GREENOCK’S refurbished branch of Santander Bank was officially opened by one of its most longstanding customers — 86-year-old local woman Margaret Tannock.

Margaret — who has banked at the branch since the 1990s — says it was a ‘lovely honour’ to cut the ribbon at the revamped premises in the Oak Mall.

She said: “I go into the bank every week and all of the staff are lovely to me.

“I was taken aback when the manager, Elizabeth Rankin, took me into the office and asked me if I’d like to perform the opening ceremony.

“I’ve just been an ordinary wee housewife all of my life and I was made to feel very special indeed.

“The branch is really beautiful now.”

The redesigned branch boasts latest digital facilities and is promoting a stronger emphasis on community initiatives.

Customers are greeted in a special reception area and directed to a range of tailored services depending on how they want to bank.

Facilities include digital workstations with tablets for online banking and private interview rooms.

The branch, which employs six staff, will also feature a picture wall to display local community initiatives.

Margaret was accompanied by Jorja Rankin, the nine-year-old daughter of manager Elizabeth, as she cut the ribbon.
Santander’s head of retail distribution, Susan Allen, said: “Banking is changing at a rapid pace and we wanted to create a branch that can accommodate the needs of all our local customers.

"That means combining traditional banking facilities with modern, digital services including free Wi-Fi, customer tablets and digital ATMs.” 

Emphasising its commitment to local initiatives, the branch has provided match funding of £500 to the Inverclyde wing of Amnesty International following a fundraising ceilidh.