Virgin Money begins store rebrand programme in Wick
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An array of historical figures looking down from the façade of 30 Bridge Street in Wick may have witnessed many changes over the years but this week's transformation of the Clydesdale Bank was particularly close to home.
The town centre's Clydesdale Bank branch became one of the first of 55 throughout the UK to be rebranded as Virgin Money and old signs were replaced with new, together with a bright splash of red – the company's signature corporate colour.
Branches in Kirkwall and Stornoway are undergoing the same transformation as the first steps of the initiative are carried out in the Highlands and Islands.
The multi-million pound rebranding of its national network of Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank and Virgin Money sites to the new Virgin Money branding will be completed by spring 2021, bringing all the stores under a single brand.
Each rebranded store will offer full banking services to all 6.6 million customers in the Virgin Money Group, vastly increasing the network of available stores to existing Yorkshire Bank, Clydesdale Bank and Virgin Money customers.
Over the next few months, customers will also begin to see debit and credit cards, banking apps and account statements change to Virgin Money as part of its wider rebrand activity.
The revamped and rebranded Virgin Money stores will offer services beyond the traditional bank branch of the past, including free Wi-Fi and use of in-store iPads.
Customers in the Bridge Street store, will also benefit from the same friendly and knowledgeable team, providing excellent customer service and access to Virgin Money’s full range of products and services.
Steven Millar, area manager at Virgin Money said: “These are exciting times for the Virgin Money store in Wick as it becomes one of the first stores in our nationwide network to move across to the Virgin Money brand.
"While it brings an end to the Clydesdale Bank brand in Wick, we’re delighted to be moving to the single Virgin brand, which is well known for its great customer service and innovation.”
Virgin Money is writing to customers in advance of their own branches being rebranded to let them know about when they can expect the changes to be made.
The company claims to be "the new disruptive force" in UK banking and "the only bank outside the Big Five" that boasts a genuine full-service personal and business banking capability.
The original bank at number 30 Bridge Street was created during an era of prosperity in Wick on the back of the herring industry. Aberdeen Town and County Bank was built in 1875 by Russell and Mackenzie in an early Renaissance style.
The historical figures carved in its window-arches are Mary Queen of Scots, John Knox, Queen Victoria, Robert the Bruce and Flora MacDonald.
