Nationwide has announced a significant change across all 605 of its UK branches.
The world’s largest building society confirmed on Friday, June 5, that it is fitting defibrillators and bleed control kits outside every one of its branches, with Virgin Money branches set to follow suit.
Nationwide said that this is believed to be the largest combined roll-out of its kind.
The financial institution is also launching emergency life-saving sessions on CPR and how to operate the equipment for local communities throughout the UK, to bolster public confidence when faced with a crisis.
The initiative builds upon the existing support Nationwide already provides to local communities – hosting dementia clinics across more than 250 Nationwide and Virgin Money branches, as well as Safe Spaces in Nationwide branches for victims of domestic abuse.
This comes after Nationwide became the high street’s biggest banking provider from June 4, boasting a total of 696 branches, comprising 605 Nationwide and 91 Virgin Money locations.
While rival high street banks are pressing ahead with planned closures in the coming weeks, with more than 80 branches due to shut their doors in June alone and over 240 set to have been axed by the year’s end, Nationwide insists it remains firmly committed to maintaining its presence within local communities.
Amanda Beech, Nationwide’s Director of Retail Services, said: “Nationwide’s unique reach as the UK’s largest branch network gives us the ability to put life-saving equipment where it matters most – in places people already know and trust in their communities. By transforming our branches into visible, emergency hubs, we’re making it easier to access help when every second counts.
“Crucially we’re also offering training to all our branch colleagues, before extending that training into the communities we serve. We want more people to feel prepared, confident and ready to act when it matters most.”
St John Ambulance Chief Medical Officer, Professor Andrew Hartle, said: “We’re so pleased to work with Nationwide and Visa on this project, which so perfectly meets St John Ambulance’s mission to put the power of first aid into everyone’s hands.”
“With hundreds more public access defibrillators and bleed control kits across the UK, and thousands more people confident to use them, I am confident many more lives will be saved in our communities.”