The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Clydesdale bank branches rebrand
Clydesdale Bank branches in Aberdeen, Wick, Kirkwall and Stornoway have been rebranded under the Virgin Money umbrella.
The Clydesdale name will eventually vanish from Scottish high streets as the parent puts all of its retail branches under a single moniker.
It is more than a year since the group, which is due to move into new Scottish headquarters next year, following completion of work on a huge new building on Bothwell Street, Glasgow, changed its name from CYBG after its £1.7 billion takeover of Virgin Money.
The company later insisted there were no plans to scrap Clydesdale Bank notes as the near200-year-old Scottish business is integrated into Virgin Money.
Another major UK banking group ditched its Scottish name earlier this year when Edinburghbased Royal Bank of Scotland Group became NatWest Group, adopting the brand under which most of its business is delivered. Scottish branches continue to operate under the Royal Bank of Scotland name.
Virgin Money, which also owns Yorkshire Bank, aims to have its whole network operating under one brand by spring 2021. It is investing millions of pounds in the mammoth rebranding exercise.
Each rebranded branch will offer full banking services to all 6.6 million customers in the Virgin Money business, which the group says represents a huge increase in the number of available sites.
Over the coming months customers will also begin to see credit cards, banking apps and account statements change to Virgin Money as part of the group’s wider rebranding.
Virgin Money said customers would continue to benefit from “the same friendly and knowledgeable teams, providing excellent customer service” and access to a wide range of products and services from current account to mortgages and credit cards.
Customers will also have access to exclusive products and services from the wider Virgin Group.
Gary Venerus is area manager for Virgin Money in Aberdeen, where St Nicholas Clydesdale, at 62 Union Street, has undergone its rebranding.
Mr Venerus said: “These are exciting times for the Aberdeen St Nicholas Virgin Money Store as it moves across to the Virgin Money brand, which is well known for its great customer service and innovation.”
Virgin Money, which is rebranding a total of 62 Clydesdale Bank and 84 Yorkshire Bank sites, said it was contacting customers in advance of their branches being converted to let them know when they can expect the changes to be made.
Earlier this year Virgin Money said about 500 jobs could go as part of plans to shut 22 branches around the UK during 2020.
A further 30 branches were to be consolidated with nearby sites as part of a restructuring programme.
A Clydesdale branch on Dingwall High Street was among those earmarked for closure, leaving customers facing a 13- mile drive to Inverness.
Last month it emerged that up to 400 more jobs could be axed across the group’s head offices in Glasgow, Gosforth and Leeds as part of plans to reduce overall headcount by 16% by next year.
The former Clydesdale bank headquarters in Glasgow was expected to see 200 roles go, with the Gosforth and Leed offices shedding 150 and 50 jobs respectively.