19th December 2025
With the new year just around the corner, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on everything we’ve achieved together in 2025.
As the new year approaches, we’re taking a moment to celebrate everything we’ve achieved together. From helping more members grow their savings to supporting homebuyers on their journey to owning a place to call home, 2025 has been a year of progress and partnership.
So, let’s unwrap the highlights of an incredible year…
This year at the Vernon, we’ve seen real momentum in how our members are choosing to save. Fixed-Rate ISA openings are up by an impressive 117%, Regular Saver ISAs have grown by 76%, and Easy Access Cash ISAs have risen by 24%. It shows that many savers are looking for steady, straightforward ways to build their money - and for those choosing the Easy Access, that extra flexibility seems to be playing an important role.
From April 2027, the cash ISA limit for anyone under 65 will drop from £20,000 to £12,000. If you haven’t already, make the most of your full tax‑free ISA allowance for the 2024/25 financial year - and again in the 2025/26 financial year - before the limit drops.
Using your allowance now means more of your savings can grow tax‑free. After the change, you’ll need to spread your allowance across Cash ISAs and other options like Stocks & Shares ISAs to get the best overall benefit.
Discover our Cash ISAs here.
We know homeownership isn’t always straightforward, and that’s exactly why we’re proud to support people through it. In 2025, we supported 245% more self‑build mortgages and 81% more later‑life mortgages, helping members with more unique paths to owning a home. Whether someone’s building their future from the ground up or finding a home that suits them later in life, everyone deserves a place that feels truly theirs. We’re here to help make that happen.
If you think we could help with your homebuying journey, please get in touch or browse our range of mortgages.
Together, we're greater! We know we wouldn’t exist without our members and local community - that's why it's one of our priorities to care for it. Whether that be through investing in local high streets, empowering local people to achieve their financial goals, or by supporting local charities and non-profits. We're passionate about building a better future, together.
We’ve been proud to give back in ways that really make a difference. The Vernon Charitable Foundation has donated more than £25,000 to support charities across Greater Manchester and Cheshire this year, bringing its total contributions to over £89,000 since its launch in 2024.
And through our Community Stars programme, we donated another £12,000 to help smaller local projects across Greater Manchester and Cheshire - the kind of grassroots initiatives that bring everyday support to the people who need it most.
Together, that’s over £37,000 invested back into our communities this year.
The Community Space at our Stockport branch has been buzzing with activity! In 2025, it was used for over 430 hours, providing a welcoming place for local groups, events, and initiatives to thrive. We love seeing it bring people together.
In 2025, we kept our partnership with WizeUp going strong, delivering financial education to 890 students and clocking up an incredible 1,247 hours of learning.
We also welcomed Abingdon Primary School into our Reddish branch to deliver our very own Financial Education session. Teaching 52 students about what building societies are, the importance of saving money, what a mortgage is, and future career paths.
In 2025, our team pulled together for an amazing year of giving back, completing just over 100 volunteering days across local organisations and making a real difference in the communities we care about.
One of the standout moments was the day our Leadership Team spent volunteering at GRIT Studios in Stockport, getting hands‑on and supporting the inspiring work they do for local creatives and young people.
We also loved teaming up with Chelwood Foodbank Plus for our Christmas Appeal, where we packed hampers to help families in need over the festive season. It was a privilege to partner with them and bring the appeal to life together.
From Classroom to Career
In 2025, we gave 6 local students the chance to gain valuable work experience across 28 days - helping them build confidence, develop new skills, and get a real taste of working life.
We supported 5 apprentices, giving them the chance to grow their skills and gain hands on ‑ experience, while helping us nurture the next generation of talent.
Discover careers at the Vernon here.
Our very own Ste took it to new heights - literally - by jumping out of a plane for a charity skydive, raising money for Beacon Counselling, proving that community spirit has no limits!
The Vernon on TV!
A big milestone for us - our first-ever TV advert! It was an exciting opportunity to showcase our commitment to members and the community. You can watch it here.
We’re thrilled to have marked our third major employment achievement in 2025, winning Employer of the Year at the North West Business of the Year Awards, Employer of the Year at the Stockport Business Awards earlier in the year, and becoming a Member of the Good Employment Charter, we couldn’t be prouder of the team that made it all possible.
Find out more about our Triple Triumph in Employment here.
2025 was a year of growth, giving, and new opportunities, and we thank you for being part of our journey. We're wishing you a joyful Christmas and a Happy New Year. Here’s to an even brighter 2026!