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Which? crowns Co-op ‘best bank’

The Co-operative Bank won the prize for ‘best financial services provider’ at the Which? awards, this week.

Independent consumer body Which? (www.which.co.uk) presented the Co-operative Bank (www.co-operativebank.co.uk) with the award for ‘best financial services provider’ at its annual awards this week.

The Co-op, which provides financial products including mortgages, loans, credit cards and a current account, was commended for providing value-for-money.

Peter Vicary-Smith, chief executive of Which?, said that the Co-op stands out from the competition by providing good products, maintaining an ethical stance and delivering high levels of customer service.

He added the bank, currently working on a merger with Britannia Building Society, has been run “on a very prudent model, which has proved invaluable as other retail banks have suffered during the current economic crisis.”

David Anderson, chief executive of the Co-operative bank, the bank offers “a real alternative for customers who may have become disillusioned with their existing bank.”

The Which? awards celebrate the best companies and individuals that seek to serve the interests of customers. Other winners included John Lewis (best high street retailer), Aldi (best supermarket) and BMW (best car manufacturer).