Handelsbanken claims top spot for customer service
Handelsbanken in Chesterfield is celebrating after being rated top for both customer satisfaction and loyalty for the seventh year running.
An independent survey – by European research institution EPSI Rating – confirms the locally-focused relationship bank has managed to maintain its top ranking during another year of strong UK expansion.
Since the financial crisis began seven years ago, the bank has announced over 140 new British branches. As well as the Chesterfield branch, Handelsbanken now serves individual and corporate customers in another 200 communities throughout Great Britain.
The bank puts customer satisfaction first, and believes local branches are best-placed to make all decisions relating to their customers. Chesterfield branch staff have full power to advise customers and agree individual product terms and pricing, free from targets or bonus incentives.
Phil Walker, manager of Handelsbanken’s Chesterfield branch commented:
Our decentralised approach provides customers with a local relationship banking service. The majority of decisions are made in the branch by our experienced staff who are empowered to do so. Our ever-growing reputation and close attention to customer care is supported by the latest survey results.”
Handelsbanken has also published its latest (Q3) financial results this week, revealing that net lending to UK households rose by 18% (to £4.9 bn) in the last 12 months. The bank also extended net lending to UK businesses by a further 11%, to £10.1 billion in total.
Handelsbanken’s group results also reaffirm its exceptionally strong capital and liquidity positions, and low credit loss ratios, which have earned it amongst the highest credit ratings of any international bank. Over successive years, the bank has been judged one of the strongest in the world, by financial information provider Bloomberg.
The Swedish-headquartered bank operates over 840 branches in 25 countries worldwide, with the UK representing its fastest-growing market.
A team of 5 bankers serves customers from Handelsbanken in Chesterfield, drawing on over 100 years of banking experience between them.
