Staff at the Devizes branch of the Cheltenham and Gloucester Building Society were able to take the “branch closing” sign out of the window this week after news that it is to remain open.
Branch manager Michelle Sharpe was called to meeting in Chippenham today to be told the exciting news. Members of staff had been actively looking for alternative employment since it was announced in June that the Lloyds Group was closing all 164 branches of the C&G, with the total loss of 833 full-time jobs.
The five members of staff at Devizes were jubilant at the news but Ms Sharpe said she was sorry for the uncertainty caused to customers.
She said: “I would like to apologise to them for all the upheaval of the past two months and say to them not to leave us. We hope all the uncertainty will soon be over and we can start planning for the future.”
On this occasion, staff were told of the change before it was made public. In June, they found out about the closure on the radio as they were driving to work.
C&G has operated from the Old Town Hall on the corner of St John’s Street and Wine Street since 1970.
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