The new boss of a Bradford banking operation is looking to grow the local team as the operation maintains its growth.

Andy Lowther, who took over as Bradford branch manager of Swedish ‘challenger’ bank Handelsbanken in December, said demand for its localised services could also see the creation of another local branch.

Mr Lowther, who spent 28 years working for NatWest across Yorkshire, said the Bradford Handelsbanken branch on Trevor Foster Way near the M606, had matched the bank’s overall growth rate in 2013.

He said: “Notwithstanding Bradford is now a mature branch, growth rates remain robust with a 14 per cent increase in customer numbers, a 35 per cent increase in customer deposits and a 16 per cent net increase in the lending book, split broadly equally between personal and corporate customers.

“Bradford branch continues to grow as strongly now as it did at the start in 2008. The decentralised and people-centred way we run our bank continues to please our customers, and attract new ones, many of whom have been good enough to provide testimonials on our website.”

The branch has more than 200 corporate and individual customers including Morrisons, Standard Wools, C&C Hydraulics and Browntree Properties. The six-strong team covers all Bradford postcodes and Mr Lowther expects to recruit another staff member this year as growth continues.

Bradford is one of 171 Handelsbanken UK branches which have opened since 2000 and includes Ilkley, which was the bank’s 100th UK branch opening in 2011. Another 28 branches opened last year.

Mr Lowther said: “I can foresee a time, not necessarily this year, when we will have to consider opening another branch in the Bradford area as business continues to grow.”

Meanwhile, improving economic conditions and the results of a strategic review enabled the owner of Yorkshire and Clydesdale banks to achieve a ‘solid’ start to the year. National Australia Bank said increased UK cash earnings were driven by lower costs and a reduced charge for bad debts.