Vernon Building Society has completed a £150,000 refurbishment of its Poynton branch, reaffirming its commitment to the high street.
Data from Which? found that around 6,000 branches have shut across the UK since 2015.
The Poynton branch, however, was updated with a contemporary interior featuring traditional counter service, open-plan booths for face-to-face support, two interview rooms for customer privacy, and seating areas for visitors.
This renovation was part of a £1.2m investment aimed at improving Vernon’s six-branch network, with Poynton being the fifth branch to complete the refurbishment.
Vernon Building Society plans to start renovations on its final branch in Marple by the end of the year or early 2025.
Local suppliers were appointed for the project, with design by Standing Space and work conducted by local contractors Monks Morton Design Interiors, Flexible Office, and Sharp.
Steve Fletcher, CEO at Vernon Building Society, said: “As the only remaining high street branch in Poynton it was especially important for us to be able to offer face-to-face banking services in a great environment.
“Whether Members want to deposit a cheque, receive mortgage advice or discuss their online banking, we have a friendly team offering an expert service and now in new modernised premises.”
“We’ve been in Poynton since 1971 and in the current building for 13 years so we’ve got to know people in the town really well, through them coming into the branch and through our sponsorship and funding initiatives.
“Poynton is a town close to our hearts and we’re proud to be serving it.”
Fletcher added: “As a building society that serves the whole of Greater Manchester as well as Cheshire, we have plans to be physically available to even more Members by opening up in every Greater Manchester borough over the next five years, most likely via community collaborations and hubs.”
