Our history

A synopsis of the Society's 112 year history is given below but in terms of growth it was in 1989 that our total assets first reached a quarter of a billion pounds. The half billion was attained in 1997 and the next £250 million took 6 years to accumulate. The achievement of the final quarter billion in just 3 years means that over the last 17 years we have grown at the equivalent of an annual compound growth rate of 9%. Sustained growth, based on consistently attractive products, has been the cornerstone of the Society's success in the past and will continue to be in the future.

1896-1938

Originally called the Fourth Post Office Mutual Building Society, the Society was incorporated on 3rd March 1896, with offices at 87 Newgate Street, London EC. As the original name suggests, the Society had been preceded by three earlier ones, the First, Second and Third General Post Office Clerks Building Societies. Each of these societies terminated once their members (then restricted to the employees of the Post Office) had been housed. In 1899 the Society moved its offices to 181 Queen Victoria Street, London EC. This remained the Society's home until 1938 when it relocated to the newly built Brettenham House in Lancaster Place, Strand WC2. In 1935 the Society introduced its first logo with the motto: Stability & Security, a description that could still apply today.

1938-1965

In 1946 the Society deleted "Mutual" from its name to become the Fourth Post Office Building Society and in 1960 the Garter King of Arms granted arms, supporters and a new motto, Rei Custos Tuae (Custodian of your Goods), to the Society. The impressive coat of arms was duly adopted as the Society's logo, appearing on all its printed material for the next 30 years or so. In 1965 the Society changed its name to the National Post Office Building Society and the following year moved its head office to Epsom Surrey.

1965-1995

The renamed Society pioneered the development of savings accounts by post, offering this innovation to all members of the public rather than dealing only with Post Office staff. To reflect this widening of its membership, in March 1972 the Society's name was changed to National Counties Building Society and in 1973 it accepted the transfer of engagements from the Post Office Permanent Building Society.

1995-2008

When the Society celebrated its Centenary in 1996, it declared that it looked forward to continuing to provide its customers with 'best-buy' products backed by high quality service. Towards the end of the year, it was one of the first building societies to operate a website, providing its existing and new customers with easy access to its products and services. In 2001 the Society adopted its current logo, the design objective having been to 'modernise' the image, to reflect the directness of contact offered in relation to products and services and to give emphasis to the website address by featuring 'ncbs'.

2008 and onwards

Looking ahead, the Society is about to embark on significant developments to enhance its services further. We have invested in proven, secure internet technology which enables customers to enquire of their accounts and conduct transactions from the comfort of their homes and offices, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Given the breadth and significance of this development, it has been introduced in stages with the last stage taking place in the first half of 2008. The combination of the latest technology with old-fashioned principles of personal service and trust-worthiness makes National Counties the modern mutual - an organisation which is proud of its heritage but willing to respond to developments which will enhance the services available to its customers.