Metro Bank aims to upset British banking brands
A new High Street banking brand will be visible to British shoppers for the first time in over 100 years today as Metro Bank opens its first outlet in London’s Holborn.
The bank is hoping to compete with its long established rivals by providing a quirky service that includes free dog biscuits for pet owning customers and red lollipops for their sweet toothed owners.
This is designed to transform customers into “fans” and branches into “stores” as American billionaire Vernon Hill and other investors seeks to replicate the success of businesses such as Commerce Bank in the US.
In addition to tasty treats the banks also promises to open seven days a week and provide credit and debit cards within a speedy 15mins of application. This is achieved by locating a card printing machine in each store which can fabricate the cards in precisely 2min and 27sec, negating reliance on a postman.
Caught short will also be able to avail themselves of Metro’s sanitary facilities and stash valuables in their own safety deposit boxes.
Industry experts are sceptical that significant volumes of people will switch accounts to the new bank however, citing unimpressive interest rates and a lack of online account opening facilities.