Swedish bank opens new branch in Stockport

Swedish bank Handelsbanken has opened a 1,800 sq ft new office at Stockport's Acorn Business Park.

It follows the opening of the commercial banking firm's Manchester city centre office and the new regional headquarters at Manchester Airport earlier this year.

The new branch has been opened to support Handelsbanken's service in south Manchester and its Cheshire-based clients.

Founded in Stockholm in 1871, Handelsbanken began operating in the UK in 1982 and now has 62 branches in the UK with more planned in the next two years.

Tim Newns, director of business development at Manchester's Investment & Development Agency, which assisted Handelsbanken with the move, said: "Stockport already has a very strong financial and professional services community. This, coupled with its other key strengths such as availability of quality staff and excellent connectivity, made Stockport the priority location for Handelsbanken during our discussions with them about their Greater Manchester expansion plans."

The new branch at Acorn Business Park is expected to open at the end of November.