Bank re-opens with a new look

An Ashford town centre bank has re-opened with a new look.

The Britannia Building Society, in Bank Street, has been re-branded as a Co-operative Bank, following the merger of the two organisations nearly five years ago. Both customers who hold accounts with Britannia, and the Co-operative, will now be able to visit the new-look bank, which opened last week.

The Co-operative Bank, part of The Co-operative Financial Services, acquired Britannia in 2009, and spent the following years integrating the two organisations.

Spokeswoman Lauren Hoult, from the banking group, said: “As part of our plans announced in January 2013 to unify our high street branch network under one single Co-operative Bank brand, our Ashford branch has been re-branded as a Co-operative Bank branch.

“As part of the staged integration of Britannia, over the course of the last year we have been making changes to the appearance and services offered in our branches in order to introduce a consistent customer experience.

“Customers holding both Britannia and Co-operative Bank products can serve these in our Ashford branch.

In November, Co-operative announced plans to close 50 branches across the country. So far, none of the seven Kent branches – in Ashford, Chatham, Cranbrook, Dartford, Maidstone, Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells – has been earmarked for closure.

The new-look Co-operative Bank in Ashford town centre