Alliance and Leicester
The Alliance & Leicester Group can trace its origins back to 1852 and the formation of the Leicester Permanent Benefit Society.
Two key events in the history of the Group were the merger between the Alliance Building Society and Leicester Building Society in 1985 to form the Alliance & Leicester and the purchase of Girobank from the Post Office in 1990.
Alliance & Leicester Premier current account
Alliance & Leicester Premier Direct current account
2006
Our Retail Banking internet banking service is one of the most secure in the UK following the introduction of second factor authentication for all customers in March 2006.
On 15 November the Group celebrates its 150th anniversary. On 15 November 1852, John Henry Davies founded the Leicester Permanent Benefit Building Society in Leicester.
On 1 August, the Group announces the launch of a new partnership with MBNA Europe Bank Limited for the marketing and management of new and existing credit card customers. As part of the partnership MBNA has purchased Alliance & Leicester's existing credit card accounts and will become the credit card provider. All new and existing cards will continue to be branded Alliance & Leicester.
The successful partnership with Legal & General is extended to include the provision of term assurance (life and critical illness) products from 1 August 2002.
The Group ends a 52 year association with its London offices in Park Lane by moving to Ulster Terrace from 21 January 2002.
Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance secures its millionth unsecured loan since opening for business in 1989.
First applications taken over the internet for credit cards, loans and current accounts.
Alliance & Leicester launches the UK's first credit card offering customers money back on every purchase made using the card.
On 21 April Alliance & Leicester successfully converts from a mutual building society to a bank and becomes a listed plc.
Alliance & Leicester joins the FTSE 100.
Alliance & Leicester announced its intention to convert from a mutual building society to a public limited company in 1997, giving existing members free shares.
Girobank entered merchant acquisition market (the processing of debit and credit card transactions)
Girobank acquired Sovereign Finance plc and re-entered the leasing and asset finance markets.
The Personal Finance services of Alliance & Leicester and Girobank amalgamated and the Alliance current account launched, offering 24-hour telephone banking.
Alliance & Leicester (Girobank) Act passed, allowing legal integration of the two personal customer bases from the bank and the building society.
Girobank became part of Alliance & Leicester Building Society on July 2, the first time a building society had bought a clearing bank.
Alliance & Leicester (Isle Of Man) Ltd - offshore investments subsidiary launched.
Girobank achieved British Standard's BS5750 registration for Operations.
Alliance & Leicester Building Society enters closed negotiations to purchase Girobank as preferred bidder.
The intention to privatise the bank announced in the House of Commons (7th June).
LINK and MATRIX cash dispenser network announce plans to merge.
Launch of LINK network (Girobank founder member).
Bank became an associate member of Committee of London Clearing Banks (CLCB).
Acquired Listed Bank Status.
Change of name from National Giro to National Girobank.
The Post Office Banking Services Act enabled Giro to compete with other banks for Government Money Transfer business. It also allowed the Giro to lend and to pay interest on deposits.
Limited overdrafts introduced on some personal accounts and selected business accounts.
Business Customers allowed to deposit mixed cash and cheque transactions at post offices.
National Giro became a separate business within the Post Office corporation
Independent review of Giro's viability is carried out by Cooper Brothers (Accountants) leading to the Government's support for the continuation of Giro (which became known as the 'Green Light').
Business deposit service for corporate customers introduced.
National Giro officially opened by the Prime Minister of the day, Harold Wilson.
Start of unemployment benefit payments through 'Giro'.
Alliance & Leicester Personal Finance Ltd (ALPF) - unsecured lending subsidiary launched.
The Alliance and Leicester Building Societies merged to form Alliance & Leicester Building Society on October 1. At the time this was the largest building society merger ever, with combined assets of £7bn.
First bond introduced by the Alliance to raise finance through wholesale money markets.
Leicester Permanent merged with the Leicester Temperance & General. At the time, this was the biggest ever building society merger.
Alliance became the first building society to offer a fixed rate bond guaranteeing an interest rate for a full year.
Alliance's assets passed the £100m mark in its centenary year.
First building society computer installed by the Leicester Permanent.
Alliance became the first Society to offer 35-year mortgages.
Alliance's programme of mergers continued, resulting in it becoming one of the 'Top 10' UK Building Societies.
The Leicester Permanent Building Society undertook a major initiative to establish itself on a national basis by opening a number of new branches beyond home territory.
The Brighton & Sussex's amalgamations with other local societies commenced, culminating at the end of the War with a name change in 1945 to The Alliance Building Society and the opening of a national branch network.
The Brighton & Sussex Equitable Building Society began a significant expansion programme.
Leicester Temperance & General Permanent Building Society founded.
Brighton & Sussex Equitable Building Society founded.
The Leicester Permanent Building Society became operational in January.
John Henry Davies proposed the formation of the Leicester Permanent Benefit Society before a public meeting.
Barclays
About Barclays
[Figures correct as at 31st December 2006 unless otherwise stated]
BARCLAYS PLC
Barclays is a UK-based financial services group, with a large international presence in Europe, the USA, Africa and Asia. It is engaged primarily in banking, investment banking and investment management. In terms of market capitalisation, Barclays is one of the largest financial services companies in the world. It has been operating for more than 300 years with 27 million customers and 123,000 employees in over 50 countries
A Brief Barclays History
Goldsmith bankers
Barclays origins can be traced back to a modest business founded more than 300 years ago in the heart of London's financial district.
In the late 17th Century, the streets of the City of London may not have been paved with gold, but they were filled with goldsmith-bankers. They provided monarchs and merchants with the money they needed to fund their ventures around the world.
One such business was founded by John Freame and his partner Thomas Gould in Lombard Street in 1690. The name Barclay became associated with the company in 1736, when James Barclay - who had married John Freame's daughter - became a partner.
A new joint-stock bank
Private banking businesses were commonplace in the 18th Century, keeping their clients' gold deposits secure and lending to credit-worthy merchants. In 1896, 20 of them formed a new joint-stock bank.
The leading partners of the new bank, which was named Barclay and Company, were already connected by a web of family, business and religious relationships. The company became known as the Quaker Bank, because this was the family tradition of the founding families.
Domestic growth
The new bank had 182 branches, mainly in the East and South East, and deposits of £26 million - a substantial sum of money in those days. It expanded its branch network rapidly by taking over other banks, including Bolithos in Cornwall and the South West in 1905 and United Counties Bank in the Midlands in 1916.
In 1918 the company amalgamated with the London, Provincial and South Western Bank to become one of the UK's 'big five' banks. By 1926 the bank had 1,837 outlets.
Barclays acquired Martins Bank in 1969, the largest UK bank to have its head office outside London. And in 2000 it took over the Woolwich, a leading mortgage bank and former building society founded in 1847.
Barclaycard company profile
Although we started in the UK - issuing the first ever credit card in 1966 - we now operate around the world. We also provide a special Barclaycard business service.
West Bromwich Building Society
The West Brom has been a mutual building society for over 150 years and is committed to staying that way. That is because, as a building society, we don't pay dividends to outside shareholders. This means that we are able to pass on more to our members.
Our main objective is to deliver significant member value through:
to help people buy their own homes, save for the future and enjoy financial security in retirement. In all things we treat customers fairly by providing a good service giving individual advice and attention that would make the West Brom a brand they would choose and trust throughout their lifetime. Our vision is to grow, thrive and share our success with our members, staff and the community we serve.
The core values which provide the framework for our ongoing success are:
High Street Banks and Building Societies