The first high street bank to launch in the UK for more than 100 years has opened its doors to customers.
Metro Bank says it will revolutionise the British banking experience by offering retail opening hours, unparalleled service and a simple range of products that will be suitable for everyone.
None of the products launched is competitive enough to make it on to the best-buy tables, while many paid below the industry average.
But the group did win praise for its longer opening hours, which will see its branches open from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, as well as from 8am to 6pm on Saturday and from 11am to 4pm on Sunday. The bank will only close on Christmas Day, New Year's Day, Good Friday and Easter Sunday.
It also promises customers that it will take just 15 minutes to open an account in one of its branches, including obtaining a credit or debit card, which will be printed in store.
The group, which opened its first branch in Holborn, central London, was co-founded by US billionaire Vernon Hill and Anthony Thomson, who is chairman of the Financial Services Forum, and it is based on the model used for Commerce Bank in the US, which was founded by Mr Hill in 1973.
It plans to open a second branch in Earls Court, southwest London, next month, with ten further branches opening in Greater London during the coming two years, expanding its network to more than 200 outlets within the M25 during the next decade.
