Durham Council has agreed to invest in the Atom Bank, as part of a deal to help create at least 170 jobs. The local authority has agreed to buy more than 150,000 shares in the fledgling bank and will help them secure a new headquarters in Durham.

‘This is a cutting edge business and it’s absolutely right that we find an innovative way to ensure that the hundreds of jobs which will follow come to Durham,’ said cabinet member for economic regeneration, Cllr Neil Foster.