Newcastle Building Society welcomed Robin Fieth, chief executive of the Building Societies Association (BSA), to officially launch the Society’s new Advice Centre at Portland House in Newcastle city centre.Part of a £10m investment programme across the business, Portland House on New Bridge Street is one of two flagship advice centres created to provide accessible, face to face financial advice, alongside the range of branch services. The other in Northumberland Street launched the same day.
The bright and spacious new facilities will provide customers with improved access to services, information and advice, as well as private meeting spaces in which they can discuss all aspects of their personal finance needs.
Chief executive at Newcastle Building Society, Andrew Haigh said: “Our new advice centres provide face-to-face investment, mortgage, and protection advice under one roof, in a way and at a time that is most convenient to customers.
“We know from our research that many find a rapidly changing and complex financial world a challenge. We’re providing professional, qualified and accessible financial advice to enable people across the North East to feel more comfortable with money and to plan their financial future with more confidence.”
The Advice Centres are open to all on appointment, and will stay open longer to accommodate busy workers -: 9am-8pm on Monday-Thursday, 9am-5pm on Friday and 9am-3pm on Saturday.
The Portland House branch replaces the previous Hood Street location which has now closed. The branch team has already transferred to its bright and airy new home opposite the Laing Art Gallery.
Other VIPs celebrating the official launch at Portland House were the branch team’s oldest and youngest customers: Emily Evans aged one, who has a savings account opened by her grandmother, and Richard Errington, 92, who took his first mortgage with the Society and has subsequently opened accounts for his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
BSA chief executive, Robin Fieth, who will head up the national two day BSA Conference that is taking place at the Sage Gateshead this week, added: “When it comes to finances, people like to deal with others face to face, whether as part of a discussion, to answer questions, or to receive advice. It’s fantastic to see the Newcastle Building Society developing its branch and digital strategies with this wonderful new branch and its recently launched new responsive website.”