A MOBILE bank has confirmed its future in the North-East by reaching a long lease agreement.

Atom Bank has put down roots at the Rivergreen Centre, on the outskirts of Durham City.

The lender, which employs more than 300 people, has been operating across two sites at nearby Aykley Heads since last September.

However, the move brings the team back under the same roof where the founders started the business in May 2014.

The decision to adopt the Rivergreen Centre followed a lengthy review of options across the North-East and a consideration of future growth objectives for the bank.

Edward Twiddy, Atom’s chief innovation officer, said: “After three great, but increasingly crowded years in Northumbria House, the time has come to bring everyone under one roof and create some space for future ambitions.

“We are extremely grateful to Durham County Council, our landlords at Northumbria House, for their considerable support in making Durham an attractive place to locate our business.

“The move to Rivergreen is a really important affirmation of our intentions and I am delighted to be moving into such a high-quality and environmentally-sensitive building.”

Peter Candler, managing director of The Rivergreen Centre, added: “We wanted to create a positive work environment with an emphasis on the individual and the team while at the same time having a consciously minimal impact upon the environment.

“It’s therefore fitting that Atom should choose the building as its preferred location to further develop its business.”

Atom previously revealed it had agreed a £30m deal to ramp up assistance for fledgling companies following backing from British Business Bank Investments Limited.

It has also unveiled musician Will.i.am as a strategic board advisor, with bosses saying he will support the lender’s ongoing use of technology in the banking market.

Atom bills itself as the UK’s first digital-only bank, offering services such as savings accounts and mortgages via apps for customers’ mobile phones, tablets and laptops.