About us
Proudly Member-Owned. Rooted in Staffordshire.
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Financially Fair. Community Strong. Since 1877.
We are The Stafford Building Society – proud to be Stafford’s oldest mutual, rooted in the community since 1877. We’re here to help you buy your home, save your money, and support your region. As a member-owned society, we do things differently. No shareholders, just people helping people.
Our History
A Local Story That Still Guides Us Today.
In 1877, a group of railway workers from the London & North Western Railway came together in Stafford. They wanted to help each other save money and buy homes. That simple idea led to the start of our mutual Building Society. Today, that same spirit of mutual support continues to guide us.
As the longest running Building Society in Stafford, we have always stayed true to our roots. Since the beginning, we have helped people across the local area put money aside and find a place to call home. While our name has changed over the years, our commitment to people and community has remained constant.
We first operated as the Stafford Railway Permanent Benefit Building Society. In 1957, we became the Stafford Railway Building Society, reflecting our connection to the railway community. In 2024, we adopted the name The Stafford Building Society to better reflect the wider communities we now support across Staffordshire.
Today, we serve more than 15,000 members and continue to play an active role in local life. Our work remains rooted in helping people achieve financial security and a sense of belonging. Beyond financial services, we support a wide range of local charities, causes, and community groups – not just through funding, but by giving our time and hands-on help. As the needs of our members and communities evolve, so do we, always staying true to the values that have shaped us for nearly 150 years.
More than just saving and lending
Supporting local life
At The Stafford Building Society, we believe that supporting the community means more than providing financial services. We give our time, energy and resources to local charities, communities and grassroots groups. Our team gets involved in real ways, from volunteering and fundraising to offering savings products like our Affinity Accounts, which help raise money for local causes. This is how we stay true to our mutual values and help build stronger communities across Staffordshire.
Community & Charity
Membership & Mutuality
What makes The Stafford different?
When you save or borrow with us, you’re not just a customer. You’re part of something owned by people like you. As a mutual building society, we don’t have external shareholders. That means we focus fully on what matters most: giving you good value, listening to your needs and supporting the local community.
What we earn stays within the Society. It helps us offer thoughtful products, maintain high standards and support causes that make a difference locally. You also have a voice in how we’re run, with the chance to vote on key decisions and help guide our direction.
This way of working puts people first. It’s based on fairness, trust and doing what’s right. We believe mutuality still matters. It’s why we choose to do things differently.
Become a Member
Careers at The Stafford
Join our growing team
We’re a growing building society with a strong sense of purpose. Whether you’re full of ideas, great with people, or driven by data, there’s a place here for you. If you’re looking to build a career where your work matters and your voice counts, The Stafford could be just the change you’re after.
Careers & Job Opportunities
Here When You Need Us
A branch team happy to help with your savings needs
From a welcoming smile to a high-level personalised service, our local branch team are here to serve you, whether that’s updating your passbook, opening a long-term savings account, or looking for guidance with a Junior ISA, we’re open Monday to Saturday.
Your Branch
Meet Our Board
Our board guides us with care and integrity, always focused on the best interests of our members and the Society.
Steven Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Steven Jones
Chief Executive Officer
Steven joined The Stafford Building Society Board in June 2018 as Deputy Chief Executive and Finance Director, in August 2022 he was appointed as the Chief Executive Officer.
He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and has a strong background in the financial services sector having spent over 30 years in a variety of senior positions. These have covered Corporate Planning, Strategy, IT, Underwriting, Risk, Secretarial, and General Operations.
Outside of the Society he is a Corporation Member of Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group, where he also holds the position of Vice Chair of the Audit Committee. He brings a wealth of experience, from a wider context having served as a trustee and Chair of two regional charities and a Housing Association.
Robert Hassall
Chief Operating Officer
Robert Hassall
Chief Operating Officer
Rob joined The Society in June 2019 as Head of Product Strategy and Communications. In November 2022 he was appointed as Chief Operating Officer and was co-opted to the Board in November 2023. He has responsibility for the Society’s IT & Change Management, Sales & Marketing, Underwriting, Branch, Retail and Member Operations.
He graduated from Staffordshire University in 2002 and has over 20 years in the financial services sector in a variety of roles including Operations, Sales, and IT. Outside of the Society he is the Chair of Trust for a Multi-Academy Trust (MAT) and has previously held other voluntary roles including parish councillor and Chair of a school governing body.
Matthew Rowell
Chief Financial Officer
Matthew Rowell
Chief Financial Officer
Matthew joined the Society as Chief Financial Officer in October 2024 having spent over 20 years with one of the Big 4 accounting firms including eight years leading the audits of banks, building societies and other lenders. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.
During his career to date, Matthew has worked with entities of varying levels of size and complexity across the UK financial services sector. This has included advising financial services entities on mergers and acquisitions, regulatory investigations, corporate restructuring and funding. In this way, he has built up considerable knowledge and experience of the building society sector, financial reporting, risk, compliance and treasury management.
Outside of the Society, Matthew is Chair of Trustees at one local Multi-Academy Trust and sits on the Board of another. He has lived in Stafford his whole life and is married with three sons.
Joanne Hindle
Chair
Joanne Hindle
Chair
Joanne Hindle trained as a lawyer specialising in commercial law. She has worked in a variety of roles in the financial services industry for over 30 years ending her executive career as Corporate Services Director for the disability insurer, Unum.
Since 2008 she has held a range of Non Executive roles and today is Chair of the Shepherds Friendly Society and a Non Executive at the Bank of London and the Middle East as well as chairing the board of Stafford Railway Building Society.
David Grant
Non-Executive Director
David Grant
Non-Executive Director
David currently works as a business consultant across a number of different industries, both in the UK and overseas. He is also serves on the Board of an investment-based Friendly Society.
He previously held a wide variety of senior positions in Banks, Building Societies, Insurance and Pensions organisations.
David joined the Board in 2017 and became Chair of the Risk Committee in May 2019. He has considerable experience of first and second line Risk responsibility including the management of regulated product sales.
The combination of a strong depth and breadth of experience with contemporary knowledge enables David to make a strong contribution to the Board.
Ray Milne
Non-Executive Director
Ray Milne
Non-Executive Director
Ray is currently Chief Risk Officer for Schroders Personal Wealth, a joint Venture between Lloyds Banking Group and Schroders, and is Executive Sponsor of their Disability Awareness Network as well as being the Executive sponsor for Vulnerable Clients.
He has held over 25 board roles in the UK and EU and is currently on the board of Horton Housing, a not-for-profit housing association in Bradford supporting socially disadvantaged people across Yorkshire including Afghan and Ukrainian refugees. Ray is a member of the Group Audit and Risk Committee and the Policy and Resources Committee at Horton.
Ray has had a number of senior roles in Banking, Insurance, Wealth Management and Financial Advice businesses over his 42 year career including Managing Director of Halifax Financial Services and Risk Director for the UKs largest Retail Bank. As a qualified Actuary and with over 10 years experience of senior risk roles Ray is well placed to contribute to the Board and the success of The Stafford.
Alison Tattersall
Non-Executive Director
Alison Tattersall
Non-Executive Director
Alison is a customer focused leader, with significant financial services experience, having headed up commercial marketing teams across the Barclays Group.
She also sits on the Board of Recognise Bank, focusing on the SME market and Chairs their RemCo.
In addition to her financial services experience, Alison is a Non Executive Director at University Hospital Southampton and is a Trustee of The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a charity providing care for sick and injured pets.
Alison brings strong marketing, digital transformation and customer experience to the Stafford Board. She is committed to delivering for customers, and is our Board Consumer Duty Champion.
Ian Craig
Non-Executive Director
Ian Craig
Non-Executive Director
Although Ian is a proud Aberdonian, he has lived in the North West since 2000. Married to Dawn, he has 2 boys and recently retired from full time work.
Immediately prior to his retirement, Ian was a Divisional Director at Nationwide Building Society and has previously held executive roles at both Barclays and Bank of America leading large operational and technology functions, both in the UK and internationally.
Ian is also a Non-Executive Director with Southport & Ormskirk NHS Hospital Trust and a Trustee with 2 North West based charities, Willowbrook Hospice and The Brain Charity, where he also chairs their Digital & Technology Committees.
Jonathan Farrington
Non-Executive Director
Jonathan Farrington
Non-Executive Director
Jonathan is a Professor of Practice at Nottingham University Business School, holding two degrees in Mathematics and an MBA. His professional background includes serving as Group Chief Executive of a large multinational business, Finance Director, Strategy Director, Non Executive Director, Chair of Audit, Cofounder, and Advisor in sectors including financial services, retail and consumer, pharmaceuticals, and real estate, working both in the UK and internationally.
As well as his role as non-executive Executive Director at the Stafford Building Society, Jonathan is a retained corporate finance advisor to a FTSE-250 business and regularly advises various clients on corporate finance matters, including private equity companies and strategic investors.
Jonathan was born and bred in Staffordshire and is married with three children.