Nationwide Building Society is today celebrating 110 years of being on the high street in Winchester. It was 1913 when the Winchester City and District Mutual Building Society, which would later become Nationwide, opened. To mark the occasion Steve Brine MP visited the branch today, meeting the Winchester team and local branch manager Ben Bridle.
During the visit Mr Brine met branch colleagues and discussed the importance of face-to-face financial services on the high street. Nationwide reiterated its commitment to not leave any town or city through its Branch Promise, and showed how the branch is helping customers through the cost-of-living crisis.
He also heard about the way Nationwide is tackling scams and fraud, both in branch and remotely via the building society’s Scam Checker Service. Customers can come into their local building society branch and speak directly to the team or phone a free 24/7 hotline at 0800 030 40 57 to check payments they’re worried about with specially trained expert staff. If Nationwide gets it wrong, the building society will fully refund the amount lost.
Branches are a vital lifeline for the whole community and recent Nationwide research1 has found that six in 10 (63%) people value their local branch, while additional research2 shows that four in ten (40%) value face-to-face service and more than a third (36%) say branches are useful for older people and those with vulnerabilities.
Steve Brine MP said; “Fascinating to understand a growing business that is clearly committed to branches and face to face services for banking customers.
“Was also really useful to meet the branch manager over at Alresford to hear about their plans and aspirations in the wake of Lloyds leaving the town last month.”
Ben Bridle, Senior Branch Manager at Nationwide in Winchester, said: “We were honoured to welcome Steve Brine MP to our branch in Winchester today. It was a great opportunity for us to showcase how we’re committed to serving Winchester and the surrounding area. A local branch is more than just access to essential banking services, it’s a cornerstone of a thriving high street.
“Nationwide’s research shows how important branches are, especially for people struggling with the cost of living. We’re glad to still have a strong presence around Winchester – we’re here to help.”
High street heritage
It was 15th October 1913 when the Winchester City and District Mutual Building Society opened, and business got off to a slow start. The building society didn’t issue its first mortgage until a year later, for a property in Highcliffe – which cost just £250.
50 years later, in 1963, the Anglia Building Society opened in the area before merging with the Winchester in 1967, and then in 1987 itself became part of Nationwide Building Society – which meant that at one point there were two branches of Nationwide on the same street.
Please see: www.nationwide.co.uk
