April 9, 2011
Barclay’s Bank is to open a radical new store design concept in Wales which it says marries hi-technology with design concepts more often seen in department stores and hotels than banks, after signing for a new branch at St David’s shopping centre in Cardiff.
According to this information by an anonymous writer, the banking giant will open the branch, which will be the biggest in Wales, as part of an investment programme into its local bank network. The branch, which will be glass fronted, is at 1-5 St David’s Way opposite Costa Coffee with external frontage onto Working Street. It will have 60 staff and be 8,000 sq ft in size.
It will incorporate technology advances including the latest Teller Assist Units and the first CCDM (Cheque and Cash Deposit machine) in Wales, which will count up to 50 notes or cheques and credit the customer’s account immediately.
Joanne Skilton, retail and leasing director of Capital Shopping Centres (CSC) London, on behalf of St David’s Partnership, the joint venture between CSC and Land Securities said: “We want to be able to offer our customers the best in services as well as the best in retail and leisure offers. With their new branch design and the introduction of the latest in technology Barclays pledges to speed up customer waiting times and make the whole banking process a more retail like experience and we are pleased they have chosen St David’s as the venue to introduce their take on modern banking to Wales.”
Dave Rose, Barclays retail area director for Cardiff said: “This massive multi million investment into the city centre will create one of the most stylish, efficient and technologically advanced branches in the country.”
The new Cardiff branch is part of a UK wide programme of investment in Barclays branches which has already seen 700 sites refurbished and enhanced since 2007 and will eventually include all 1,658 branches.
E J Hales, Lunson Mitchenall and Cushman & Wakefield are the letting agents for St David’s. Barclays was represented by Knight Frank.
