First drive-thru bank in the Black Country to open on Friday
More than 20 jobs have been created at a new Metro Bank opening its doors in the Black Country this week – becoming the region’s first drive-thru banking experience.
The Merry Hill branch, in Brierley Hill, will open to customers on Friday marking the first to open in the Black Country.
A total of 25 new jobs will be created at the branch, in Two Woods Lane, which will combine face-to-face banking with state-of-the-art technology, providing residents and businesses with a “customer-focused and convenient banking experience”.
Customers will be able to visit the stores seven days a week, with no appointment needed and open a personal or business account.
The store, along with a new branch opening in Solihull, will have more than 5,000 safe deposit boxes available.
Metro Bank is also planning to open a branch in Dudley Street in Wolverhampton city centre, with work to revamp the building already underway.
The Merry Hill store will offer a drive-thru service, allowing customers to carry out cashier services from the comfort of their cars.
Ian Walters, managing director of retail and business banking at Metro Bank, said: “Metro Bank’s further expansion into the West Midlands and the Black Country is supporting communities and businesses, and providing them with real choice in who they bank with.
“We are thrilled to bring the banking revolution to the local residents and businesses of both Solihull and the Merry Hill area, and we look forward to our stores becoming real hubs for their local communities.”
Dudley Council leader Patrick Harley said: “We are delighted to see Metro Bank expanding into the Black Country.
“We’re always pleased to see new and exciting businesses investing in our community – a drive-thru bank is something I am sure many residents will find useful.”
Metro Bank was the first UK High Street bank to launch in 150 years when it was set up in 2010.
Company bosses say it was “founded on the idea that you should be able to bank when it suits you”.
To celebrate the opening, entertainment will including stilt walkers, a DJ and face painting. There will also be a local youth dance troupe performing.
The Merry Hill store will also host its first Money Zone, the bank’s financial education programme, to a group of young fans of Halesowen Colts FC.
The store will be open 8am to 8pm Monday to Fridays, 8am to 6pm on Saturday, and 11am to 5pm on Sundays and bank holidays.
Work continues on Wolverhampton branch
As staff prepare to open the doors to one Metro Bank in the Black Country, work is currently under way to transform a former Wolverhampton phone shop into their latest branch.
Work is ongoing to turn the former Vodafone store in the city into Metro Bank, due to open its doors to customers later this year.
The fast-expanding High Street banking chain agreed a 25-year lease on 6 and 7 Dudley Street and 1 Queen Street earlier this year.
Visitors and shoppers to Wolverhampton city centre have seen the work taking place over recent weeks – with the store set to open later this year.
A spokesman for Metro Bank said an exact date for the opening of the Wolverhampton store has not been confirmed yet.
Around 25 new jobs will also be created at the new high street bank.
Ian Walters, managing director of retail and business banking at Metro Bank, said: “As the revolution in British banking, we are excited to be coming to Wolverhampton, my hometown."
The work on Dudley Street is just one of many changes shoppers will notice in the city centre in the coming years. The old Faces nightclub was recently demolished while city streets are to be paved over.
