29 Dec Recent Article On St James’ Safe Deposit Published By North Leeds Life
St James’ Safe Deposit Company Ltd is the oldest independent safe deposit centre in the North of England. Privately owned, it was established in Manchester in 1912 and offers safe deposit box rentals for the storage of personal valuables.
In February 2015, St James’ opened a second centre, this time in the heart of the Leeds financial district, just minutes from Leeds Station.
“St James’ customer numbers in Manchester have increased significantly over the past few years and we noticed that many were coming from West Yorkshire so it made sense to open in Leeds”. said Chairman and owner Nigel Kay MBE. “Transferring clients living in Yorkshire to the Leeds Branch means we now have ample room to expand at both centres”.
“One reason for the growth is that many retail banks have stopped offering safe deposit services and this has left many people looking for alternative storage solutions for their valuables. St James’ provides an attractive alternative because it is an established business with a long trading history and an impeccable security record.”
The Leeds centre occupies impressive former bank vaults on Russell Street (just off Park Row), in a building designed by celebrated Victorian architect Alfred Waterhouse (who also designed Manchester Town Hall and the Natural History Museum). The vaults have been extensively modernised and are equipped with the latest security technology including remotely monitored CCTV and state-of-the-art biometric technology.
The branch is open seven days a week and manned by four highly trained security staff. An external security company is also retained to ensure round the clock protection.
“It was clear that there was a need for this type of service in Leeds and we have registered a large number of customers since we opened last February”, said Richard Stephenson, manager of the new centre. “Domestic burglaries are on the rise and the discrete, confidential service we provide is proving very attractive. The majority of our business comes from personal referrals and through our website.” (Richard offers prospective customers a ‘no obligation’ tour of the vaults. Photo ID required).
St James’ in Leeds offers four box sizes and rental prices start from just £45. The service is confidential and private viewing rooms are provided. There is no registration fee and customers can make unlimited visits at no additional cost. Insurance is also available at competitive rates. The company is registered with the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and complies with the 2007 anti-money laundering regulations.