Optimism at One Southampton Row by JudyGR
Many of us took our finances almost completely online in the face of closing branches, bank charges and more attractive rates for the self servicing account. Reversing this trend, the promise of a fast track account opening service with branches in key locations operating opening hours that suit the working person, 7 days a week and with customer toilets thrown in, our heads might well be turned. There, in a nutshell, is what Metro Bank is all about. Due to open sizable branches in Holborn and Earls Court in April, FSA approval pending, Metro Bank will squarely target Londoners with a completely novel high street banking experience.
Metro has been a long time coming and has long term plans for 200 branches in London. Its branding might look a bit like a certain supermarket's and its name remind us of one of our daily reads but that's merely made it blend in nicely with the city scenery.
Could you learn to 'love your bank'? We'll wait and watch with (hopes of a higher rate of) interest.