The West Brom has announced plans to open a new branch in its hometown, offering better accessibility and improved facilities for customers.

The Society is moving to the New Square Shopping Centre in West Bromwich, taking over a vacant unit close to the anchor Tesco Extra store.

With modern styling and furnishing, the branch will provide the West Brom’s full array of savings and mortgage products. Additional services such as home insurance and financial planning for later life and retirement will also be available.

Opening hours are being extended to offer customers more choice for when they can manage their money. Inside there will be five counter points handling customer transactions and two offices for private consultations. The branch is expected to be ready within the next three months.

Branch Manager Pinda Kang said: “This is a really exciting move for the West Brom that puts our hometown branch right in heart of the retail district and enhances the quality of service we can offer people locally.

“New Square is an extremely popular shopping area that is playing a key role in the wider regeneration of the town.

“Establishing a branch here will makes things convenient for our existing customers and hopefully help us to attract new ones too.”

The West Brom currently has two branches in West Bromwich town centre – one at 321 High Street opposite the Town Hall and a second at Dartmouth Square.

Both will close to make way for the new premises at New Square, although the dates will be staggered so that customers won’t have to experience any time without access to local branch facilities.

Pinda added: “Maintaining service standards is critical while the new unit is made ready and our plans ensure that customers will have access to a West Brom branch throughout the process.

“Dartmouth Square will close first, around one week prior to New Square opening its doors, but 321 High Street will still be available. We will only close 321 High Street when New Square is ready to welcome people and begin operating.

New Square on Cronehills Linkway is a major shopping and leisure destination with 30 stores, a selection of cafes and restaurants and a five screen cinema. There is parking for around 1,900 vehicles and good links to West Bromwich High Street, the Midland Metro and local bus services.

Steve Burr, Centre Manager at New Square Shopping Centre, comments: “The West Brom is a fantastic addition to New Square, bringing an incredibly useful and convenient service to complement the centre’s extensive retail and leisure offering. It’s also great to have such an iconic local business make its hometown base at the shopping centre.”