KENT Reliance Building Society is back in Sittingbourne. It has has linked up with McLaughlin Hook Finance to provide a new agency service to savers and borrowers.

The fast-growing Chatham-based society was previously served by the Amicus homes business but the arrangement ended more than a year ago.

The new agency is based at The Oast, 62 Bell Road, Sittingbourne, and open from Monday to Friday between 9.30am and 12 noon, and 2pm and 4pm.

The move continues the transfer of branches to agencies as part of the society’s drive to cut overheads.

Rob Procter, Kent Reliance’s deputy chief executive, said the society was pleased to embark on this new partnership which would offer members "quality service in their local town centre."

"The society continues to maintain a presence in the high street and is pleased to be available to cater for the needs of new and existing members."

Kent Reliance has assets of around £1.6bn and the lowest costs of any other building society, thanks partly to its transfer of work to offshore subisidiary Easiprocess in Bangalore, India.