Relationship banking testimonials
LK Group
“Key to all of this was our relationship with The Co-operative Bank. We were a small, but expanding group of companies. Each business needed its own account and personal attention, but we wanted to operate with group borrowing facilities and to maintain an overview of each area of activity. This was successfully achieved, and all our companies are able to operate with the required level of independence and flexibility, while remaining under overall group control.”
- Patrick Leyden, Chairman, LK Group
Melin Homes
“We chose The Co-operative Bank because it has similar social and ethical values and supports communities. And even in difficult times the bank was able to offer competitive terms. As a customer we have benefited from both a proactive management approach and a high level of service that extends beyond banking.”
- Peter Crockett, Deputy Chief Executive, Melin Homes
Helen McArdle Care
“People are always taken aback when I tell them we’re customers of The Co-operative Bank, but I don’t think businesses realise the scale of their capabilities. The bank is not a faceless organisation that thinks relationship banking is about money. I know my Relationship Manager, Kevin Anderson, well enough to anticipate what he expects from a proposal and can gauge his reaction, and vice versa. What we have is a unique level of understanding and that’s something you just can’t buy.”
- Mark McArdle, Managing Director, Helen McArdle Care
Chargepoint
“It was a complex deal and to complicate things further the economic climate changed midway through and it became difficult to secure lending. We had to restructure the deal at the eleventh hour. Without the expert assistance from The Co-operative Bank we wouldn’t have obtained the finance.”
- Chris Eccles, Managing Director, Chargepoint
Timpson
“One major advantage of The Co-operative Bank is that it has stayed true to its roots. It hasn’t been taking risks with customers’ money. I can see that decisions are based on expertise and experience. It gives me confidence because I know I can trust them over the long-term.”
- John Timpson, Chairman, Timpson
PROjEN
“We were impressed and could tell they were our kind of people. The bank’s culture is similar to ours; straightforward and no nonsense. It’s well managed and there are no gimmicks. We’re also in tune with the bank’s environmental stance. We offer environmentally friendly products and are Carbon Trust accredited.”
- John Taylor, Executive Chairman, PROjEN
Delamere Dairy Ltd
“The level of customer service we receive from our Relationship Manager, Steve Pamely, and his team is leaps and bounds above what we have previously experienced. They’re easy to talk to and always phone you back. It helps that we can speak to a relevant person who knows about our business and can make decisions straightaway. It’s been a complete change of culture and a new way of doing things, but refreshingly so. In fact I’m so impressed I’ve already recommended the bank to other farming businesses.”
- Liz Sutton, Joint Managing Director, Delamere Dairy Ltd
Taylor Hogan Healthcare
“I’d met Martyn Skakespear, a Senior Business Development Manger, when I was in a previous role and we’d struck up a good relationship then, so it was good to be working with him again. Martyn made this deal happen. He worked hard and communicated with us at every stage. This helped us to understand the timescales and manage expectations. Without Martyn’s commitment to a successful outcome, the deal may have passed us by.”
- Nick Burgess, Managing Director, Taylor Hogan Healthcare
J Sykes & Sons
“Our day-to-day contact is Julie Wagstaff. She’s brilliant; very professional and does things the way they should be done. Julie is usually available but if not, she gets back to me. She’s ironed out problems and offered guidance every step of the way, which you need in a new relationship. She’s gone a long way towards restoring my faith in bankers.”
- Martin Sykes, Managing Director, J Sykes & Sons
Battlesteads Country Inn & Restaurant
"Our mantra is that the customer comes first, second and third and in my experience of the bank it’s a view they share. All businesses benefit from long-term support and sound advice. We don’t like hidden agendas and we like to know who we’re dealing with. The Co-operative Bank ticks all those boxes.”
- Richard and Dee Slade, Owners, Battlesteads Country Inn & Restaurant
Mill Garages
“I have every faith in Mark Wharton, our Relationship Manager, and Anthony Nicholson, who’s part of his team. Understandably, businesses have lost confidence in the financial industry. The Co-operative Bank seems to be the only bank you can really trust. And it’s not just a case of better the devil you know. I can’t praise the bank highly enough. Their good, old-fashioned traditional bankinghas made all the difference to our business.”
- Bill Ward, Managing Director, Mill Garages
Sanguine Hospitality Ltd
“But the minute I met Dave Matthews, one of the Senior Business Development Managers, I could tell he was very experienced. When you’re running a business you can’t afford to stand still. Considering the figures involved and the deal’s complexity, I was impressed by the speed of the process, and all the people we’ve come across at the bank since then have been first class.”
- Simon Matthews-Williams, Owner, Sanguine Hospitality Ltd
Hargroves Cycles
"We have a very open relationship where we can discuss ideas, but we arrive at an outcome together. I respect “I respect his advice because it’s always based on a long-term view rather than a quick fix. I trust Mike and the bank. How many businesses can comfortably say that these days?”
- Peter Hargroves, Managing Director, Hargroves Cycles
Hall Fire Protection Ltd
“There were a number of lenders interested in us but the bank’s team convinced us they would deliver and they have. Since then the bank has left us alone to get on with what we do best – running our business – and that’s an approach we very much welcome. This is the start of a new chapter for the company and we’re looking forward to working with the bank.”
- Mike Green , Managing Director, Hall Fire Protection Ltd
The Cheshire Dental Centre
“I’ve always wanted to run my own business. Some friends from the Isle of Man recommended The Co-operative Bank and, although we did consider two others, I’m glad we chose them as they have been flexible, easy to deal with, and are customer focused.”
- Stephanie Murray, Owner, The Cheshire Dental Centre
