One of the º£½ÇÊÓƵ's newest banks has picked Birmingham to be the home of its customer service and support teams.
Afin Bank, which launched in October and said it hoped to start offering mortgages and savings in 2025, has opened an office in the Arca building in Temple Row.
Afin Bank is aiming to help customers who struggle to get mortgages from traditional high street lenders because of their circumstances, especially people from Africa living and working in the º£½ÇÊÓƵ who are often turned down because of their visa status or lack of credit history.
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The new site will become Afin Bank's centre of excellence and is the company's first site outside of London. Chief people and operating officer Nicola Tunney will oversee the new office.
She said: "We looked at a number of locations around the country to find the right type of property space with good travel links and access to a pool of great candidates to build our new teams and also support our future growth.
"Birmingham came out tops. It is a fabulous city in its own right.
"It's bustling, dynamic and very diverse which is important to us as we recruit and create an inclusive culture that is at the heart of what Afin Bank stands for.
"It feels like a place in which we can really grow."
The new office will be home to Afin Bank's core operations teams, including customer service and credit and lending support which Ms Tunney is currently developing.
She said that recruiting people from a diverse background was important to ensure an understanding of the barriers that the bank's customers faced, many of whom are from different cultures and communities.
The new team will be based in the Runway East flexible office hub.
Regional lead Adam Sandford added: "Birmingham has a rich business heritage but it is also constantly evolving which is why it has become a popular choice for new and growing businesses.
"The city has a wonderful community feel which clearly aligns with the bank's values and will ensure it's able to attract the best local talent. We are delighted to have Afin Bank onboard."
