A NORTH-EAST building society has announced another “significant investment in the High Street” with the relocation of one of its branches.

Confirmation that Darlington Building Society’s Bishop Auckland branch will move to a more spacious, modern and prominent location in Newgate Street comes at a time when major banks have closed several North-East branches.

The Society’s Distribution Director, Louise Thorpe, said: “We have a long and proud commitment to Bishop Auckland, and this relocation represents a further vote of confidence in the town centre. While we are seeing more and more local branches being closed by banks, Darlington Building Society remains committed to the High Street.”

The Society’s Bishop Auckland branch has been in Waverley House, at 116 Newgate Street, since June 2000. However, the branch, and its existing staff, will move to an empty retail unit at 30 Newgate Street – formerly Clinton Cards – closer to Newgate Shopping Centre.

A date for the move has yet to be confirmed but the grand opening – involving the local community – is expected to be in the coming months.

Darlington Building Society has launched a major investment programme of all of its nine branches, with Redcar branch relocating to a bigger site in June 2021, and refurbishments taking place at Stockton, Middlesbrough, Yarm, Barnard Castle, and Northallerton.

The investment programme will continue at the Darlington and Guisborough branches after the Bishop Auckland branch relocation has been completed.

Louise added: “The relocation of Bishop Auckland branch is another important part of our ongoing commitment to the High Street, and it is aimed at improving the experience for members in more spacious, modern premises.

“While we are pressing ahead this year with improving our digital services to customers, we also want to retain that personal, face-to-face interaction that we’ve been known for throughout our 167-year history.

“It is about providing customers with choice and our aim is to be there for them when they need advice on complex transactions, whether it be on savings or mortgages.

“These are exciting times for Bishop Auckland because of the transformation that’s taken place in recent years thanks to the investment from the Auckland Project, and we want to be part of the town’s future prosperity.”

The Society will be supporting another local business when it relocates the Bishop Auckland branch because it will be employing Darlington-based IPD to carry out the shopfitting.