Yorkshire Bank top for business

Yorkshire Bank is the best for business customers in the UK, according to a survey conducted by the Forum of Private Business into how small businesses view their banks.

Headquartered in Leeds, Yorkshire Bank was the runner-up the last time the survey was carried out in 2002. Yorkshire’s sister bank in Scotland - Clydesdale Bank - was placed next.

Says Nick Goulding, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business: “Yorkshire and Clydesdale have again outperformed their competition in demonstrating high levels of performance in a wide range of key areas, according to their small and medium-sized business customers.

“Today’s announcement shows that they have continued to improve the services that they provide SMEs. Yorkshire and Clydesdale have consistently performed well in recent years, developing stronger customer relationships and improving their offerings. They are to be congratulated.”

The bi-annual survey, Private Businesses and Their Banks 2006, involved over 3,700 companies from across the UK. Analysed by Nottingham University Business School, the results revealed that once again Yorkshire Bank’s rating had risen across a wide range of performance indicators, including the focus on customer relationships performance and the range and speed of service delivery.

Companies were asked to rate their bank across 18 factors - ranging from charges and convenience of location to friendliness and quality of advice.

Says David Thorburn, Yorkshire Bank’s chief operating officer: “This is an authoritative and comprehensive survey, so we are delighted to have been rated the best in the UK by our customers. It is a real testament to the enthusiasm, expertise and commitment shown by our staff in delivering high quality services and products to our customers over the past two years.”