Leek Building Society

Leek Building Society is a Staffordshire-based mutual building society that has been running for over 160 years. It is primarily a savings and mortgage lender: it takes deposits from savers and lends them out as residential, buy to let and holiday let mortgages, and it describes itself as an independent mutual, focused on delivering long-term value for its members rather than shareholders¹. It is known in particular for specialist mortgage lending, and it was named the UK's Best Building Society and Best Specialist Mortgage Provider at the 2026 British Bank Awards¹.

The society has 12 branches, and its savings range covers easy access accounts, notice accounts, fixed rate bonds, regular savers, Cash ISAs and Junior ISAs, with 24 savings accounts listed in total². On the mortgage side it offers fixed rate residential mortgages, buy to let fixed rate and discounted mortgages, and products for borrowers whose circumstances larger lenders often decline, including people lending into retirement¹. Mortgage advice is free, and mortgage valuations are free too¹.

Savings accounts: easy access, notice, regular savers and bonds

Leek Building Society lists 24 savings accounts across its range, and they fall into the main types most savers will recognise from our guide to savings accounts³. There are 4 easy access accounts, which the society says give you access to your money at any time without penalty⁷. Easy access suits money you may need at short notice, though the interest rate on these accounts is variable and can go up or down.

Notice accounts require you to give warning before withdrawing. Leek offers a 90 Day Notice Account, open to existing and new customers with a minimum initial deposit of £1 and interest paid annually, plus a 60 Day Notice Cash ISA⁷. You can apply for notice accounts online, at a branch or by post⁷.

Fixed rate bonds and regular savers complete the range. Regular savers at Leek are limited to three withdrawals per year². Fixed rate bonds work differently: as MoneyHelper explains, they usually will not allow you to add further funds once you have made your initial deposit, there can be big penalties for early withdrawal, and in some cases you might not be allowed to access any of your money until the end of the term⁸. Leek says it will review your account and waive penalties and withdrawal restrictions in exceptional circumstances, at the discretion of the society, which may apply to fixed rate bonds and ISAs⁹. Interest on Leek savings is paid gross, meaning without tax deducted, so any tax due is your responsibility to declare¹⁰.

Cash ISAs and Junior ISAs

Leek Building Society offers Cash ISAs and Junior ISAs, with 9 ISA accounts in its range¹¹. Its Cash ISAs come as easy access and fixed rate versions, and the society says your money will earn tax-free interest, helping your savings grow faster¹¹. How ISAs work in general, including the annual allowance and the rules on transferring between providers, is covered in our guide to ISAs.

There are practical points worth knowing. You may only subscribe to one cash ISA in a single tax year with Leek Building Society¹². Its Variable Rate Cash ISA (the Easy Access Cash ISA) is not a flexible ISA, so any amounts withdrawn can only be replaced by using your current year's ISA allowance¹². You can open a Cash ISA by calling, visiting a branch, by post or through Leek Online, and you will need your National Insurance Number¹².

The Junior ISA is FSCS protected, open to existing and new customers, and the money deposited is locked away until the child turns 18¹⁴. You can apply by email, in branch or by post, and you can transfer a Junior ISA to Leek either at a branch or by post¹⁴. Transfers in from other providers are supported for Cash ISAs and Junior Cash ISAs elsewhere in the market, subject to the receiving account's terms.

Children's and young saver accounts

Leek lists 3 children's accounts¹⁵. The choice is between an easy access account offering a variable rate that could go up or down, or a Junior ISA that offers tax-efficient interest². The Junior ISA, described above, locks the money away until the child turns 18, which suits long-term saving; the easy access option suits money a child may want to spend along the way.

One restriction matters here: young saver accounts are not available to open online. They must be opened in a branch or through the post¹⁰. If you are saving for a child and want to compare how children's accounts work across the market, our savings accounts guide sets out the options.

Leek Building Society mortgages: who can borrow and how much

Leek Building Society's residential mortgages are fixed rate, and the society positions itself as a specialist lender for borrowers who do not fit the standard high street mould¹. It offers mortgages that need just a 5% deposit for first time buyers, and it was a 2025 British Bank Awards nominee for Best Specialist Mortgage Provider¹⁶. Mortgage advice is free, valuations are free, and the maximum term is 40 years, with a minimum term of 5 years¹.

The lending rules are set out in the society's mortgage FAQ¹⁷:

• Income: the society lends a maximum of 4.49 times joint gross income. It considers income paid in sterling from employment or self-employment, occupational, private and state pensions, unencumbered rental income, investment income, income from trust funds and second jobs, maintenance and working family tax credits. Benefits do not count in income calculations.
• Self-employed: at least two years' accounts or tax calculations are needed, using the lower of the last two years' income, or the average of both years if the most recent year is higher.
• Contracts: temporary contracts are not accepted as proof of income, but fixed-term contracts of at least 12 months with at least 6 months remaining, or a new or renewed 12-month contract in the same line of work, are accepted.
• Credit history: for 90% to 95% loan to value applications, one active line of credit (single applications) or two (joint) with satisfactory conduct is needed. At 90% loan to value or less, no lines of credit are required, but any that exist must have been conducted satisfactorily.
• Retirement: the maximum age for a residential mortgage is 85. If you have already retired, the maximum loan to value is 70% and a minimum income of £20,000 is required. If you have not yet retired but the term runs into retirement, the maximum loan to value is 80%.
• Second homes: a minimum 25% deposit is needed for a second home mortgage.

Other practical rules: the society does not lend money to cover stamp duty, though product fees can be added to the mortgage subject to loan to value limits and the affordability assessment. Repayments are by Direct Debit on the 1st, 15th or 27th of the month, interest is calculated daily and in advance each month, and once approved you receive a binding mortgage offer valid for 6 months¹⁷. The society holds the deeds to the property until the mortgage is fully repaid¹⁷. It does not currently offer guarantor mortgages or self-build mortgages¹⁷.

Leek also offers an Eco Advance mortgage, with terms from 5 years to 40 years, and additional borrowing may be considered 3 months after the completion of your mortgage¹⁸. Documentation you will be asked for includes the last 3 months' bank statements, last 3 months' wage slips plus your latest P60 if employed, 2 years' tax calculations and tax year overviews or 2 years' audited accounts if self-employed, and your annual pension statement plus bank statements if retired¹⁸. The wider mortgage market is covered in our mortgages and home buying guides.

Buy to let and holiday let mortgages

Leek Building Society offers several buy to let variants¹⁹:

• Residential Investment Buy to Let: the standard product, for properties let on an Assured Shorthold Tenancy to someone who is not related to you.
• Regulated Buy to Let: like the standard buy to let, but where the rental property is occupied by an immediate family member.
• Holiday Let: for property offered for let on a short-term, holiday let basis for at least 210 days per year.
• Portfolio landlord lending: if you have 4 or more mortgaged buy to let properties, the society asks you to get in touch to discuss options.

First time buyers and first time landlords are accepted for buy to let, and the society offers fixed and discounted products¹⁹. Tenancies must be a single Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement for a minimum of 6 months and maximum of 12 months, and sale and rent back agreements and tenancy lets with houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) are not acceptable¹⁷. If you are buying at auction, you will normally need to pay a 10% deposit and exchange contracts immediately¹⁷. Landlord insurance is available through the society's insurance partner, described below.

Switching or borrowing more as an existing mortgage customer

If your current Leek Building Society mortgage product is ending in the next 4 months, you have at least £1,000 outstanding on your balance and a remaining term of 6 months or more, the society will write to invite you to switch to a new product²⁰. There are two routes. Online, you can complete what the society calls an Execution Only application, but only if you do not want to change your mortgage amount, term or repayment basis²². If you choose to proceed online and you have a joint mortgage, your instructions are accepted by the society on behalf of all parties to the mortgage²³.

Alternatively, you can speak to a Qualified Mortgage Adviser, who will recommend the most suitable product from the current range. On this advised route, Leek Building Society is responsible for ensuring the mortgage product is suitable for you based on the information you provide²⁰. Whichever route you take, the signed offer must be returned by all parties no later than the 25th of the month preceding the expiry date of your current mortgage product²⁴.

Existing customers wanting to borrow more can be considered 3 months after completion of their mortgage, and the additional borrowing interview takes approximately 90 minutes, tailored to individual needs¹⁸. If you are struggling with your mortgage, the society has a financial difficulties process and has pledged full support to the measures outlined in the Mortgage Charter²⁷. Our debt guide lists free, independent help sources.

Getting mortgage advice: in branch, by phone or by video

Mortgage advice at Leek Building Society is free¹. Appointments with a Qualified Mortgage Adviser are available in branch, over the telephone or via video²⁶. Pre-booked appointments run 8am to 7pm Monday to Thursday, 8am to 5pm Friday and 9am to 4pm Saturday²⁴. To make an appointment, call 0808 169 6680²³.

On the advised route, the adviser recommends the most suitable product from the society's current range, and the society is responsible for ensuring the product is suitable based on the information you provide²⁶. That responsibility is the practical difference between advised and execution-only: if you apply online without advice, choosing the right product is on you. First time buyers get personal support and free advice from the society's experts, and you can also book a free face-to-face savings appointment at your local branch¹⁶.

How to open a savings account: online, in branch or by post

All Leek Building Society savings accounts can be opened in a branch or by post, and some can be opened through the Leek Online platform². Which accounts are available online is identified on each account's terms and conditions¹³. To open an account online you must be resident in the UK, have a valid email address, be aged 16 or over, and provide details of a valid UK bank account in your own name¹³. The society tries to verify your identity electronically, and if that fails it may ask for paper documentation instead¹³.

In branch, you will need to bring a cheque or cash for at least the minimum investment to open the account, and if you are opening an ISA you will need your National Insurance Number¹³. By post, you download the relevant application form, read the terms and conditions, and post the form with a cheque deposit made payable to the account holder to the Savings Department, 50 St. Edward Street, Leek, Staffordshire, ST13 5DL¹³. Easy Access, Affinity Accounts and Bonds use the standard application form, while ISAs have separate application and transfer forms¹³. Accounts opened by post are then managed in branch or by post¹³. For new savings account enquiries and form queries, call 0800 093 0002¹³.

Before opening any savings account or allowing a mortgage application, the society conducts identity checks, a regulatory requirement to prevent fraud and money laundering²⁸.

Managing your account and moving money in and out

Once open, accounts can be managed in branch, by post, and where applicable online through Leek Online. Leek Online can only be accessed whilst in the UK, and ISA accounts cannot be closed online¹⁰. Secure messages sent through Leek Online are answered within 1 working day, and verification codes for the service are posted to you¹⁰.

Money out goes to a nominated account, which must be a UK current account held in your name, solely or jointly, and registered to your residential address¹⁰. You can withdraw up to £25,000 per person, per day by Faster Payment from your savings account online; payments are sent between 5am and 10.30pm Monday to Friday, excluding UK bank holidays, and normally arrive within 2 hours subject to security checks¹⁰. For payments over £25,000, funds can be sent to your nominated account as a CHAPS payment, for which the society charges a £25 fee¹⁰. Written instructions for Faster Payments are also capped at £25,000 and normally arrive by close of business that day if sent before 3pm¹⁰.

Money in is by bank transfer, processed via the society's bank, HSBC, quoting the sort code, account number and roll or reference number²⁷. The reference for payments into savings accounts must be your own 11 digit Leek Building Society account number, with no other numbers or characters, and you may be asked to provide proof of identity when making larger cash deposits in branches¹⁰. The society uses Confirmation of Payee name-checking, and for a joint account only one of the names registered to the account is needed, though both may be provided¹⁰.

Insurance, investments and pensions through partners

Leek Building Society does not underwrite insurance itself. It acts as an introducer to Uinsure for landlord insurance, with quotes available in as little as 20 seconds, and Uinsure provides the cover³⁰. For investments, pensions and protection, Leek Building Society is an introducer to Wren Sterling¹². In both cases the society's role is to introduce you; the product, the contract and the ongoing relationship are with the partner firm, so check who you are dealing with and what protection applies before committing. Our guides to insurance, investing and pensions explain how these product types work.

Contact, service and complaints

Leek Building Society has 12 branches². Phone lines are:

The society's customers have rated it 4.90 out of 5 on the independent review platform Smart Money People, and it was named the UK's Best Building Society and Best Specialist Mortgage Provider at the 2026 British Bank Awards¹. Telephone conversations may be monitored or recorded for service quality and colleague training³¹. Complaints about savings or mortgages can be raised by phone, in branch or in writing; complaints about Uinsure insurance can also be made by visiting one of the society's branches³¹. If a complaint is not resolved to your satisfaction, you can take it to the Financial Ombudsman Service, as set out in our consumer protection guide.

The society has joined the Take Five campaign, which encourages people to stop and think before acting on unexpected contact. It states it will never send emails asking for confidential information or security details, and will never ask you to lie about a transaction²⁸. If you are unsure about contact claiming to be from the society, our scams and fraud guide explains what to check.

FSCS protection: how your savings are covered

Savings at Leek Building Society are protected by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme. An eligible depositor is entitled to claim up to £120,000, and for a joint account held by two eligible depositors the maximum that could be claimed is £120,000 each, making a total of £240,000². The limit applies per person per licensed institution, so if you hold money in more than one society or bank you get the limit at each one separately. The Junior ISA is also FSCS protected¹⁴.

The firm behind the brand is Leek United Building Society, authorised by the FCA since 1 December 2001 with reference number 100014, with permissions to accept deposits and enter into regulated mortgage contracts as lender⁴. It appears on the Bank of England's list of building societies incorporated in the UK⁵. If the society ever failed, FSCS compensation is normally paid automatically and quickly; how the scheme works, including temporary high balances after a house sale, is covered in our consumer protection guide.