THE new owners of the former Portman Building Society branch in Taunton have reassured staff and customers there are no plans to close it.

The Portman, which has an office in Fore Street, merged with the Nationwide Building Society, which has a branch in East Street, on Tuesday.

A Nationwide spokeswoman said: "The current Nationwide branch and the current Portman branch will both remain open.

"The Portman has been re-branded the Nationwide and customers of both building societies are free to visit either branch."