Vernon Building Society completes £1.2 million refurbishment of branch network

Vernon Building Society has completed the refurbishment of its Marple branch, successfully concluding its £1.2 million refurbishment programme across all six branches.

The new-look branch in Marple has doubled in size, after Edward Mellor moved into a new premises, enabling the Vernon to create a modern looking but traditional counter service, new customer seating area and two interview rooms for customer privacy. The redesign is accompanied by a contemporary interior and an enhanced back-office area for colleagues.

Vernon Building Society has been at the same corner plot building on Hollins Lane since 1995. During that time Marple’s Barclays and NatWest banks have closed. Which? has reported that since 2015 the North West has seen 725 banks or building societies close or announce they are closing, leaving just 348 open. Just this week, NatWest has announced the closure of almost 50 branches across the UK, eight of which are in Greater Manchester.

New Vernon Building Society Chief Executive Darren Ditchburn attended an official opening of the Marple branch on 28^th January; he said:

“Vernon Building Society’s unwavering commitment to Stockport’s high street reflects how we understand what really matters to our Members. Our skilled branch colleagues provide a trustworthy, personal service for Members looking to deposit a cheque, receive mortgage advice or discuss their savings.

“We have already announced plans to grow our presence to include all Greater Manchester boroughs within the next five years, most likely through community collaborations and hubs. This plan for expansion is in stark contrast to other banks and building societies who are making closures which negatively impact communities. Offering our Members an invaluable face to face banking service is a core part of our long-term strategy, and more than that, it’s the right thing to do.”

The ambitious refurbishment of all six Vernon Building Society branches across Greater Manchester and Cheshire has taken 18 months and was completed on time and within budget, using local suppliers Standing Space, Monks Morton Design Interiors, Flexible Office and Sharp.

Vernon Building Society has a strong relationship with Marple, having been a sponsor of the annual Marple Carnival. Further to this, donations have been awarded via Vernon’s Community Stars programme to a host of charities and social enterprises based in Marple, including Marple Garden House, Hawk Green Cricket Club, Etherow Country Park Sailing Club and New Horizon Stockport Canal Boat Trust.