Yorkshire bucks the trend with high street openings

Yorkshire Building Society is reaffirming its commitment to the high street by continuing its agency development programme, bringing the number of new agencies opened by the Society this year to 14.

The Yorkshire stepped up its agency openings in early 2009 and the programme has seen 26 new agencies opened since that time with plans for a further eight new agency openings in early 2011.

Agencies are based in businesses such as Independent Financial Advisers (IFAs), solicitors and insurance brokers.  They provide a local service to customers who would not otherwise have access to a Yorkshire branch and offer the Society's full range of savings products.

Many of the Society's new agencies are former offices of other financial service providers who have taken steps to reduce their own agency networks.

Iain Cornish, Yorkshire's Chief Executive, said: "We are committed to our agency network and have extended it considerably at a time when other financial institutions are closing their agency offices.

"When looking for financial products we've found many of our customers value professional advice face to face which is why we consider a high street presence to be as important as our telephone and internet channels.

"Agencies are valuable to the Society as they help us to reach communities who do not have easy access to a Yorkshire Building Society branch and plans are in place to open further agencies during 2011."