Frequently Asked Questions
What is a mutual
society?
A mutual society has no external shareholders, therefore it is not
part of the stock market, nor is it owned solely by an external company
or individual. It is mainly operated for the interests of its members
who receive benefits as being part of the society. A member is an
individual with savings deposited with the society, as well as individuals
with
loans provided by the society.
Will my investments be safe with a
building society?
The Financial Services Compensation Scheme gives 100% compensation
for the first £2,000 of savings lost due to a society going bankrupt,
in addition to up to 90% of any more deposits totaling up to £33,000.
For more information, please see the FSCS website at www.fscs.org.uk.
How
large is the building society market?
Sixty-five building societies are based in the UK, with combined
assets totaling over £200 billion. About 18% of all mortgages come from
this amount. (Source: Building Societies Association).
What are my rights
as a member of building society?
Should you borrow money from a building society, or otherwise
make use of its services as a client, you are granted specific
rights.
These rights include being allowed to cast a vote regarding
various decisions
that concern the society, and the right to obtain information
from the society, as well as the right to attend meetings of
the society.