23rd September 2026
We're bringing our member-first approach to Uppermill, with friendly, local support when you need it.
We’re excited to share that this November, we’ll be opening our first new branch in over 30 years and our first-ever community branch in Uppermill, bringing face-to-face financial support back to the villages of Saddleworth.
For over 100 years, we've supported communities across Stockport and the surrounding areas. Now, we're looking forward to becoming part of another thriving local community, bringing the same friendly, personal support that helps people save, buy their homes and plan for the future.
We believe people should be able to speak to someone face to face when they need support with their finances.
That personal service has always been an important part of who we are. While more than 6,700 bank and building society branches have closed since 2015, representing around 68% of the UK's branch network, we continue to see the value of having welcoming local spaces where people can ask questions, talk through their options and get support from someone who takes the time to listen.
Our new community branch will allow us to offer that experience to more people, while staying true to the member-focused approach we're known for.
For nearly a decade, local people in Uppermill and the surrounding Saddleworth area have had limited access to face-to-face financial services following the closure of the last high street bank in 2016.
We chose Uppermill because we believe local communities deserve access to personal financial support, and because the village gives us the opportunity to become part of a thriving high street that remains at the heart of everyday life. With its independent businesses, community spirit and strong local identity, it feels like a natural fit for us and our approach to helping people save, buy homes and plan for the future.
Our newest branch will be based at 92-94 High Street, home to Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management, placing our services alongside trusted local professionals in the heart of the village.
When our doors open, local residents and businesses will be able to speak to our team about savings and mortgages without travelling further afield. Our colleagues will be on hand to offer the same friendly, knowledgeable support that members already receive across our branch network.
But this is about more than financial services. As a building society owned by our members, we're committed to supporting the communities we serve. We're looking forward to getting to know local people, building relationships with community groups and becoming an active part of the area.
Joanne Ormston, Director, Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, and Richard Eastwood, Director, Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Vernon into our shared office space in Uppermill. Our organisations share a real commitment to giving people and businesses access to trusted, quality advice right where they need it. The arrival of the Vernon adds another important dimension to the services available to the local community. We have created a real powerhouse by bringing together legal and financial expertise under one roof.”
Darren Ditchburn, CEO of Vernon Building Society, said:
“We’re delighted to be bringing face-to-face financial services back to the villages of Saddleworth, which have been without a high street branch for nearly a decade. Opening in Uppermill will allow us to offer more convenient access to the personal service they’ve missed.
“We’re proud to be working with Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management, two trusted local businesses in the Saddleworth community. Together we’ll create a welcoming space where local people can access the support they need.”
We'll be opening our new community branch this November. The branch will be open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm, with our team on hand to provide friendly support with savings and mortgages.
Whether you're already a member, live locally, or simply want to find out more, we'd love to welcome you. You can learn more about the branch, including opening hours and contact details, on our Uppermill branch page.