Northern Community Bank officially celebrated the opening of its transformed £2.5 million Burnley branch by welcoming more than 60 guests for an evening recognising the power of community banking, partnership and investment in the future.
Councillors, neighbouring credit unions, contractors who helped deliver the project, volunteers, community partners and staff gathered at the new Manchester Road branch to celebrate an important milestone in the organisation’s 44-year history.
Guests also heard congratulatory speeches from Burnley Council Chief Executive Lukman Patel and Burnley MP Oliver Ryan.
The larger, modern branch has been designed to make managing money easier and more accessible for everyone, whether account holders choose to use the Northern Community Bank App, Online Account, telephone banking or visit the branch in person. Alongside a welcoming banking hub, the three-storey building includes dedicated spaces for collaborating with community partners, a purpose-built training room and modern working environments that support both staff and account holders.
Guests, many of whom had played a key role in transforming the former Wetherspoons building, were invited to enjoy guided tours before hearing from a number of speakers who reflected on both the journey to create the branch and Northern Community Bank’s vision for the future.
Burnley Council Chief Executive Lukman Patel welcomed Northern Community Bank to its new home and praised the investment in Burnley town centre.
“It is fantastic to see such a significant investment in the heart of Burnley. The quality of the workmanship and attention to detail throughout the building is exceptional and complements the wider public sector investment taking place across our Town Centre. I have been incredibly impressed by Kathryn’s leadership and the positive culture she has created at Northern Community Bank. We are delighted to welcome our new neighbours and wish Kathryn and her team continued success.”
Burnley MP Oliver Ryan spoke passionately about the importance of accessible, ethical finance and the positive impact the new branch will have.
“I have been fortunate to visit this branch three times during the renovation. Looking around this welcoming branch, the vision described by CEO Kathryn and her team has been delivered and will benefit people in the community.”
Reflecting on the organisation’s remarkable journey, Northern Community Bank President Gerard Spain reminded guests that the organisation began in 1982 when just 15 savers contributed a combined £75 to establish the credit union. For its first 15 years, it operated entirely through volunteers from a church hall, with no permanent premises, telephone or internet connection.
He also highlighted the significant progress made in recent years. Since 2021, assets have increased from £15 million to £28 million, savings have grown from £13 million to £21 million and the number of account holders has risen from 12,000 to more than 17,500.
“This is a very proud moment for us all and one which ties in perfectly with the huge rebranding project we have undertaken. It’s been a very interesting two years, but today proves that all of the hard work has been worth it.
“This is a truly remarkable story which we should all be extremely proud of, and a very good reason why we were able to pay for this fantastic development using our own funds, without requiring any external funding.”
“This is a story for all our community, the Staff, Board and account holders. This building typifies where we have come from and what we have achieved”
Northern Community Bank Chief Executive Kathryn Fogg began the evening by thanking everyone who had contributed to bringing the project to life, including contractors, volunteers, staff and community partners.
Kathryn highlighted that creating a better working environment for staff was important in delivering excellent service
“You need a comfortable, safe environment for your staff team to work, to give the best service that they can give to our account holders.”
Although Northern Community Bank has grown significantly over the past four decades, Kathryn reminded guests that the organisation’s values remain unchanged.
“We started in humble surroundings and we’ve got this wonderful new building now. But inside, we’ve not changed. We’re still the same ethical organisation. We’re a financial cooperative. Our account holders are at our heart. They own Northern Community Bank, and everything we do is for them.
