160 years of Yorkshire Building Society | YBS
Reading time 6 minutes
At a glance:
This year, we turn 160!
To celebrate this milestone, we’ve collected colleague stories and photos from our long history.
Learn how we’ve grown since being established in 1864.
How we started
We started in 1864, in a single room in Huddersfield. Our founding members were a dentist, a shoemaker and a plumber. They grouped together to help the local community save, while lending money to help people build houses.
Our next steps
In 1982, the Huddersfield & Bradford and West Yorkshire Building Societies merge – the Yorkshire Building Society is born!
From then we also merged with Chelsea Building Society, Barnsley Building Society and Norwich & Peterborough Building Society.
From then we also merged with Chelsea Building Society, Barnsley Building Society and Norwich & Peterborough Building Society.
Yorkshire Building Society now
From humble beginnings, YBS is now one of the largest building societies in the UK, helping people save money and buy homes from Cardiff to Carlisle.
We have a network of branches and agencies in more than 250 locations.
You can open a savings account on our website, app, in a branch or over the phone.
We offer mortgages on our website or over the phone.
Learn about how mortgages and savings products work, including lessons made specifically for young people.
What really makes Yorkshire Building Society special are the people who work here. Read stories from our dedicated colleagues about their highlights of working at YBS.
In 2015 a number of teams pulled together a fundraising world record for the largest cream tea party (in multiple venues). The rules stipulated by Guinness World Records were near on impossible to meet and it was a balancing act coordinating 6 locations across the country, timing the tea party and pulling it off with judges and bake off winners in the mix too.
- Sasha, YBS colleague.
One of my proudest moments at YBS occurred in 2018 when I was selected to represent the organisation during National Apprenticeship Week. In March of that year, I had the honour of meeting the Apprenticeship & Skills Minister, Anne Milton, during her UK tour.
Later, Anne invited me and 12 other YBS apprentices to visit the Houses of Parliament. We had the unique opportunity to debate with MPs and gain a deeper understanding of how decisions are made within Parliament. It was a privilege to represent YBS and share my experiences.
- Olivia, YBS colleague.
I've lots of great memories of working at YBS. I've been lucky to work with some great people in my almost 10 years with the society. In every branch and team I've worked with, I have made friends for life and each team has felt like a family.
- Tina, YBS colleague.
In 2011 I moved to the UK from South Africa, looking back I realise what a big move that was. I started working for YBS in the same year. Over time I've learnt many skills, which has boosted my confidence and for the first time I put myself forward to move in to a Branch manager role. Thanks to all the wonderful people that have helped and guided me through my journey.
- Chantal, YBS colleague.
My colleagues arranged a charity walk from the Chalfont St Peter to the Ealing branch, to help raise funds to help End Youth Homelessness. Looks easy on Google, but they made the 14+ mile journey just over 6 hours. They definitely earned the light refreshments we had prepared! It is a fond reminder of how our people and customers make real impressions and we have real impact on real lives.
- Adrian, YBS colleague.
My best memory is very recently, taking part and completing the Yorkshire Three Peaks! It was very challenging but great to see so many colleagues supporting one another and the atmosphere was incredible. I feel so lucky to work for an organisation with the passion and enthusiasm YBS has for our colleagues, members, and charity partners.
- Lucy, YBS colleague.
The content on this page is for reference. It is not financial advice.
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