The Mayor of Greater Manchester and Leader of Manchester City Council cut the ribbon at the new King Street city centre home of Manchester Building Society, which has formally launched following a multi-million-pound investment.
Marking the start of an ambitious new era, the new branch restores the Manchester Building Society name to the region’s high streets, defying a national trend of bank branch closures which continues to reduce access to face-to-face financial services in communities across the UK. The North West is the third highest UK region for the number of branch closures.
More than 750 branches have closed since 2015, leaving many with few or no options to bank locally, and struggling to access cash.
The King Street branch has been designed as a place people can comfortably walk into, where they’ll receive a friendly welcome, expert guidance, advice, and support – even if they are not yet customers. In addition to competitive savings and mortgage products, face to face financial advice, through a branch-based professional financial adviser from
Newcastle Financial Advisers, is open to all to support through life’s changes and challenges. The building also offers local charities and partners free use of a welcoming community room, which can be used for a range of meetings, events, or gatherings.
The Grade II-listed three-floor building, which has been carefully preserved during the transformation, will also be home to the Society’s Manchester colleagues.
On 6 November, customers and special guests joined Mayor Burnham, Bev Craig, leader of Manchester City Council, and Andrew Haigh, chief executive for Manchester Building Society, as they declared the branch officially open.
Andrew Haigh, Manchester Building Society chief executive, said: “We’re absolutely thrilled to formally cut the ribbon at our King Street branch and celebrate such a huge milestone in the Manchester Building Society story with our customers, colleagues and partners.
“The branch is more than a place for accessible, friendly, and trusted conversations about money, and its more than a place for our communities to gather and our colleagues to work. Opening the King Street branch marks the start of a new era for Manchester Building Society. It’s the beginning of our journey to make a lasting impact on the high streets and in the communities of Greater Manchester in delivery of our purpose to connect communities with a better financial future.”
Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham said: “Manchester Building Society's new King Street branch is fantastic news for Manchester and a welcome investment that will deliver jobs and create footfall.
“Many of our residents rely on or prefer in-person support with their money, so this is a welcome investment in accessible, face-to-face banking for our communities.
“It’s also great to see Manchester Building Society is opening up a space in its branch to charities and community groups, showing the kind of commitment to local people that strengthens Greater Manchester.”
Leader of Manchester City Council, Councillor Bev Craig, said: “We welcome Manchester Building Society's substantial investment in our city centre, which creates employment opportunities for Manchester residents and restores essential banking services to King Street.
“By basing their colleagues here and providing community space for local partnerships, they're contributing to our economic growth and supporting our ambition to Make Manchester Fairer.”
Joe Manning, Managing Director at MIDAS, Manchester's Inward Investment Agency, said: “Manchester Building Society's investment in a physical presence on King Street demonstrates its confidence in Greater Manchester.
“The multi-million-pound commitment creates jobs and economic opportunities locally, delivering positive impact as Greater Manchester continues to be the UK's fastest-growing economy.”
Since announcing its commitment to Greater Manchester and the North West in January 2025, Manchester Building Society announced a £100,000 community fund with Forever Manchester. It has also become a patron of EMPOWER, supporting the recently opened Salford Youth Zone with a separate £100,000 donation over four years. The aim is to build deep local relationships and provide life-changing opportunities, particularly for young people, in the city region.
