Metro Bank is to create 900 new jobs this year as it bulks up its apprenticeship scheme and takes its total staff roster to nearly 4,000.

The challenger bank said apprenticeships are a key area of focus, with the lender offering training through its dedicated in-house unit, Metro Bank University.

About 100 places are available on the scheme and it will take in programmes across IT, HR and cashiering.

The university has three campuses across London, offering staff more than 75 classroom-based courses and 130 e-learning sessions, Metro Bank said.

Metro Bank boss Craig Donaldson said: "Since we opened our doors in 2010, we've created over 3,000 jobs and by the end of the year, we'll have created another 900.

"We're disrupting UK banking by giving control back to customers when it comes to how, when and where they do their banking.

"Investing in and developing our colleagues is central to the success of our model."

In October, Metro Bank reported rising third-quarter profits as it promised to take its "revolution" to the streets of Swindon, Canterbury and Peterborough.

The bank, which launched in 2010, saw underlying pre-tax profits rise 77% to £7.2 million in the three months to September 30.

Metro Bank also notched up record quarterly customer growth as 79,000 new accounts were opened, taking its total to 1.1 million.

Mr Donaldson plans to expand the bank's branch network from about 50 to 100 by 2020, creating 2,500 extra jobs in the process.