Digital bank Zopa is opening a new regional office in Manchester next month, with ambitious plans to create up to 500 jobs over time as it expands its footprint across the UK.

The office, located at Dalton Place in John Dalton Street, will initially house more than 50 employees focused on product, engineering, and specialist operations when it launches in August 2025. However, the company has indicated the workforce could grow tenfold in the coming years.

Zopa, which serves 1.5 million customers, selected Manchester due to the city's thriving tech ecosystem, strong financial services presence, and deep talent pool. The city boasts over 10,000 digital and tech businesses, a flourishing startup scene, and five major universities enrolling over 100,000 students, making it one of Europe's fastest-growing tech hubs.

The expansion follows Zopa's entry into everyday banking with Biscuit, its flagship current account, and reflects the company's ongoing investment in innovation and talent development.

Iain Kendrick, chief people officer, said: "With more than 85 per cent of our customers based outside the capital, expanding into Manchester allows us to be closer to our diverse, nationwide customer base, access new talent, and accelerate our ambitious growth journey. Manchester has the energy, connectivity, and capability we need to support our next stage of expansion as we make Zopa a top-choice employer across regions."

Manchester City Council leader Bev Craig welcomed the announcement, saying: "Manchester has an active and ever-growing digital and tech community that is attracting key businesses that can take advantage of the ecosystem we have built in the city to support organisations to thrive. The new Zopa office is a continuation of this and further bolsters our reputation internationally as an important centre for FinTech – while also supporting Manchester's own growth ambitions in the tech sector, creating great employment opportunities to our residents."

Joe Manning, managing director at inward investment agency MIDAS, added: "Zopa's choice of Manchester reflects our city-region's fantastic digital landscape and financial services strength. Our vibrant community of thousands of tech companies, dynamic startup culture, and major universities producing skilled graduates create an ideal environment for innovative banking. This investment demonstrates how our city-region has become a magnet for leading FinTech businesses seeking growth opportunities."

The Manchester office opening comes as Zopa continues its remarkable growth trajectory as one of the UK's fastest-growing digital banks. The company doubled its pre-tax profits to £34.2 million in fiscal year 2024, driven by continued innovation and partnerships with household brands including Octopus Energy and John Lewis.

Unlike many FinTechs, Zopa holds a full UK banking licence and meets the same regulatory standards as traditional banks, with deposits protected up to £85,000 by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. The company has been recognised with over 10 British Bank Awards and maintains a Trustpilot rating of 4.6 out of 5.

In addition to the Manchester expansion, Zopa is expected to move to a landmark new headquarters later this year, doubling its office footprint as part of its sustained growth plans.

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