Royal Bank of Scotland customers in Edinburgh West End are benefiting from a newly refurbished local branch that underpins the bank’s ambition to become the number one bank for service in the UK.
The £520,000 investment has transformed the branch into a modern, customer first space, welcoming visitors in Edinburgh West End from the moment they step inside. Visitors will experience a new space where customers and colleagues can connect, helping to best address customers’ banking needs.
The refurbishment was celebrated with an open evening on Thursday (8 October), in which customers were welcomed to the branch view the new state of the art facilities. The evening featured live music and included a fireside chat with Scottish Olympic curling silver medallist Bruce Mouat.
The refurbishment initiative is part of the bank’s mission to invest in its branch network across Scotland, having committed to no further closures until at least 2029.
The branch in Edinburgh West End has been supplied with:
- state of the art equipment and technology, including new upgraded cash dispensing and deposit machines to improve reliability, speed of service and reduce maintenance and downtime
- new comfortable seating areas within the banking hall
- music and white noise technology to improve privacy
- refreshed colleague welfare facilities including upgraded bathrooms, dining areas and lounge space
The Royal Bank of Scotland firmly positions its branches as cornerstones of the communities they serve, and as trusted hubs for financial education and support. Through the delivery of thousands of free Financial Foundations workshops, the bank equips everyday customers and business owners with the skills, confidence, and knowledge they need to manage their finances effectively.
The bank is also helping children from the age of five learn about money through its Royal Bank Thrive, the bank’s free education and future skills programme which transforms the way young people feel about money, entrepreneurship, investment and savings. Through its partnership with YouthLink Scotland, Royal Bank recently announced that it would be rolling out Thrive materials and sessions to youth clubs across Scotland.
Royal Bank is also helping by offering free Financial Health checks, in branch, on video and in customers' places of work or education, to help customers stay on top of their money.
Lynne Mantle, Branch Manager, Edinburgh West End Branch, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “It is a real privilege to be able to showcase our refurbished Royal Bank of Scotland branch on Princes Street to our customers. Our £520,000 investment in this branch, that has been located on the same site since the 19th century, is a real commitment to providing our customers with a modern, welcoming space where they can access face-to-face services when they need them.
“From enhanced technology and improved interview facilities to more comfortable customer areas and upgraded colleague spaces, these improvements will help us deliver an even better banking experience for everyone who visits the branch."
Mark Scanlon, Local Director Edinburgh And South East Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, said: “As the Royal Bank of Scotland approaches its 300th anniversary, I am delighted that we continue to invest in our face-to-face services for our customers.
“Investing in branches like Edinburgh West End, alongside our commitment to maintaining our existing branch network to at least 2029, is a key part of how grow alongside the customers and communities that we serve.”
Nationally, the bank is investing over £50 million over 18 months, refurbishing branches across the UK, to better support customers face-to-face.
The bank is taking a tailored approached to supporting its communities because it knows no two towns are the same. Royal Bank has made major investments in support of its customers in different ways, whether online, on the high street or on the move through the bank’s multi-million pound investment in its mobile branch fleet.
The Royal Bank of Scotland is not just investing in places to bank, its investing in places to grow. Small business owners and entrepreneurs across Scotland, are also benefiting from the Accelerator Hub in Edinburgh, located above the branch, which provides free in-person events, networking and meeting spaces to help them scale, boosting the local economy. The Accelerator Hubs underpins the bank’s commitment to the regions, as part of its Growing Together campaign, which sets out how the bank will support UK economic growth.
Pictures of the refurbished branch during the open evening on 8 October are available here:
