Yorkshire Building Society

The Yorkshire Building Society is one of largest building societies in the United Kingdom. The term building society first appeared in the United Kingdom in the 19th century to describe a member-owned financial institution, providing banking and other financial services, and specializing in mortgage loans.

The “Huddersfield Equitable Permanent Benefit Building Society”, established in 1864, is considered the foundation of the today’s Yorkshire Building Society. Several mergers followed through the years, the most important being the 1975 merger with “Bradford Permanent Building Society” when “Huddersfield & Bradford Building Society” was created.

In 1982, Huddersfield & Bradford Building Society merged with the West Yorkshire Building Society, and the new company received the name Yorkshire Building Society.

In December 1992, the Yorkshire merged with the “Haywards Heath Building Society” and in 2001 - over the “Gainsborough Building Society”.The Yorkshire merged with the “Barnsley Building Society” in 2008 but kept the Barnsley brand with an office in Guernsey, specializing in shares and off shore accounts while the Mortgage Company Accord functioned as its subsidiary.

Despite changes in the sector, the Yorkshire keeps its mutual status as a company run by its nearly 19 million members instead of outside shareholders. It is a member of the Building Societies Association.

The Yorkshire provides financial services directly and through a network of 131 branches and associated agencies.
The society is registered in England with headquarters address listed as: Yorkshire House Yorkshire Drive, Bradford, West Yorkshire BD5 8LJ. It has 2360 employees. In addition to the Bradford headquarters, the Yorkshire Building Society`s largest offices are located in Leeds, Wakefield, and Huddersfield, in the United Kingdom. Its London Stock Exchange (LSE) symbol is YBS.

The YSB key products and services are: savings accounts, including ISAs, online and instant access accounts, regular savers and bonds; retirement planning and financial advice; home and contents insurance, life insurance, car insurance and family protection; mortgages for first time buyers, for individuals who wish to switch homes or mortgage providers, for people, who are moving after change of family or relationship status, and offset accounts combining mortgage with savings.

The YSB conveyancing service helps costumers find legal advice for the sale or purchase of a home, remortgage or transfer of equity. The YBS Sharedealing Service is provided by Stocktrade and allows members to buy and sell shares online or over the phone. The YBS Share Plans was established in 1980 and offers Share Plan trustee and administration services for both Sharesave and Share Incentive Plans for corporations and their employees.