but will it be a hit?

When you think of a drive-thru the most likely thought to pop into your head is American fast food chains where you can buy burgers and fries in a paper bag through the window of a car. But the drive-thru could soon be associated with something entirely different – banking. On 3 May 2013, Metro Bank will open a drive-thru bank in Slough, Berkshire. Its chief executive, Craig Donaldson, is enthusiastic about its potential to capture the imagination of those who live and work in the area.

Metro Bank is no stranger to innovative ways to try and help make banking a more pleasant experience. For example, each ‘store’ – it prefers the term 'store' to 'branch' - has customer toilets, free money counting machines and dog bowls for those who can’t part from their canine friends. Even the way each store is designed is pleasing to the eye. For example, all stores are situated on a corner location and have double panelled glass windows, making it easy to see in – ‘it’s part of us being clear and transparent,’ Craig tells me when I met him in Metro’s shiny Holborn offices. And when it comes to products, it really does keep it simple. One current account, one personal loan product, one mortgage is a continuous theme, while a rates board showing what savings accounts are currently paying adds to that transparent theme Craig talks about....Read more here

Metro Bank founder quits - allaboutFORUMS