A NEW “old-fashioned” bank opens in York today.

A branch of the Swedish Handelsbanken will open an office at Tudor Court, York Business Park, Nether Poppleton.

The new branch manager is David Brady, who launched a successful Bradford branch two years ago, while corporate manager is Keith Humphreys.

Until now the York area has been catered for by the bank’s Hull office, but Mr Brady said: “It was clear York was an ideal area for its own office to cater for the local business and private community. I have already alerted professionals in the YO area.

“We don’t have products. We simply assess each case on its own merits”.

Mr Humphreys said: “Handelsbanken is a decentralised bank, run entirely by its branches – using the old-fashioned people-first approach, where the decisions are made locally.”

Also employed at the new branch will be Roy Frow, the individual banking manager, and Jenny Heward, administrative manager.

The bank, established in Stockholm in 1871, now has 71 branches in the UK among its 700 branches in 19 countries.

Mr Humphreys, formerly business development manager with the Bank of Scotland in York, began working for the Swedish bank in November. He said: “We don’t have sales targets and nor do we get bonuses which means that everything we do is client-focused.

“We tend to lend to established, quality businesses, looking for traditional banking values. For our part we will lend as much as we can, as safely as we can so that we can build a solid and diverse portfolio in the York area.

“If we get enough customers in to justify employing more staff then we will, but for the moment we want to let both the business world and private customers in York know that we are here.”

The bank also gives mortgages, “but you won’t see us in the top ten because all our loans are tailored to the individuals so that there are varying rates.

“We are a double A2 rating, and only one of three European banks which did not need help during the economic crisis either from shareholders or state aid,” he said.

The bank is having a BT line installed. Meanwhile, inquiries should be directed to Mr Humphreys on 07791 098899.