ABBEY National is to open 25 branches in Safeway supermarkets across the country.

The new branches will be open for extended hours, seven days a week and will offer the customers many of the services a high street branch provides. Self-service machines will be installed and there will also be help from on-site financial advisers. The move will create 160 news jobs. Abbey National customers will have access to a free in-store telephone banking service. Safeway customers will be able to open accounts, purchase travel money, and obtain advice on loans, mortgages and other financial products. Roger Partington, customer development director at Safeway, said: "We have been delighted with the customer feedback from the pilot in-store banking scheme particularly as we have also been attracting new customers."

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