We put people before profits
For Savings
£300 billion of savings receive 0% interest
Could your money be working harder for you?
Last year, Building Society savers received £2.3 billion of extra interest.
For Mortgages
For Savings
£300 billion of savings receive 0% interest
Could your money be working harder for you?
Last year, Building Society savers received £2.3 billion of extra interest.
For Mortgages
Why choose a Building Society or Credit Union over a bank?
Building Societies & Credit Unions are different because…
We reinvest our profits, so you get better rates.
We don’t pay out to external shareholders, because we don’t have any.
We’re owned by you, so it’s you we’re working for.
We value you as an individual.
We take pride in treating you fairly.
We’re genuinely committed to supporting communities.
We’re keeping branches open, and we’re opening more.
We’re purpose driven, and we are truly sustainable.
We’ve got 250 years doing the right thing.
Unlike banks who…
Prioritise making as much profit as possible.
Pay dividends to their external shareholders.
Don’t offer the same long-term value to customers.
Close branches and abandon high streets.
Find a better place for your money
Is it time you considered a Building Society or Credit Union?
The numbers add up…
2.3bn
more paid to savers*
137k
mortgages to first-time buyers in a year
35%
share of high street branches – up from 14% in 2012
86%
of customers say we provide good customer service
85%
of customers would recommend us
74%
of customers say we are an important part of the community
*compared to the average savings rates offered by banks. 2024 (latest data available)
The original money movement
Building societies since 1775
Building Societies have been part of our communities for 250 years.
In 1775, Richard Ketley, the landlord of the Golden Cross Inn in Birmingham, got his regulars to pool their savings each week. When there was enough money in the pot, they used it to buy land and build a home. They drew lots to determine which of them would get the home. They all carried on saving and building houses until each member owned their own home. Ketley’s Building Society was the first ever Building Society.
There are 42 Building Societies in the UK today, with over 25 million members, more than 1,300 branches on our high streets and they employ around 52,500 people.
Genuinely committed to supporting communities
From charity fundraising to community projects, read how Building Societies & Credit Unions work with their communities.
The Tipton & Coseley Building Society has opened the doors to its latest branch, creating more choice for how people manage their money.
All together, for each other
The Building Societies Association
The Building Societies Association (BSA) was established in 1869. It is the voice for all 42 UK building societies, including both mutual banks, and 7 of the largest Credit Unions.
