Newcastle Building Society reveals Darlington branch investment

The North East’s biggest building society has shared plans for a big investment into its Darlington branch including support for local charities and community groups.

Newcastle Building Society plans to create a community room for local people to be able to meet and use for small events within its branch on Horse Market, converting unused space on the first floor into a state-of-the-art meeting space.

Despite a national trend of bank branch closures, Newcastle Building Society has continued to invest in its branch network, and over recent years has upgraded its branch facilities across the region, opened in several new locations by sharing space with community organisations, and helped restore access to financial services in places where banks have left town.

Since 2015, more than 5,000 bank branches have closed across the UK, including several in Darlington, County Durham and Teesside, forcing customers online and making it harder for some people to manage their money.

Newcastle Building Society has been present in Darlington for more than three decades; its first branch in Darlington opened on Skinnergate in the early 1990s, before it moved to its current premises in 2017.

The investment into its Darlington branch cements the Society’s place in the town and will help create a meeting room for local community groups, including access to virtual meeting technology and locally-sourced tea and coffee.

It will be the Society’s 15th community room across its network of 31 branches. Each community room is free to use, provides a welcoming space for good causes, and tend to be popular with groups including ‘knit and natter’, friendship groups and for informal meetings with local charities.

Michael Conville, chief customer officer at Newcastle Building Society, said: “We know people are concerned about the number of bank branch closures, and the growing sense that they are being excluded from the provision of local financial services. At Newcastle Building Society we’re committed to enhancing our branch network, making better branches and providing a welcoming service in the heart of the community.

“By investing in Darlington and opening a brand new community room, we’re making a commitment to the town and showing how our innovative branches meet the needs of our communities by working collaboratively and combining the best of friendly customer service and technology.”

Amy Walker, Newcastle Building Society’s Darlington branch manager, said: “We’re really looking forward to adding a community room to our branch and hosting some of our fantastic local groups and charities. There’s so much going on in Darlington at the moment, so I’m sure it’ll be popular with customers and will be another great reason to pop into town.”

By Mark Adair – Correspondent, Bdaily

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