Nottingham Building Society - CCC Financial |
||
 |
|
|
|
Since 1849, Nottingham Building Society has had a proud tradition of putting its customers first. The principles of the founders were to promote the culture of home ownership whilst providing a safe haven for savings. Over 150 years later, these ideals have helped The Nottingham grow to become a top 20 building society and influence why it intends remaining a traditional building society. Key moments from the last 150 years People of vision In 1849, a group of people with vision and integrity formed Nottingham Building Society to 'promote the construction of a better class of dwellings, suitable for the middle and working classes, and also to provide a profitable and safe place for small savings.' They were led by 68 year old Samuel Fox (1781 - 1868), a leading Quaker and prominent local grocer. He was a generous man who was involved with every philanthropic activity in the town. Samuel Fox From a drawing by his housekeeper Lucy Maria Woods. Groceries and savings accounts In 1858, The Nottingham moved from George Street, Nottingham to the grocer’s shop of Samuel Fox in High Street Place, Nottingham. So, Nottingham Building Society was offering a combination of groceries and savings accounts nearly 150 years ago - long before supermarkets came on the scene! When Samuel Fox stepped down as chairman at the grand age of eighty in 1861, the Society moved to 16 Fletcher Gate, Nottingham and opened daily. Nottingham Market Place 1859 (Print courtesy of Nottingham City Council:Leisure and Community Service, Angel Row Library.) 'Bank Of England Governor opens new building society offices' This was the headline in the Nottingham Journal’s edition of 29 September 1929. Engaging Sir Josiah Stamp, governor of the Bank of England at the time, to unlock the doors of the new chief office was certainly a triumph for The Nottingham. During 1998, those same historic offices in Friar Lane, Nottingham were given a complete facelift and were re-opened by the Sheriff of Nottingham, Councillor Chris Gibson. Opening of Friar Lane Sir Joseph Stamp, Governor of the Bank of England, opens the new Friar Lane offices in 1929. The war years During the Second World War, Nottingham suffered from enemy air raids but to a lesser extent than many cities of comparable size. A major air raid on the city occurred on the night of 8 May 1941 and among the buildings destroyed were several at the south-eastern corner of Friar Lane in the centre of Nottingham. Except for minor blast damage, Nottingham Building Society’s offices, situated just 50 yards away, escaped virtually unscathed. Expansion in the seventies The Annual Report for 1974 announced the acquisition of 5-13 Upper Parliament Street which became The Nottingham’s head office in 1975. During the seventies, new branch offices were opened in over 35 locations including Beeston, Arnold, Long Eaton, Mansfield, Skegness, Chesterfield and Sheffield. Innovation in the eighties One of the highlights of Nottingham Building Society’s progress in the eighties was the arrival in 1983 of Britain’s first electronic home banking service through a joint venture with Prestel, then British Telecom’s computerised information system. Ahead of its time, it pioneered electronic interaction between the building society and its customers. On 14 February 1981, The Nottingham’s hot air balloon, the Flying Cottage made its maiden flight. The yellow balloon in the shape of a cottage was a popular attraction and was regularly seen flying over Nottingham, or featured at many special events. Birth of Nottingham Property Services The 1986 Building Societies Act allowed the range of services that building societies could provide to be extended. Societies could establish estate agencies, offer insurance services and provide unsecured loans. In 1989, Nottingham Building Society launched a residential estate agency known as Nottingham Property Services.Today, Nottingham Property Services has 19 branches and has grown to be a leading estate agency in its trading area. And the success continues... Nottingham Building Society ended the twentieth century having achieved record results. The Society now has total assets approaching £1.8 billion. In the 21st century, Nottingham Building Society’s pledge is to deliver long-term value for money through competitive rates and quality service, and to help people achieve their financial ambitions. |
||