NatWest's Thornbury Branch

NatWest's Thornbury branch has just had a major revamp, with new technology, and all staff moving out into the banking hall to interact with more customers. Neil Grffiths, business banking relationship manager for Thornbury and the surrounding area, discusses what the bank has to offer.

It is the small businesses with the bright ideas, the British companies that employ so many and trade around the world, which are the real drivers of our economy both nationally and locally. These are the companies we at NatWest are determined to support.

We are taking many steps to become not only the biggest lender to business, which we are today, but the best lender too. We have more business bankers on the high street with hundreds of staff in our branches that can help small business customers open accounts, apply for loans and get the help they need.

When you next visit your local NatWest branch in The Plain, Thornbury, you'll see that all staff are now out in the banking hall where can best do what we are here to do - to help our customers. The full refurbishment of our branch has also involved installing new technology throughout, and removing desks and glass screens which may have previously been seen as a barrier between us and our customers.

It's a completely new experience for our customers and one which we hope will help us fulfill our pledge to be number one for customer service, trust and advocacy by 2020.

NatWest has unveiled plenty of other ways in which it is striving to help our small business customers. We have recently launched an additional £140m Small Business Fund aimed at supporting small businesses right here in the South West.

Part of a wider dedicated £1bn, split between 11 different areas across the UK, the fund targets both new and existing customers who are looking to grow or diversify their business through new borrowing with fixed rate loans from £1,000 to £250,000 with no arrangement fee.

And NatWest has pledged its support for thousands of entrepreneurs and high growth businesses with the launch of a network of eight new business accelerator hubs that will offer free workspace, hands on mentoring, a start up 'bootcamp' and a free programme of up to 18 months advice, support and funding clinics. Bristol has been selected as a location for one of these accelerator hubs'.

To give existing businesses the confidence to invest in growth, we are writing to thousands of customers outlining how much additional borrowing NatWest is willing to lend their business. We have already made an additional £4bn available and this has now been extended to £10bn.

I love a saying I heard just the other week: "Customers don't just want great products and services, they want great conversations and experiences".

That's true, and that's why we have upgraded our Thornbury branch to match our products and services with those conversations and experiences.

For more information on business banking with NatWest call into the branch, or call me direct on 07799 868 623.