WYRE Forest District Council has arranged an agreement with Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, which will see the provision of ongoing banking facilities across all of its services, including planning, waste, leisure and licensing.

Established following a competitive tender process, the new partnership follows the end of the council’s relationship with its previous banking provider.

Lloyds was chosen by the council following an evaluation process, taking into account the bank’s processes and services, including its investment in electronic banking, which is intended to contribute to key savings in procurement and efficiency for the local authority.

With the scale of services offered by local authorities varying between councils, a customised approach to banking facilities is required for each one.

As part of its commitment to building strong and long-lasting relationships, Lloyds Bank’s specialist Education, Government and Communities team (ECG) works closely with each management team to provide a tailored service.

The ECG team will work alongside Wyre Forest District Council’s management body to examine its current processes, with the aim of identifying improved strategies to achieve compliance with mandatory cost-cutting measures, without adversely impacting on the quality of its services.

Through that process, it is intended that the council, which serves a population of 98,000, will enjoy key savings, to allow continued investment in facilities and services, helping to drive economic development within the district.

Ian Miller, the council's chief executive, said: “Lloyds Bank stood out during the tender process and we are already delighted with the results and improved service we are seeing, even at this early stage of our partnership.

"Through our work with the ECG team, we look forward to reviewing our processes as an organisation and achieving greater efficiency in alignment with our core values and standards.”

Jatinder Dhaliwal, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “At Lloyds Bank, we recognise the importance of the public sector to the local economy. Our track record and expertise around the banking requirements of local authorities means that we are well placed to provide valuable funding and support for local authorities across the UK, including here in Wyre Forest.”

Simon Kimberley, head of government sector at Lloyds Bank Commercial Banking, said: “Working with local authorities is not a ‘one size fits all’ process and we take pride in aligning closely with our clients to identify ways to work effectively amid a challenging economic climate.

"Our specialist ECG team is already working closely with Wyre Forest Council and we are confident that, through our partnership, it can continue to provide a top-class service to its communities.”