A GRAND re-opening of Skipton Building Society's High Street branch in its home town came with a commitment it would be here for 'years to come'.

After an intensive 20-week refurbishment, the flagship Skipton branch team is back home at 59 High Street, premises the company first bought 101 years ago. A celebration opening was attended by Skipton Group Chief Executive Stuart Haire, CEO Money, Andrew Bottomley, as well as Skipton Mayor Sheila Bentley and Tegan Thompson from the town council.

The branch has been fully renovated into a modern hub to enable the team to better support its customers, says The Skipton Group, which in addition to Skipton Building Society, includes estate agency and property services provider, Connells Group.

It says accessibility was key to the redesign, with one of the benefits to customers, the introduction of a lift alongside the steps leading to the offices at the back of the branch, making the whole premises fully accessible to wheelchair users for the first time. While work was taking place, it moved next door to the former home of HSBC, which closed its branch in June last year.

A new counter has been installed, there are two semi-private pods, and also a private booth for appointments via Skipton Link – the society’s video appointment service.

Andrew Bottomley, CEO of Money, said: “We have a long proud history in Skipton. It’s our home and we’ve been on the high street for over 170 years. By investing in our business for the benefit of members, we’ll be here for them for years to come.”

Rachael Reid, branch manager, added: “The team and I are delighted to be back. The new branch gives us far more options to sit down with our members to get to know them more and help make their money work harder. We can’t wait to show existing and new members our new and improved home.”

Skipton Building Society, once known as The Skipton and District Permanent Benefit Society, has held a presence in Skipton for its 171-year history, since it was founded at the old town hall - now Brody’s restaurant.

The Society purchased the current site at 59 High Street in 1923. The site was demolished and rebuilt for its new head office, which opened in 1928. It’s been the home of the flagship Skipton branch ever since.