The chairman of a Teesdale charity has cut the ribbon to officially open Newcastle Building Society’s new Barnard Castle branch.
Alastair Dinwiddie was guest of honour at the official opening event for the Society’s new Market Square branch, which it has created as part of its multi-million pound branch network refurbishment programme across its entire branch network.
Alastair is the chairman of Enterprise House, a longstanding “one-stop shop” on the town’s Harmire Enterprise Park which is run through the Teesdale Development Company and provides support and training services for businesses right across Teesdale.
The official opening event included free refreshments for customers, including a new waxed garlic cheese from local artisan producers Teesdale Cheesemakers.
Newcastle Building Society has opened the new full service and financial advice branch to provide customers with easy access to services, information and advice, as well as to private meeting spaces.
Six full and part-time positions, including a financial adviser, have been created at the new branch, which is Newcastle Building Society’s fifth in County Durham.
A sixth county branch is scheduled to open in Bishop Auckland in the near future within the ex-premises of a recently-closed Virgin Money branch, with a full refurbishment scheduled to follow in early 2020.
Helena Kalandra, manager at the Society’s new Barnard Castle branch, said: “We shared a lovely official opening day with our customers, and it was great to be able to show what’s now on offer at their local branch.
“The Society is reaffirming its long-term commitment to its High Street presence by investing heavily in maintaining, enhancing and expanding a modern branch network.
“Enterprise House provides the foundations on which dozens of local businesses have successfully built over the years and we’re very pleased that Alastair could take the time to officially open our new branch.”