Branch Manager Mark Charteriss answers some topical questions about Handelsbanken in Northamptonshire
What kind of year was 2017 for the branch?
2017 turned out to be another successful year for Handelsbanken in Northamptonshire. My team has worked incredibly hard, helping our personal and corporate customers achieve their goals, while also taking on a range of new clients who have enjoyed our personal level of service and become advocates of our branch. We have continued to grow our lending book by assisting our personal customers with their private mortgage and investment property needs, while similarly supporting our corporate customers with commercial and investment property funding, foreign exchange requirements, asset finance and working capital needs.
What makes the bank special in the way it operates?
Our decentralised approach. In simple terms, each Handelsbanken branch has the discretion to make the important decisions with its customers – from account opening, through to how much it lends them. In Northamptonshire, we work specifically within the NN postcodes which allows my team and I to build up expertise in the markets in which our customers do business.
All of my Account Managers have their own discretion and can work with customers to put tailored banking solutions in place. We look to develop long-term relationships with all of our corporate and personal customers to help them both now, and in the future. Behind this, we also have the support of the global bank, which allows us to have an international presence whilst ensuring all decision making is based out of the local branch. My team and I are not paid bonuses, our focus being on providing the right products and services to the right customers, at the right time.
What are your key targets for 2018?
We do not have targets at Handelsbanken, but throughout 2018 we aim to continue to grow our Northamptonshire business as we have done since we opened 10 years ago. We are looking to work with our existing customers, providing them with the high quality service they have always received, while ensuring we are ready to help them with any new plans they may have in their personal lives as well as within their businesses.
We are also looking for quality customers who we can begin to develop relationships with. We do not have specific criteria for banking with us; we look to work with businesses and individuals who share our values, understand their finances, and are looking for a long-term bank that will support them both now and in the future. We are able to provide all of the banking services you would expect for both businesses and individuals – personal lending, current accounts, wealth management (through the bank’s subsidiary – Handelsbanken Wealth Management), commercial mortgages, asset finance, invoice discounting, online and mobile banking, and more – but we are proud of our personal and traditional approach.
What are the big challenges for the next 12 months?
Further regulatory changes, and the continuing uncertainty around what Brexit will actually look like, may cause challenges for us and our customers – we will all need to change and adapt as necessary. Nonetheless, we will continue to do what we have always done, provide the best customer service experience for our customers, while working with them to help them achieve their goals and aspirations. Whilst I am sure this year will be bring its own challenges, we will continue to build lasting relationships with quality customers and local professionals, whilst remaining actively engaged within our local community.
Contact Handelsbanken on 01604 638636 or visit www.handelsbanken.co.uk/northampton