Nationwide Building Society has renewed a promise to keep branches open and provide face-to-face help and advice for those who need it across the UK, as England is forced back into lockdown and continues to feel the impact of Covid-19.
Britain’s biggest building society will not leave any town or city in which it is based without a branch until at least January 2023.
The Society hopes the extended promise1 reassures members that they will continue to have the choice of speaking to someone they know and trust at their local branch at what remains a worrying time for many. This is particularly important given the long-term impact of the pandemic on the nation’s personal finances remains unknown.
Nationwide hopes that reinforcing its support for branches will give confidence to members that the Society will not leave their town, acknowledging the positive impact vital services can have on a high street and the surrounding area. While the Society may need to close a branch, either to integrate into a more modern building or due to low usage, it will ensure that it does not leave any town or city branchless during the period of the pledge.
In addition, Nationwide is continuing to invest in causes that have been impacted by the pandemic. So far, £10 million of charitable funding has been awarded through the Society’s Community Grants programme, with £4 million being awarded in December 2020. Hundreds of members and colleagues have helped deliver funds to those most in need locally, while giving thousands of hours of their time to support the communities where they live and work.
In direct response to the challenge consumers have been facing, the Society was quick to offer consumer support during lockdown with a range of measures to give members flexibility on how they repaid their mortgages, while also offering mortgage holidays and announcing it would not repossess properties if consumers got into difficulty. Nationwide also remained committed to first time buyers which have been hit hard by the pandemic by offering 90% deposit mortgages.
Mandy Beech, Branch Network Director of Nationwide Building Society, said: “While we cannot predict what the long-term implications of the pandemic on peoples’ finances will be, whatever our members may be facing into we want to be there for them to support however we can. By renewing our commitment to keep our branches in towns and cities across the UK, we’re ensuring our members can go into their local branch and see their branch manager and speak to someone they know and trust, whenever they need to. By extending our branch promise until at least January 2023 we can continue to provide face-to-face help and advice and remain a part of so many communities across the UK.”
