·       Customer-focused, seven-days-a-week bank to open in town centre
·       New store to create 25 jobs for local community
·       Metro Bank welcomes everyone including pets and bicycles

Metro Bank, the revolution in British banking, is set to open a brand-new store in Ashford this winter, creating around 25 new jobs for local people.

The store will combine face-to-face relationship banking with state-of-the-art technology, providing residents and businesses with a customer-focused and convenient banking experience.

Following the opening of its Canterbury store last November, Metro Bank has witnessed a huge demand for its traditional relationship banking, and its award-winning digital services. In response the bank is expanding further into Kent with a fourth store located in County Square Shopping Centre.

The town centre store will offer business, personal and private banking services for the whole community, from early in the morning until late at night, seven-days-a-week. The bank, which prides itself on delivering tangible benefits to customers through its growing network of stores, will enable customers to visit at a time convenient to them, without an appointment and open a personal account on-the-spot. The instant account opening process means within 20 minutes, personal customers can leave with a printed debit card, along with internet and mobile banking all set-up.

What’s more, the store will have over 1,000 safety deposit boxes for customers to store their valuables, as well as free coin counting facilities for customers and non-customers to use. Local residents and businesses are also encouraged to attend the store’s free events that are hosted throughout the year, from networking sessions, to charity fundraisers, to family craft events.

Councillor Graham Galpin, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Property, commented on the forthcoming opening: “We are thrilled that such a dynamic, innovative and highly-regarded financial services company has recognised the many benefits of including Ashford in its expansion plans. Ashford has been identified by investment agency Locate in Kent as the best place to do business in the county and I’m sure Metro Bank will be a hugely welcome addition to our thriving local economy.”

Craig Donaldson, CEO at Metro Bank added: “Customers are telling us time after time that they want the option to choose how, when and where they bank. That’s why we offer fantastic service across all our channels and are opening stores in prime locations, making a real difference to the way communities banks.

“Ashford is an exciting town to be part of and we’re delighted to have found another great location to serve even more customers, from early in the morning until late at night, seven-days-a-week. We look forward to welcoming both local residents and businesses and to the banking revolution over the coming weeks and months.”

All stores are open at the most convenient time for local people from 8am to 8pm Monday to Fridays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday and 11am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays, 362 days a year.