The Cumberland’s roadshow to give Dumfries a say on building society’s future
Shoppers in Dumfries will do a double-take when they find a cosy living room has appeared overnight in the middle of The Standard building.
The Cumberland Building Society are taking their green sofa and other props on tour as part of a unique roadshow to let people have their say about the future of the building society.
They hope that the Community Conversations roadshow will help them to better understand what people really want from their building society or bank.
The pop-up events will take place at The Standard building on the High Street on Thursday 4 and Saturday 6 June, from 10am-4pm and 10am-2pm respectively.
It’s the latest in a series of such events, with the first held across two days in The Lanes shopping centre in Carlisle at the beginning of May. Further Community Conversations are also planned for Barrow.
Stuart Miller, The Cumberland’s newly-appointed chief executive, has spearheaded the initiative.
He said: “We want to get to the heart of what the people in our community, including businesses and community partners, value from The Cumberland and where we can improve. These roadshows are part of a wider plan of engagement with customers and organisations that are passionate about supporting the future prosperity of the region
“These conversations will help shape our decision-making going forward. So whenever you see that green sofa, please do stop for a chat.”
Those taking up the invitation will be asked what matters most to them, friendly service for example, or having branches on the high street, or the availability of online banking.
Participants will also be asked to add to The Cumberland’s ‘to-do’ list of key themes it should consider or focus on, and to cast their vote on what community initiatives it should support.
Stuart added: “The Cumberland’s purpose is to provide banking services that are kinder to people and communities. Listening to our customers, and the wider community and acting on what they tell us, is a vital part of that.”
In addition, The Cumberland has commissioned market researchers YouGov to speak to people across its operating area, which includes all of Cumbria and parts of Southwest Scotland, Northumberland and Lancashire.
The Cumberland is the largest financial institution in the area with assets of £3.29 billion, mortgage lending of £2.76 billion and 31 branches.
Unusually for a building society, it offers current accounts to individuals and businesses, and provides commercial lending to businesses.