Vernon Building Society set to open in Uppermill - bucking the trend of high street closures

Vernon Building Society is expanding with the opening of a new community branch in Uppermill this November bringing personal face-to-face financial services to more communities.

Saddleworth has been without a traditional high street bank since NatWest closed its Uppermill branch in 2016, forcing residents to travel to Oldham town centre or Tameside to deal with complex financial needs.  

A proposed shared Saddleworth Banking Hub was later rejected by LINK, the organisation responsible for assessing communities’ access to cash, which said the area had sufficient access to cash. 

The opening comes as communities across Oldham see continued changes to local banking provision. Since 2015, Oldham East and Saddleworth have lost more than 75 per cent of their banking facilities. 

The changes reflect a wider reduction in access to high-street banking across Greater Manchester. The Vernon’s community branch model is designed to provide a local, personal alternative in communities where residents and businesses have lost access to traditional financial services. 

Open every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm, Vernon Building Society's new community branch will provide local people with access to friendly, knowledgeable colleagues. Located at 92-94 High Street in Uppermill, the branch is based within the offices of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management.

Darren Ditchburn, CEO of Vernon Building Society, said: “We’re proud to be extending the Vernon’s member-owned approach to Oldham, bringing our commitment to personal service and local communities to our new community branch in Uppermill.  

“Oldham is home to many vibrant communities and we want to play our part in supporting them. Our Uppermill branch will bring the Vernon closer to residents and businesses in Saddleworth, while also giving us the opportunity to develop relationships across the wider Oldham area. 

 “Uppermill is an important milestone for the Vernon. It’s our first community branch and the first step in our plan to establish a presence in all Greater Manchester boroughs over the coming years. 

“Finding the right service providers to work with was essential, and we’re proud to be working with Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management for this first branch. As two trusted local organisations in the Saddleworth community, they share our belief in the importance of accessible, face-to-face services on the high street. Together, we’re creating a welcoming space where local people can access the support they need.” 

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.”