 2015, leaving many customers frustrated with the lack of High Street banks and being able to conduct their banking in person.
The £371,680 investment comes alongside NatWest’s pledge to “no further closures until at least 2029” and part of their “mission to empower the regions of the UK and strengthen its branch network”.
The investment into its Fawcett Street branch includes new comfortable seating areas within the banking hall, six refurbished interview rooms, including a dedicated Zoom room, and the installation of a plumbed-in water cooler, “providing a more environmentally friendly solution by reducing the need for bottled water and plastic waste”.
State of the art equipment and technology, including new upgraded machines and technology to “improve reliability, speed of service and reduce maintenance and downtime” have also been installed.
Staff can also now benefit from refreshed bathrooms and dining area with new flooring and a lounge area.
Sunderland’s NatWest Branch Manager Andrea Richardson said: "We're hugely proud of the transformation of our Sunderland branch. This investment creates a modern banking environment that combines convenience, expertise and personal service, helping us better support local people, families and businesses.
“Communities remain at the heart of everything we do. That's why NatWest continues to invest in local banking and today maintains a presence in more than 1,000 communities across the UK through a combination of branches, Banking Hubs and mobile banking services. We're pleased Sunderland customers will continue to benefit from that commitment."
The investment in Sunderland is part of NatWest’s £50 million investment in refurbishing branches across the UK, “to better support customers face-to-face”.
Sean Bowman, Regional Director for Retail at NatWest, said: “Branches remain an important part of the communities we serve, providing places where people can access trusted support and have conversations that really matter. While more customers are choosing to bank digitally, we know many still value face-to-face support at key moments in their lives.
"This investment in Sunderland ensures we're able to offer the best of both worlds, combining modern technology with the expertise, care and personal service our colleagues provide every day. We're proud to be investing in Sunderland and supporting the ambitions of local customers, businesses and communities for years to come."