In 1980, at a Green Party conference, a Yorkshire solicitor complained of the difficulty he had in finding a mortgage for a property needing extensive renovation. Someone asked 'Why don't we start a building society?' and Ecology was formed.

In those days, a building society could be started with just £5,000, so ten people put in £500 each (some of whom still save with us!). We began trading in 1981, from a tiny upstairs office in Cross Hills, West Yorkshire, just a few miles from our current eco-HQ.

By 1985, we had more than 1,000 investors and assets of £1.25 million, and by 1993 we were no longer the smallest building society in the UK. By 1997 our assets had reached £20 million, and ten years later our membership reached 10,000. In 2011, our assets passed £100 million.

Many things have changed since 1981, but our mission and our principles haven't. We're dedicated to building a greener society, and this shapes every decision we make.

Find out more about what we believe