Shrewsbury NatWest to stay open until 6pm on weekdays

A bank in Shrewsbury is opening an hour later until 6pm each week night, bosses announced today.

The NatWest Bank will also even longer on Saturdays to 4pm. The bank, in Mardol Head, is hoping the move will mean better service for its customers on their way home from work. The branch had previously closed its doors at 5pm on weekdays and 1pm on Saturdays.

But it was announced that the branch will now remain open until 6pm on weekdays and 4pm on Saturdays.

The move is part of the bank's attempt to ensure a higher minimum standard for opening hours in its branches across the country.

Mike German, local chief executive officer for NatWest, said: "This change gives customers more flexibility on when they do their banking with us.

"We know there is a definite appetite for longer opening at this branch so the additional eight hours across weekdays and the weekend should make a big difference to people.

"While a lot of people choose to bank online or over the phone, we know many still prefer to visit a branch and it's vital we are available to our customers at the times they need us."

The move means the branch's opening hours will increase from 43.5 hours a week to more than 50.

The change being part of NatWest's attempts to secure the tag of 'Britain's most helpful bank'.

Its local branches are being given the opportunity to open for longer hours than its minimum requirement in order to meet differing needs in the local community.

Earlier this year, NatWest and RBS published its updated customer charter, which lays out a plan of action to become 'Britain's most helpful bank'.

It said that in the first six months of the year, the average queuing time in the 300 busiest branches of RBS and NatWest had been cut to 3.5 minutes, with 79.6 per cent of customers waiting less than five minutes to be served.