Leeds & Holbeck Building Society

Each year, around about the second week in April, I open a mini-cash ISA (that’s an Individual Savings Account, by the way) and back in 2000 I took a good look at the Leeds and Holbeck Building Society. It looked good. I’m sure you’ll have heard of Leeds, but unless you live in this part of the world, you might not have heard of Holbeck. Nowadays it’s a suburb of Leeds, but in 1845 it was a bit, well, outlying and it was here that the Leeds Union Operative Land and Building Society was formed. Members contributed towards shares and when there was sufficient money available a ballot was held ... more

The Leeds Building Society was formally the Leeds and Holbeck Building Society. It was founded in 1875 and renamed itself the Leeds Bulding society in 2005. The Leeds is the 5th biggest building society in UK (out of 47) with assets of £9,829 million (as of Dec 2011; source - Building Societies Association) and has its Head Office in Leeds. It is protected by the FSCS, meaning that all savings up to £85,000 per person are fully guaranteed by the government in the very unlikely event that the Leeds were to go bust. At the risk of repeating myself (the following 2 paragraphs originally appeared ... more

Working for Abbey National I am very aware of what other banks are offering as regards new accounts, banking facilities and interest rates. I also have direct contact with the public who are all too happy to tell you a story about their other bank, whether it be good or bad. I have therefore found on numerous occasions when I have been speaking to customers about the products, rates and facilities abbey offer Leeds & Holbeck always seem to be in front. Don't get me wrong other banks especially the big four always seem to have better rates but its part of my job to find the catches in what they ... more