Bank of India to open branch in city

The State Bank of India is looking to open a branch in Wolverhampton, it was announced today.

Bank chiefs are due to carry out viewings of potential city centre properties later this week and hope to launch the new branch by summer. Four jobs will be created which will later be expanded to seven.

The bank says it has focused its UK developments on areas where there are well-established communities from India.It has branches in Birmingham, London, Leicester and Manchester.

Its chief executive officer of UK operations Rajnish Kumar recently visited Wolverhampton where he met council leader Neville Patten.

Councillor Patten said today: "It is great news the State Bank of India is committing to opening its first branch in Wolverhampton.

"We will do everything we can to support the bank in developing their presence in Wolverhampton and are helping them to find a suitable property in the city centre."

Upinder Pokhriyal, branch manager of its Soho Road Birmingham branch, said: "We see lots of business opportunities as Wolverhampton is an up and coming place."