As it closes and shrinks thousands of branches across the UK, Lloyds has opened its first 'flagship' site, a tech-packed showcase modelled on Apple Stores.
The £3 million Manchester branch has longer weekday hours than normal and is also open on weekends, combining face-to-face expertise with new technology.
While specially trained staffers are available to help support customers, a digital zone continues to guide people to online and mobile banking, offering tips and demos. Free WiFi and phone charging as well as a coffee bar are also on hand.
A Safe Deposit facility, featuring biometric fingerprint technology, enables customers to store their valuable possessions in a convenient, safe and secure location. A business hub with a 'connector' helps link firms with local sources of advice, funding and training and the space is also being used for free events and seminars.
While Lloyds is investing in a small group of flagship sites, the bank is also in the midst of a three year programme to shut 400 branches and is also shrinking hundreds more, ditching tellers in favour of tablet-wielding wandering staffers.
Robin Bulloch, MD, Lloyds Bank and Bank of Scotland, says: " While digital services are becoming increasingly important to our customers, we continue to recognise the significant value of human interaction - people want to deal with people when it matters. That is why branches are not a thing of the past - they just need to be reimagined."