THE Bolton town centre branch of Yorkshire Bank in Bradshawgate has re-located to refitted new premises in Oxford Street just around the corner.

The move to the more central site, formerly housing electrical retailers Dixons, is part of a national £45 million investment programme for the bank originally founded in 1859 in Halifax, West Yorkshire.

The new branch offers a more open design than the old building, featuring counter positions, private interview rooms, interview desks for less formal conversations, three ATMs and a self-service deposit facility.

The move also means the bank is now open on Saturdays.

All seven employees from the former branch have transferred to the new premises and are joined by two additional staff members to cover the new extended branch opening hours. The Oxford Street branch now opens from 9.15am to 4.30pm on Mondays to Fridays and from 9.15am to 1.15pm on Saturdays.

A spokesman for the bank said: "Customers will also have access to a range of business and private banking facilities supported by five relationship managers offering new and existing customers a face-to-face banking experience that is complemented by a team of central specialists. The business and private banking team provide a range of tailored and flexible finance solutions to help support the growth ambitions of businesses in and around the Bolton area."

Branch manager Angela Bagley said: "We are delighted to move to this new branch on Oxford Street; it underlines our commitment to the town. The branch is staffed by familiar faces to ensure customers continue to get the great personal service they expect."

Steve Fletcher, head of Yorkshire and Clydesdale Bank Retail Network, stated: "While customers' needs are changing and we are delivering new services to meet them, branches continue to be a really important part of how we serve our customers, particularly in a busy town like Bolton."

It is not yet known what is happening to the former Yorkshire Bank premises in Bradshawgate but they are zoned for financial/professional use only.