Greg Hands MP visited the Fulham Broadway branch of Metro Bank to meet employees and to find out more about the bank.
On Friday, 17 July, Greg Hands, Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham and Chief Secretary to the Treasury, visited Metro Bank’s Fulham Broadway branch – or ‘store’ as the bank prefers to call it – to meet employees and to find out more about the high street bank.
When it opened its first branch in 2010, Metro Bank, whose motto is “Love your bank at last!”, claimed to be the newest high street bank in more than 150 years. Five years later, Metro Bank has 36 branches, with more planned, including another in Greg’s constituency on the King’s Road.
Greg was greeted at the bank by an employee called Shemar, who has worked at Metro Bank for over a year now, and who is one of the bank’s many success stories. Greg was interested to find out that Shemar had started out as an apprentice cashier at the firm after receiving a distinction in his studies at City Gateway in Tower Hamlets, and was then promoted to Customer Service Representative at the Fulham Broadway branch.
During his visit, Greg heard how Metro Bank prides itself on being open all but three days a year with late opening hours, and he remarked on the bank’s memorable visual branding. Greg was also impressed to discover that Metro Bank offers its customers a free-to-book private business area known as the ‘fish bowl’. Also evident was Metro Bank’s animal-friendly policy, with water bowls and treats on display for the many pet dogs belonging to the constituents of Chelsea and Fulham.
Less obvious, however, is Metro Bank’s ‘university’ located beneath the Fulham Broadway branch. During his tour of the facilities, Greg was impressed to discover that there are twelve underground classrooms that serve the whole company, and he was fortunate to be invited in to observe a number of classes in progress. Greg was surprised to be greeted with Metro Bank’s characteristic welcome of a ‘woop!’ when a guest enters the room, from the 9 customer service trainees.
After his visit Greg Hands said, “I have been impressed to hear about the progress Metro Bank has made since it opened its Fulham Broadway ‘store’ on the former site of Books Etc in my constituency a number of years ago.
“As a Government minister I am very pleased indeed to learn that Metro Bank is going from strength to strength, with a further 150 new employees planned for this year including 25 in my own constituency of Chelsea and Fulham.
“Metro Bank’s creation of career opportunities by taking on over 50 apprentices on permanent contracts and by offering professional qualifications to all its employees is a good reflection of what this Conservative majority Government is doing with its recent Summer Budget which seeks to provide security for Britain.
“I thank Metro Bank’s CEO, Craig Donaldson, and his staff for the warm welcome to their Fulham Broadway store on Friday, and I wish them every success for the future.”
Greg looks forward to visiting Metro Bank’s new branch on the King’s Road, Chelsea, after it opens later in 2015.