Ipswich Building Society has been providing mortgages and savings for people in the East of England for more than 160 years.
It is independent mutual, run in the interests of its members, not shareholders, and its values have remained the same over the years. IBS plans further growth and to retain its independent mutuality.
We like its strapline, ‘Championing the mortgage misfit’. Ipswich Building Society says it is proud of its place within the local community in Suffolk and it is dedicated to understanding and caring for the need of its members, staff, local businesses and its environment. As well as delivering this through products and services, it states it is heavily involved with local charities and community groups.
It runs financial education programmes within schools and prisons, and has close ties with Suffolk Community Foundation who help very local charities – in particular tackling hidden deprivation and homelessness which often gets overlooked in what is perceived as a fairly affluent county.
The mutual also operates a Sponsorship Committee, meeting quarterly to distribute smaller grants and its staff and members have a programme of volunteering in the local community.
Its mortgages are available to borrowers across the UK who come to the society directly, but savings products are only available in certain local postcodes.