Principality Building Society has celebrated its 165-year birthday by committing to maintain its high street and community presence until the end of 2030.
First established in 1860 in Cardiff, Principality has been a community cornerstone with over 50 branches and 14 agencies across Wales and its borders, partnering with charities and funding affordable home initiatives along with its financial services.
The society’s annual general meeting (AGM) was hosted in Cardiff, and in six branches across Wales.
Colleagues, representatives from the board and members of the community gathered in Caerphilly, Cwmbran, Hereford, Llanelli, Wrexham and Llandudno to participate in the AGM which was live streamed from Cardiff and also available online, with members voting on issues of importance.
The building society has received consistent feedback from members that a branch presence is important to them.
Principality’s own research revealed more than 70% of people agreed that branch presence is a key factor in deciding which financial provider to choose.
This comes against a backdrop of branch closure announcements from providers across the UK and wider markets.
Julie-Ann Haines (pictured), chief executive officer of Principality Building Society, said: “As we celebrate 165 years of putting members first, I’m pleased to announce our commitment to maintaining a branch presence in the high streets and communities we currently operate in, across Wales and England until at least 2030, giving our members, colleagues and communities confidence.
“We are proud to have more branches than any other financial services provider in Wales.
“With news of recent closures from other financial providers, we maintain our local branches and evolve our access to cash services, recognising they are more important than ever.”
She added: “Our presence on high streets is unrivalled and brings benefits to communities across the country, today’s announcement means members can be assured that we’ll retain our presence for years to come.”
Robin Fieth, chief executive of the Building Societies Association (BSA), said: “At a time when many banks are scaling back their high street locations, Principality and the wider building society sector stand out by continuing to invest in their branch networks.
“As we celebrate 250 years of building societies in 2025, Principality’s approach serves as a reminder of the vital role they play in local communities.”
