Investing in the North East
Collaboration is key to the success of any venture. So too is a strong financial bedrock. And through its alliance with the North East Chamber of Commerce, Metro Bank – which recently expanded into the region with a Team Valley branch opening – is building new relationships to support personal and business clients’ economic goals. Here, Kristi Capaldi-Brown, Metro Bank local director – North East, tells Steven Hugill about its move into the region, its commitment to customer service and the benefits of its North East Chamber of Commerce membership.
January 19, 2026
LinkedIn: North East Chamber of Commerce
LinkedIn: Metro Bank (UK)
Tell us a little about Metro Bank and its core objectives.
Metro Bank provides corporate, commercial, SME banking and specialist mortgage lending, alongside retail and private banking services.
We opened our doors in the summer of 2010, and were the first high street bank to open in the UK in more than 100 years.
Since then, we’ve built a business that is providing meaningful competition against larger incumbents and offering a compelling alternative for small business and commercial customers.
Our approach to banking is centred on our colleagues and building relationships with our customers and communities, through what we refer to as ‘relationship banking’.
In practice, this means we pride ourselves on delivering personable service to every customer, no matter how they interact with us, whether they’re a business, commercial, retail or private banking customer.
Our established relationship banking model, alongside our focus on localness, informs everything we do and the decisions we make.
“Our approach to banking is centred on our colleagues and building relationships with our customers and communities, through what we refer to as relationship banking”
How important is the North East to Metro Bank, and what does its commitment to the region look like in practice?
Gateshead marks our first store in the North East, giving us a vital physical presence to strengthen our relationships with business and retail customers across the region.
It builds on months of outreach work my team have been conducting with the business community in the North East.
Across every region we serve, we put a desire to support local prosperity at the heart of what we do, and we are thrilled to bring this commitment to the North East.
For us, supporting local businesses is more than just an intent, it’s a core part of how we operate.
Recently, we partnered with Dipping Donuts, a fantastic Newcastle-based donut vendor and one of our SME customers, to supply the opening of our Gateshead store.
We’re excited to champion and collaborate with many more North East businesses, regardless of size, as we continue to invest, expand and put down deeper roots across the region.
In a competitive financial landscape, what sets Metro Bank apart for businesses and individuals in the North East?
We believe our unwavering commitment to building authentic, long-lasting relationships with every customer sets us apart.
We deliver this through our network of 78 stores, UK-based contact centres and convenient digital channels, including internet banking and our mobile app.
We also provide relationship-driven services to all business customers, whether you’re a new start-up or a large corporate organisation.
Every business customer at our Gateshead store will have access to our dedicated local business managers, who serve as personal points of contact and can provide tailored guidance on how our banking services can help drive their business’ growth.
As a new Enterprise-level North East Chamber of Commerce member, how do you see this enhanced partnership supporting Metro Bank’s growth ambitions in the region?
Our Enterprise membership has been a vital move for us as we’ve expanded into the region, and has already provided an essential platform for raising our profile and connecting with local businesses.
Face-to-face engagement is at the heart of our culture, and this partnership gives us the perfect opportunity to build relationships with the region’s business community.
We’ve met a diverse range of North East businesses at Chamber events, and have partnered with the North East Chamber of Commerce to host a half-day seminar for local charities on financial management and strengthening cash flow.
What aspects of the North East Chamber of Commerce’s vision for the region resonated most with Metro Bank?
We were incredibly excited to see the North East Chamber of Commerce publish its Unlocking the North East Economy 2025–2027 plan in the Autumn, which offers a clear vision for regional growth.
What resonates most with us is its focus on high streets and local businesses as the heart of the community.
Crucially, the plan also highlights the importance to SMEs of having access to essential services like banking they can genuinely rely on, and we hope our commitment to delivering locally focused banking, as well as our physical presence in the region through our new Gateshead store, can help make this a reality.
What are you hoping to gain from North East Chamber of Commerce membership, and how do you see it supporting Metro Bank’s business goals moving forward?
We view our entry into the North East as an exciting opportunity for growth, and believe our Gateshead store is just the beginning of establishing a strong physical presence in the region.
As we work to expand and deepen our roots within the local business community, we see our Chamber membership as an invaluable resource, helping us increase visibility, build lasting relationships and accelerate our growth across the North East.
January 19, 2026
- Interview