Chesterfield branch celebrates banking success

The 142-year-old bank, which has branch offices at Spire Walk, off Derby Road, Chesterfield, has published its full year 2013 annual results, revealing a further 17 per cent rise in lending to British customers with figures from April 2013 compared with April 2012.

Business lending increased 13 per cent, to £8.68 billion, while lending to personal banking customers rose 29 per cent, to £3.58 billion.

UK customer deposits increased 60 per cent over the period, to £4.95 billion.

Run by a team of four experienced local bankers, Chesterfield branch is one of 171 British branches, stretching from Aberdeen to Truro, Canterbury to Colwyn Bay.

Handelsbanken puts this continuing growth, including 28 new branches opened in 2013, down to a clear, long-term focus on customer satisfaction, prudent banking and cost efficiency.

This local, customer-led approach has seen the bank rated top for satisfaction and loyalty for the last five years, in an independent annual survey of British banks’ personal and business customers.

Worldwide, Handelsbanken has over 800 branches in 24 countries.

Phil Walker, manager of Handelsbanken’s Chesterfield branch, commented: “Increasing numbers of customers choose Handelsbanken for the way we deliver long term relationship banking, always from the local branch and always based on trust and high levels of personal service.

“Our traditional decentralised model continues to drive strong financial results.”

Anders Bouvin, Handelsbanken’s UK Chief Executive, said: “Over recent years, our customer-led, local banking approach has attracted customers across more and more British communities. Our customers are looking for a long-term relationship with their branch team, who have full power to provide advice, decisions and service locally.”

Handelsbanken also reaffirmed its robust capital and liquidity positions and its low credit loss ratios, which have earned the Swedish-headquartered bank among the highest credit ratings of any international bank. The bank was recently judged by financial information provider Bloomberg to be one of the world’s strongest banks for the third year running, and the strongest in Europe.

Businesses and individuals can contact Handelsbanken’s Chesterfield branch by calling 01246 231761 or by visiting their office at Spire Walk, Chesterfield.