Simply the best!

From the archive, first published Sunday 15th Apr 2007.

STAFF at a bank in Benfleet are toasting their success after topping a nationwide search for the best customer service team.

Employees at NatWest, in London Road, were thrilled to win the Platinum Customer Service competition, seeing off stiff competition from branches across Britain.

The contest was determined by the results of questionnaires filled in by members of the public.

Kevin Talbot, NatWest's Benfleet branch manager, said: "When you work so hard as a team to deliver a quality service, it's great to receive a national award. However, it means so much more because it is our customers' comments that have put the branch in the top spot.

"My team always strives to offer our customers excellent customer service."

Greg Heaton, NatWest's regional managing director, added: "The most important point of this is that the customers have told us we deliver a service that meets and even exceeds their expectations."