Wolverhampton city centre Metro Bank to open next week

The bank will open its doors, on the corner of Dudley Street and Queen Street, on Friday January 10.

To celebrate the branch opening, the company is hosting a two-day "grand opening party" featuring stilt walkers, a DJ, free manicures and face painting on Friday from 8am.

West Midlands Mayor Andy Street will be there to cut the ribbon alongside Wolverhampton Mayor Councillor Claire Darke.

Like the Merry Hill branch which opened in October, the bank in Wolverhampton will be open seven days a week with no appointment needed.

Work has been going on for months to transform the former mobile phone shop building opposite McDonald's into a Metro Bank, with the building gutted and a new facade installed.

Customers will be able to open a personal or business account on the spot and will offer free coin counting facilities. It also has more than 3,500 safety deposit boxes, which are already able to be reserved,

Ian Walters, managing director of retail and business banking at Metro Bank, said: "We are thrilled to be opening in Wolverhampton and to become part of the local community here.

"This is our fourth store to open in the West Midlands and it’s particularly special for me as Wolverhampton is my hometown.

"Metro Bank will provide the people of Wolverhampton with the very best in service and convenience.”

Mr Street said: "I am pleased to see Metro Bank opening another store in the West Midlands.

"Here in the region we are always pleased to see new and exciting businesses expanding and investing, and the opening of Metro Bank in Wolverhampton shows how the high street is still alive, with businesses seeing a profitable future in the West Midlands.”

Councillor Harman Banger, Wolverhampton Council's cabinet member for city economy, added: "We are pleased to be supporting the Metro Bank team to help them deliver this new store in the heart of Wolverhampton.

"There is £4.4 billion being invested into the city and that is helping attract major brands like Metro Bank. Most importantly their arrival is delivering more jobs for local people.”

As well as the drive-thru branch at Merry Hill, Metro Bank has recently opened branches in Birmingham and Solihull.