A NORTH-EAST bank manager is on his way to New York as a reward for outstanding business performance.

Gary Lumby, who is based in Sedgefield, was promoted to divisional business manager at Yorkshire Bank at the beginning of the year.

He is off to the Big Apple on Tuesday alongside the winning students in this year's Institute of Directors Export Award Scheme.

Their visit will include a dinner with senior New York-based managers at National Australia Bank (NAB), Yorkshire Bank's parent company.

He said: "I'm really looking forward to the visit, as it will give me the opportunity to develop the new divisional manager role.

"I intend to liaise with senior management at NAB in New York to develop strategies that we can apply in both the UK and USA. We will also discuss working together on suitable business development opportunities."

Mr Lumby, 43, transferred to Yorkshire Bank in 1998 after 20 years with Barclays.

He joined Barclays straight from school and rose to become one of its regional business managers, completing an economics degree along the way.

He lives with his wife, Hayley, an executive banking manager, and stepchildren Adam, 12, and Emily, nine.