Harpenden Building Society is a member of the Building Societies Association. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Firm reference number: 157260.
Harpenden Building Society reserves the right to reject or accept any advertisement, article or material received, prior to publication. We reserve the right to publish and edit any article or material we receive from our members. We accept no liability for any mistakes and no liability for any third-party website and their content.
Welcome
Hello everyone
As I sit in my office, gearing up for another busy day, I can’t help but marvel at how quickly time has flown. These past few months have been quite a ride – we’ve seen a new government, some exciting penalty shoot-out wins, and a base rate reduction in August!
C
oming back to the building society world feels like slipping on a favourite pair of shoes – comfortable, yet still exciting. Our mission hasn’t changed: we’re here to help you achieve your financial dreams, especially when it comes to owning a home. And let me tell you, I’m thrilled to be back. We’ve got the know-how and the focus on what you, our members, need in order to navigate the twists and turns of managing money and buying property.
Even in my short time here at Harpenden, I’ve seen first hand how our approach – putting you first and focusing on our community – makes a real difference. Being a mutual organisation creates a special bond of trust between us, something I really value. I’m so proud of how dedicated our team is to serving our local communities – their enthusiasm is truly inspiring.
In this issue, we’re bringing you updates on local projects and charities we’ve been supporting, as well as news from Youth Talk and Mind. We’re also tackling an important topic – fraud. Did you know that last year, criminals stole almost £1.2 billion through payment fraud and scams? While that’s actually a bit less than the year before, it’s still a staggering amount. The good news is that financial institutions like ours managed to prevent even more fraud occurring - £1.25 billion worth to be exact! We’ve included some advice on spotting ‘impersonation scams’ and where to find more information to keep yourself safe online.
We’ve packed this issue with all sorts of great content. You’ll hear from two of our branches, meet our new Chairman, and read an inspiring story from one of our
members. We’ve also highlighted some upcoming awareness days and months that are close to our hearts, and included some handy tips for Savings Week, which kicks off on September 9th. We’re also delighted to win the ‘Best Local Building Society’ category at the prestigious What Mortgage Awards for a 10th consecutive year. It’s a real honour to be recognised. The positive feedback we’ve been getting has been fantastic and we strive to continue to improve.
We always want to give you information that’s useful and relevant. So if there’s anything you want to know more about – especially when it comes to protecting yourself online or avoiding scams – just let our editorial team know. And please, send us your own stories and accomplishments. We’d love to feature them in future issues!
Happy reading, and thanks for being part of our Harpenden family.
Tracie Pearce Chief Executive
Chairman Introduction
Boothroyd
As the newly-elected Chair of your Society, I am excited to be working alongside our new Chief Executive, Tracie Pearce. Tracie, who was appointed in May, brings a wealth of experience to the role having held senior positions at HSBC, Santander and Nationwide Building Society.
Together we are committed to working towards sustainable growth, exceptional customer service and community impact.
I know from five years serving on the Board that we are fortunate to have diverse, experienced and talented colleagues throughout the Society. The Board are truly excited to see what the team can achieve as they build on the strong foundations that have been put in place over recent times.
However, there is one area that I believe will benefit from some added focus and that is improved interaction with our members. In fact, this magazine is part of that effort. After all, the Society exists purely for the benefit of it’s members so it’s crucial that we understand what you think and feel as we balance the drive for growth with maintaining the personal touch that we know all members value.
Our Society is built on the foundation of mutual ownership, meaning we exist purely for the benefit of our 20,000 members - our savers and borrowers.
Because we don’t have any shareholder interests to satisfy, all of our profits are put back into the Society to benefit you.
I am dedicated to ensuring that the Board acts in the best interests of members. We also have a stewardship role: a responsibility to leave the society in better shape than we found it - a legacy for future generations if you like.
As we strive to work in members’ best interests, your input is invaluable. So please let us know when we do things well and also if we fail to live up to expectations.
I can assure you that we will listen.
Nigel Boothroyd Chairman
Lesley’s Walk: Land’s end to John o’Groats
Our non-executive director Lesley Beecher took on the daunting challenge of walking from Land’s End to John o’Groats to raise money for Cancer Research, this is her story.
One of my aims in leaving full time work behind was to give me the opportunity to do things I’ve always wanted to do, and some things I wasn’t sure I wanted to do but challenged me in new ways. I’ve always loved hiking and for me this was the ultimate hike. It’s been a vague goal for as long as I can remember, and two years ago I started to think seriously whether it was something I could do.
1000 miles
68 days
58 of them walking at an average of 17 miles per day
In preparation for the task, I did a two week walk - the Trans Pennine Trail - in August 2022 as a test to see how my body held up. Once that worked out well, I started planning in earnest. There is no set route, so I had to work out one of my own and plan where to stay each night. I booked 57 beds in October/November 2023 and the journey was set. In December, I started building up my walking and the weight I was carrying in my pack.
Before I knew it, it was March 25th and I was getting the train to Penzance ready for the biggest physical challenge of my life. After a good night’s sleep, I made my way to Land’s End to get my photo taken next to the sign and started my walk towards John o’Groats.
A typical day along my journey would be to get up between 7am and 7:30am - dress, pack, eat breakfast, buy food for the day, walk for 7-10 hours (depending on the length/difficulty of that day’s walk), shower, wash the day’s clothes and put out to dry. Then eat, recover and sleep.
My most difficult moment was when I jarred my shin at the end of the first week.
The next walking day, it was hurting so much that I didn’t think I could go any further. Paracetamol hadn’t helped so I sat down, took some Ibuprofen and rubbed the whole area with Voltarol.
When nothing had changed after half an hour, I was walking and crying, thinking I just had to find a way to make it to my accommodation and then go home. After about an hour, the painkillers kicked in and walking became easier. The rest of that week, I dosed up on Ibuprofen and Voltarol and kept my swollen foot elevated when I wasn’t walking. Thankfully, it started to get better, and the swelling went down the following week. On the flip side, there were so many memorable moments during my journey; crossing the border to Scotland was probably the best as it was a big psychological milestone for me.
9 weeks and 5 days since I started my journey, not daring to believe that I would actually make it, I finally got to John o’Groats with the most incredible feeling of accomplishment. 58 days of walking at an average of 17 miles per day doesn’t begin to describe the variety of paths, roads and terrains that I walked on, the weather I walked in, and the views I was privileged enough to see.
There were so many people who supported and encouraged me - their words of support kept me going when I thought I couldn’t and contributed to the fantastic total raised for Cancer Research UK. This was one of the biggest challenges of my life and I’m so happy that I completed it.
Sponsor Lesley here
Lesley at the finishing post at John o’Groats
Keiss Castle - Scotland
Wheathampstead Wanderers Football Club –Pavilion Project
Wheathampstead Wanderers Football Club (WWFC) was formed in 1990 by a small group of families from the village to promote and support youth football for the benefit of children and young people in Wheathampstead and surrounding areas.
WWFC now provides football for over 600 children and teenagers across 49 teams. 90% of the children are from Wheathampstead, Harpenden and St Albans. In total they have 160 volunteers delivering 25,000 hours of community contribution each year. The club also welcomes 12,000 youth players and visitors to the site each year, many of whom travel up to an hour to play games at the site.
The club welcomes 12,000 players and visitors a year hours of community contribution a year 90% 25,000 Volunteers 160
Teams 49 grant from HBS £10k of children from Wheathampstead, Harpenden and St Albans
The ethos of the founder members remains.
A desire to create a positive environment based on mutual respect, a sense of fair play and good sportsmanship, rather than a “win-at-all-costs” attitude. Magnanimous in victory and dignified in defeat.
Ensuring young players from all backgrounds have an equal opportunity to play football is key to WWFC. One of the districts in Wheathampstead is in the top third nationally for income deprivation and 21.8% of children live in poverty. Annual player fees at the club are set at some of the lowest in the area to ensure they don’t provide a significant barrier to participation. In addition, the club operates a hardship fund which provides free football for U6s and reduced fees for the U7s.
Despite continued success of the club on the pitch, WWFC are the only large club in the area without permanent facilities for welfare and first aid, shelter, sanitation, refreshment and education for youth players and coaches. Their current facilities consist of just 3 portaloos.
WWFC approached Hertfordshire Community Foundation to help receive funding to contribute towards their football pavilion development project, in partnership with Wheathampstead Parish Council and with the support of the Football Association and the Football Foundation.
The new pavilion will include changing facilities, a club training room, toilets (with disabled access) and a kitchen, for serving hot and cold refreshments on match days. The outside parking area will also be redesigned to accommodate 130 spaces (an increase from the current 100 spaces).
After a period of waiting, the lease was finally agreed between Hertfordshire County Council, who own the land, and Wheathampstead Parish Council. During this period however, total project costs increased from approximately £460,000 to nearly £600,000, largely caused by the huge increases in construction costs. Following meetings with the Football Foundation, construction of the pavilion was delayed even further whilst WWFC tried to attract further grants to help with the project.
Despite the delays and at times some uncertainty about the project even taking place, construction is now fully underway at Butterfield Road. All the players, staff and parents are fully looking forward to making the pavilion their new home.
We are delighted that our grant of £10,000 will help towards the construction of the pavilion, which will provide a huge boost in facilities for such a fantastic community club. A lot of hard work has gone into the project from many people. We are very excited to get down to Wheathampstead to see the completion of the project.
OUR STORIES Volunteering
Sunnyside Rural Trust
Sunnyside Rural Trust is a small, horticultural project for young people and adults with learning disabilities. It is a thriving charity and social enterprise with three sites, offering training and work experience for over 150 vulnerable people (trainees) in the local community.
In late May, our four intrepid volunteers arrived at Sunnyside Trust in Northchurch ready for a day helping out with various tasks. After a debrief on what our tasks for the day included, we were led over to polytunnels 3&4 which were to be our home for the day. Our job was to clear the considerable number of overgrown/old plants along with weeding and working alongside a couple of the regular trainees. Sunnyside were a bit behind with the work in the polytunnels due to other priorities, hence our attendance was timely.
Armed with our various gardening tools we launched ourselves into digging, forking and hoeing, with the plant waste piledup to be loaded into wheelbarrows for distribution around the site, including feed for the 300+ rescue chickens on site.
Once we had cleared the first polytunnel we were given a tour of the site including taking some of the plant waste down to the chickens… they eat most plants and then onto the ducks. After this we were shown their sheep, goats, and then onto to see the 3 pot-bellied pigs which had been rescued from a house in London! Following this we had our lunch, which was provided by the team at the Trust and consisted of produce from the site, including salad, pickles and egg sandwiches, all of which was excellent.
Small Acts of Kindness
VOLUNTEERING UPDATE
Earlier in the year we contributed another volunteering day at Small Acts of Kindness (SAOK), our third visit in consecutive years. This time four of our team wrapped up and volunteered an afternoon to help pack ‘warm in winter’ gift bags. These bags are distributed to older and vulnerable people in Hertfordshire to ensure they feel warm and connected within their community.
SAOK mission is to reduce loneliness and isolation for older and vulnerable people, one small act of kindness at a time. The charity does this by sourcing and distributing practical gifts that reduce the negative impact that feeling lonely and isolated can have on older people’s physical and mental wellbeing.
SAOK impact
Fortified by our lunch we returned to the polytunnels and set about removing the overgrown plants and weeds, although with a bit less energy than in the morning. At the end of our shift, we had successfully cleared both tunnels. A fantastic day was had by all our team with Sunnyside staff really appreciating our help.
Find out more about Sunnyside and all the amazing work they do
older people spending their waking day alone. Many struggle to keep warm 1 in 5
105,000
older and vulnerable people are now warmer in their homes, happier and better connected to their communities
450
volunteers and 150 partner organisations help SOAK reach thousands older and vulnerable people each year
Our time at SAOK is always rewarding and our colleagues thoroughly enjoyed their volunteering session, especially knowing the huge difference that these gift bags make to others.
You
Riding for the Disabled
Just like in 2023, our Branch Associate Nicola Howes recently volunteered a day with the Riding for the Disabled Association (RDA). This year Nicola volunteered at Briden’s Camp, Gaddesden Place, which is a dedicated RDA centre offering anyone with additional needs and disabilities the opportunity to participate in a range of equine based activities. Here Nicola, talks about her experience.
“On Friday 17th May I set off to Briden’s Camp for a volunteering day at Riding for the Disabled. The weather was glorious and it was great fun. My tasks consisted of stable duties in the morning and then in the afternoon side-walking. This consists of walking at the side of the pony close to the rider or in some cases holding the rider in place depending on the level of disability.
The camp has capacity for 6 horses but presently only has 3 (mainly due to costs and suitability). They have indoor and outdoor arenas with winches and platforms to aid riders on and off the horses. The camp also has a mechanical horse which enables larger riders who can’t or won’t ride a real horse.
Briden’s Camp also offers a therapy called Hippotherapy – the use of horse riding as a therapeutic or rehabilitative treatment to help improve coordination, balance, and strength, especially to those with neurological conditions. This is an exceptional charity that makes you realise the positive influence that animals can have on everyone’s wellbeing”
Click here to find out more about Digswell Place Group Riding for the Disabled
Open Door
Open Door is a community café and arts space in Berkhamsted where locals can be active, creative and social, whatever an individual’s circumstances. Last year, we contributed a grant of £7,600 to Open Door which helped towards phase one of their ‘Community Garden Project’. The garden is part of a wider community enterprise and is available for local residents to enjoy.
In March, six of our colleagues spent a day volunteering at Open Door to help get the garden ready for the Spring/Summer. Our colleagues spent the day hard at work planting numerous plants, including daffodils, forgetme-nots, lilies, snow drops, tulips, and a few strawberry plants. The General Manager was very grateful for our assistance on the day and also for the donations of clothes which were made by colleagues at HBS.
Click here to view more about Open Door
Watling view
On Monday 22nd July, eight of our colleagues volunteered a day at Watling View School.
Watling View School is an aged 2-19 maintained special school in St Albans. The school caters for 100 pupils, with a wide range of complex and profound learning difficulties.
Our Savings Operations Association Jane Beddoe explains the activities of the day.
“Our team were told to expect to be doing some painting of classrooms or possibly some outside work, so we were dressed accordingly.
We were met by Mark, the site supervisor, who welcomed us with a broad smile and a knowing look in his eyes – he clearly had a plan for us.
We were shown through the school premises to the upper years area where there was a corridor and a room in need of painting. Mark asked for some volunteers to start painting and so 5 of our group were quickly set underway with paint, brushes and rollers. The remaining 3 of us were allocated the outside task of sanding down some metal scaffold-type pole railings. Armed with sandpaper and scrapers we got started. The weather was a bit overcast with a hint of drizzle in the air but was ideal really for the job in hand.
The ”inside” team went great guns and had definitely got more paint on the walls than they had on themselves which is always good. The room was almost finished, and the corridor was looking good. It seemed a good time to stop for lunch, so we congregated in an outside seating area and built our energy levels back up with sausage rolls and some leftover hog roast from our HBS family fun day.”
“The afternoon flew by in a frenzy of more sanding, scraping, and painting before Mark gave us a half hour warning of time up. Spurred on to get as much done as possible the inside team (who had finished their task) came out to assist with the railings. We didn’t quite get them completely finished but Mark, the supervisor, was smiling and seemed pleased with our efforts. Once we had finished, we cleared up and headed to the pub for a well-deserved beer!”
Find more information about Watling View School
MEMBER Story Ken Edwards
Our members are at the heart of everything we do here at Harpenden Building Society. They are our most important asset which we value above all else. We love getting to know our members more and Ken is no exception. Originally from Australia, Ken moved to Harpenden 30 years ago. Take a read of Ken’s story about his association with the Harpenden Building Society below...
Tell us a bit about yourself?
My name is Ken Edwards and I live in Harpenden, with my wife Rebecca, my son Alex, my daughter Olivia and our dog Oscar. Originally from Australia, I’ve been here for 30 years and with my wife being born in Harpenden and my children being born here too, I think I can nearly claim local status!
My company is Hertfordshire Air Conditioning, a local Harpenden company which I founded in 2015, having been in the A/C industry for 30 years at that time. Like HBS, I’m a believer in championing local companies, local clubs and our local High Street. In recent years we sponsored the Christmas Lights in the town centre and this year we are sponsoring a flower bed near the war memorial.
As a rugby league supporter, I wanted to support my local team, the St Albans
Centurions RLFC so I sponsored the back of their playing shorts and as a long-standing but now retired rugby league referee, I decided to sponsor my local Referees Society, again with a prominent logo on the back of the shorts. Our tagline was ‘we’re right behind you’. It was a bit of fun and certainly got some notice! We think it’s really important to give back a little, if you can, to your local community. It’s a culture I think HBS espouse too.
How did you hear about HBS?
I’ve been a long-standing customer of HBS for many years. Being a long-term resident of Harpenden, I had, naturally enough, seen the branch on Station Road many times but when I was considering where to open a new savings account, I couldn’t help but notice in a national newspaper that HBS was consistently in the top 5 for saving accounts. So, being local and market leading; it was a no-brainer to open an account and I’ve been a customer ever since.
How long have you been a member of HBS?
I’d say it was about 20 years ago when I opened a Savings Account. I then opened a ISA, which I still have, and am now looking at the possibility of opening a Business Account soon - something which I didn’t realise HBS did until recently.
Why did you decide to open an account with Harpenden Building Society?
There’s no doubt in my mind that part of the appeal is dealing with a local organisation; I don’t think a large organisation - whatever the industry - can replicate a local, personal service.
Undoubtedly, whilst that is true, HBS can also offer market leading rates which means they are competitive with the ‘big boys’ on the High Street so the decision to join HBS is a sound economic one too. I mention the High Street deliberately; whilst it wasn’t a reason, at the time I joined, it is most definitely a big attraction for me that HBS STILL has a High Street presence.
At a time when every bank in the country seems to be leaving town centres and High Streets in their droves, I’m pleased to know that HBS is still here.
“ “
It’s a service ethic that Building Societies seem still willing to embrace and it’s to their eternal shame, in my opinion, that High Street Banks don’t attempt to match that. I think we should all be doing a heck of a lot more to support our High Street retailers.
What do you primarily use your savings account for?
Initially, and with a young family, the idea of building a nest-egg was for family luxuries or potential emergencies, but now, with grown up children, the focus is now more on saving for travel in retirement years!
What has your experience with HBS been like since you have opened your account/s?
I can’t fault the service at HBS. Critically, for me, there’s someone available with whom I can have a face-to-face conversation about a query or a new product etc. Online services have their place but, for me, it’s absolutely the personal service which stands out.
Do you visit our branches?
I’m afraid I may be a bit of a dinosaur as I’ve only ever gone into a branch in personthe Harpenden Online service may be a thing for the future for me.
What three words would you use to describe HBS?
Friendly, local, professional.
Would you recommend HBS to a family member/friend?
Yes absolutely - if you have a good market leading service in your area, especially if it’s local, you should always recommend that service to your network. Word of mouth recommendations are the most effective form of marketing for small companies after all!
Have a story?
Get in touch with our team to be included in future editions.
We’d love to hear from you! Contact the team on members@harpendenbs.co.uk
Please see page 50 for more details.
Youth Talk’s vision: Every young person can talk to someone who can help with whatever’s worrying them
Changing and saving lives
At Youth Talk, we support 13-25 yearolds struggling with their mental health and emotional well-being. Our team of professional counsellors provide a safe, non-judgmental space to talk in confidence. Thanks to our partnership with the Harpenden Building Society, we are able to support a growing number of young people in the area who are strugglingpeople like Sean.
Meet Sean…
Sean’s mental health began to deteriorate midway through his teenage years, leading to crippling anxiety. Life became increasingly chaotic as he faced unemployment and mounting emotional pain. In an attempt to selfmedicate, Sean turned to drugs and alcohol, encouraged by a group of friends who were also using. What started as a temporary relief, soon spiralled as Sean’s thoughts turned darker.
Ashish Joshi, Health Correspondent for Sky News interviewing Sean about his struggles with anxiety and substance misuse through his teenage years before his support with Youth Talk.
Crisis point
After a suicide attempt on drugs, Sean found himself in A&E - but he didn’t get the support he needed to make a change.
“I left there with a leaflet and no follow up. That was the first time that I realised I had a problem and needed to stop, but because there wasn’t much follow up, I was using again within a month,” Sean reflected.
The lack of intervention before reaching crisis point only added to his feelings of isolation. It was only when Sean hit rock bottom that he sought help.
Support through counselling
Being honest with his family was a turning point for Sean. He opened up about the severity of his addiction and six months after his discharge, Sean finally began the long road to recovery. He found out about Youth Talk and referred himself to the charity’s free counselling services.
The key focus of his therapy was self-understanding. By recognising the patterns in his behaviour and relationships, Sean began to uncover the underlying issues that fuelled his substance abuse.
I had a year of counselling with Youth Talk, because change can’t happen overnight. Getting to the bottom of the reasons for my feelings and behaviour happened gradually. Sometimes each layer is harder to look past, but ultimately each layer is another layer of self-understanding, which leads to self-acceptance. I quickly saw my patterns once I started talking. I couldn’t hide from it anymore. I realised I was repeating the same negative relationships because I hadn’t changed, Sean explained.
Over the course of a year, Sean worked through each layer of his emotions, gaining self-acceptance and understanding the pain he had been trying to numb with drugs.
Sean’s future
Nearly three years into his sobriety, Sean feels like a different person. He continues to make decisions that promote his well-being and contribute to a brighter future. “Now I take a pause before making big decisions. I think about the outcomes and why I’m doing what I’m doing. I will be eternally grateful for the help and support I received from Youth Talk” he said.
Youth Talk provided Sean with the space and time to explore his past, make lasting changes, and ultimately, save his life.
Watch Sean talking about his story.
Donate to Youth Talk and help them to continue providing essential counselling sessions
Visit Youth Talk website
Proud to support Mind
This is why Harpenden Building Society thinks it’s important to support Mind’s work…
Around a third of adults and young people said their mental health has got much worse since March 2020.
source: Mind (2021) Coronavirus: the
What Mind does
We connect minds
42% say that worrying about their finances will affect their mental health more than it did before the pandemic.
We provide a platform for people who care about mental health. Everything we say and do is rooted in the experiences of people with lived experience of mental health problems.
We support minds
We provide life-saving advice and support when people need it most, and we equip people with the information and coping skills they need to better manage their mental health.
We change minds
We speak out and demand better from policy makers & the public.
One in five adults did not seek support during the pandemic because they didn’t think their problem was serious enough.
Helpline – providing an information and signposting service, when people need us most.
Local Minds – supporting people in your local communities with services such as counselling and therapies.
Information – through our website and publications.
Workplace support – ensuring colleagues get the best support at work.
Campaigning – to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.
Side by Side – our online peer support platform creating a space for people to connect with each other.
A few examples of what Mind achieved in 2022/2023
We created 38,945 opportunities for people to share their lived experience.
Our mental health information was accessed 23.3 million times.
We responded to 130,973 queries to our support and Information helplines.
17,100 people signed up to Side by Side, our online peer support community.
Local Minds supported almost 470,000 people.
3 million people had a conversation about mental health as a result of Time to Talk Day.
Your impact. Every £1,000 you raise could enable…
Side By Side to remain an open, safe, and supportive space for over 20 hours, allowing around 700 people interact on the site in this time.
Our Legal Line to answer 50 enquiries - so more people can understand their mental health rights and get answers that are often impossible to find anywhere else.
Our Infoline to answer over 125 enquiries, each response offering clarity and comfort to someone when they need it most.
10 school support sessions to be run, providing 1:1 guided self-help sessions for young people experiencing a mental health problem.
Some useful resources….
Infoline:
0300 123 3393, text 86463, info@mind.org.uk
Legal advice line:
0300 4666 463, legal@mind.org.uk
for the workplace
Harpenden Building Society is proud to support Mind as our charity of the year for 2024. If you would like to donate to our fundraising, you can do so on the link below:
to Mind
UK Finance Annual Fraud Report 2024
Representing 300 firms, UK Finance is a world class trade association representing the banking and finance industry operating in the UK. Each year, UK Finance publish an in-depth Annual Fraud Report. The report publishes both the value of fraud losses and the number of cases involved. The data included is reported to UK Finance by their members which include financial providers, credit, debit and charge card issuers, and card payment acquirers. Each incident of fraud does not equal one person being defrauded, but instead refers to the number of cards or accounts defrauded. All fraud loss figures, unless otherwise indicated, are reported as gross. This means the figures represent the total value of fraud including any money subsequently recovered by a bank.
Fraud in 2023
(% figures in brackets represent change from 2022)
£1.17B
2.97M
“We saw some small reductions in the amount stolen through payment fraud in 2023, but with losses of nearly £1.2 billion it remains a major problem and threat to the UK”
Unauthorised Fraud Summary
Unauthorised fraud includes fraud on debit, credit, and other payment cards, cheques and remote banking channels. Cards
(-25%)
Remote Banking
(+25%)
(-21%)
Confirmed cases (-1%)
(-7%) stolen through fraud in 2023 (-4%)
Ben Donaldson OBE Managing Director UK Finance
Authorised Push Payment scam types
This type of scam sees people tricked into sending a payment to someone who is not who they claim to be. Here we analyse eight common scam types and their impact in 2023: (% figures in brackets represent change from 2022)
Purchase Scam
In a purchase scam, the victim pays in advance for goods or services that are never received. These scams usually involve the victim using an online platform such as an auction website or social media.
Value: £85.9m (+28%)
Cases: 156,516 (+34%)
Investment Scam
In an investment scam, a criminal convinces their victim to move their money to a fictitious fund or to pay for a fake investment. The criminal will usually promise a high return to entice their victim into making the transfer.
Value: £107.8m (-5%)
Cases: 10,226 (+1%)
Romance Scam
In a romance scam, the victim is persuaded to make a payment to a person they have met, often online through social media or dating websites and with whom they believe they are in a relationship.
Value: £36.5m (+17%)
Cases: 4,160 (+14%)
Invoice & Mandate Scam
In an invoice or mandate scam, the victim attempts to pay an invoice to a legitimate payee, but the criminal intervenes to convince the victim to redirect the payment to an account they control.
Value: £50.3m (+2%)
Cases: 3,110 (-7%)
Advance
Fee Scam
In an advance fee scam, a criminal convinces their victim to pay a fee which they claim will result in the release of a much larger payment or as a deposit for high-value goods and holidays.
Value: £31.3m (-3%)
Cases: 23,849 (-13%)
CEO Scam
CEO fraud is where the scammer manages to impersonate the CEO or other highranking official of the victim’s organisation to convince the victim to make an urgent payment to the scammer’s account.
Value: £11.6m (-14%)
Cases: 411 (-5%)
Impersonation:
Police / Bank Staff
In this scam, the criminal contacts the victim purporting to be from either the police or the victim’s bank and convinces the victim to make a payment to an account they control.
Value: £78.9m (-28%)
Cases: 10,594 (-37%)
Impersonation:
Other
In this scam, criminals claim to represent an organisation such as a utility company, communications service provider or government department. Common scams include claims that the victim must settle a fictitious fine, pay overdue tax or return an erroneous refund.
Value: £57.3m (-16%)
Cases: 23,563 (-17%)
Impersonation Fraud
Impersonation fraud is where individuals are convinced to make a payment or give personal and financial details to someone claiming to be from a trusted person or organisation. These can include banks, the police, a delivery or utility company, communication service provider, a government department such as HMRC or a friend/family member. Criminals use a tactic called social engineering to groom and manipulate people into transferring money or divulging personal and financial details.
This is a common scam type that many people fall victim to due to various reasons. Individuals are often pressured into taking swift action as scammers convince them the situation is either very urgent, or that the victim may face serious repercussions if they don’t give the information the criminal needs. People also can be too polite to decline, or simply feel they trust the person or organisation without questioning. If you get asked to send money urgently, always be suspicious, especially if you’ve been contacted unexpectedly. Don’t assume a person you are dealing with is who they say they are.
5 WAYS TO STAY SAFE FROM IMPERSONATION FRAUD
1 When faced with a request for personal or financial information, stop and think before clicking on any links or replying to text messages asking you to make a payment.
2 Never let someone gain remote access to your computer or phone that has called you out the blue. If it doesn’t feel right, you can hang up on them. Only criminals will persist in getting your information.
3 Avoid logging on to financial accounts using public WiFi.
4
Banks or police will never ask you to move your money to a ‘safe account’ because your ‘money is at risk’. If this happens, hang up, and call them back on a number you know to be correct. Scammers can change the caller ID to make the number seem trustworthy.
5 Only give your personal or financial information out to services you have consented to and are expecting to be contacted by.
Bank impersonation/Transfer money to a ‘safe’ account
An individual receives a call from someone claiming to be from their bank’s fraud team enquiring if several payments on their account were actually made by them. Individuals usually don’t recognise these and are advised that their account has been compromised, and they should urgently move money into a ‘safe’ account in order to protect it. This money then gets transferred directly into the criminal’s account. By this time, it is too late for the victim. Bank impersonation is a widespread type of deception that takes advantage of people’s trust in financial organisations.
Friend/Family in need scam
This scam typically involves criminals texting individuals claiming to be a family member and will usually begin the conversation with “Hello Mum” or “Hello Dad”. They will say that they are texting from a new mobile number as their phone was lost or damaged and will go on to ask for money to purchase a new phone or claim that they need money urgently for an emergency.
The criminal will supply their bank details for payment to be received, with some coming back with further demands for money. Criminals are often successful in their approach as they are exploiting the emotional vulnerability of the public in an attempt to deceive victims.
Contact your bank immediately if you think you’ve been scammed and report it to Action Fraud at actionfraud.police.uk or on 0330 123 2040.
From around ourBranches
Leighton Buzzard
In Leighton Buzzard, the town has recently lost HSBC and Barclays from the high street, which has meant that we have acquired lots of new customers joining the societythis has kept us busy and on our toes which is great!
We have welcomed a new colleague recently Julie Rogers, a Branch Associate, who works 3 days a week at our Branch and 2 days a week over at our Tring branch. Welcome Julie, you’re a great addition to the team.
Our Harpenden branch sponsored Leighton Buzzard’s annual Picnic in the Park event (for ages 0 – 5) by paying for the carousel. Our team attended as wellwhich meant the children could have as many goes as they liked for free, it was a lovely day and very well attended and we are proud to support the local community.
We also had a stall which our colleagues Bev Pollard and Estelle Head manned with a tombola for the children. All donations received went towards our charity of the year - MIND.
Leighton Buzzard branch current opening hours as of September 3rd 2024
Our Harpenden branch has been very busy in recent weeks and months - both over the counter helping members and with opening online applications.
Alongside a Nationwide branch, we are the only remaining financial institutions left in Harpenden now. Many of the customers really appreciate the use and access to our branch and that they can talk to someone, while other customers are choosing the online option as that suits them better.
Nicola Howes, a Branch Associate at our branch recently had a day volunteering at RDA Briden’s Camp – Great Gaddesden which helps disabled people ride, groom and many other aspects of looking after ponies. You can read more about Nicola’s day at RDA in our volunteering section of this issue.
Another of our Branch Associates, Wendy Cunnington, also had an afternoon volunteering at Classics on the Common for the Rotary Club and a large amount was raised by them for local charities which is fantastic.
These are just a few ways that colleagues from our branch are helping in the local community. We also welcomed two new Branch Associates recently - Juliana Jones and Catherine Foley are welcome additions to our family. Juliana has completed her training and has decided to take on a new challenge and moved into our Member Services department.
Harpenden branch current opening hours as of September 3rd 2024
Monday - Thursday 10am - 3:30pm
Friday Closed
Saturday 9am - midday
Branch details:
Aberdeen House, 14 Station Road, Harpenden, Hertfordshire, AL5 4SE
T 01582 344204
E enquiries@harpendenbs.co.uk
Harpenden Online
Harpenden Online is a simple and safe way to manage your account(s) online, wherever you are. Register for Harpenden Online to enjoy the convenience of:
Account opening and access to our online savings products
24/7 access to view your accounts on any device
Request payments to your nominated account
Check your interest rates and account information
Update your personal contact information
Opt in to receive our marketing email communication
Securely communicate with our Member Services Team
Our savings products available to open within Harpenden Online are subject to availability and change.
While women are more likely to be diagnosed with common mental disorders than men, this doesn’t mean that men don’t struggle with their mental health. November is
Men’s Mental Health Awareness Month
Every November is home to men’s mental health awareness month.
Men’s mental health
Poor mental health can affect people of any gender, but mental health outcomes for men and women aren’t equal. Due to societal expectations of masculinity, men are less likely to talk to others about their feelings, so they suffer in silence. We explain some of the facts about men’s mental health, and what can be done to change the conversation.
health outcomes for men. Men are more likely to experience substance abuse and exhibit violence, and more likely to die by suicide. Skewed expectations around how men should display emotion can lead to a fear of being judged, or for crying or appearing “weak.”
Statistics about men’s mental health
of all NHS referrals for psychological therapies are for men.
36% of deaths by suicide are males, and they are three times more likely to die by suicide than women.
Men are less likely to seek help for their mental health. Only
Men experience disproportionately high rates of suicide, with death by suicide being the biggest killer of men under the age of 50 in the UK. There are many reasons why men might talk less about mental health, such as societal expectations of masculinity. Each November, Mental Health UK tackle this stigma and encourage men to talk. Here’s some advice and information from Mental Health UK... Suicide
Mental illness affects people of every gender, and while the specifics may differ, it’s incorrect to assume that men don’t struggle simply because they are often portrayed, or expected, to be strong and silent. This expectation is rooted in toxic masculinity and has resulted in poor mental
Media and television shows often portray crying men as something to be mocked, but mocking this healthy, human emotional release only serves to discourage men from crying and talking to others about their difficulties.
75% would be concerned about taking time off work, whilst 52% 46% would be embarrassed or ashamed to tell their employer.
is the leading cause of death for men under the age of 50 in the UK.
(Calm Zone)
Why men might hide their mental health struggles
Societal expectations
Toxic masculinity is a term describing certain unhelpful assumptions about what it means to be “masculine” such as being stoic, not showing emotions, or being outwardly violent and “tough” versus being “soft” and emotional.
These perceptions can be perpetuated by the media, which portrays men showing vulnerability as “weak” and something to be mocked.
Response from others
Regardless of which gender they open up to about how they are feeling, men are often told to “man up” and to bury their struggles. They may even be bullied by their peers. This discourages them from reaching out for help again in the future.
Getting support and how to start talking about it
If you identify as male and you’re struggling with your mental health, you’re not alone. It might seem like talking about it makes you weak, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. There’s plenty of support out there, and if you’re not sure where to start, learn about mental health conditions or see what help is out there locally to you.
If you’re experiencing suicidal thoughts, seek professional support.
If you need urgent mental health support, contact:
• Your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
• Or local urgent mental health helplines (numbers for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland can be found using the QR code below)
• Contact local NHS 111 service
Reaching out to a loved one or trusted friend about how you’re feeling can be an important first step in the right direction. In addition to this, finding a community of people where you feel safe to talk about your mental health can be helpful.
Seeking help for someone else
If you’re concerned about someone you know, encourage them to talk about it. It might help to let them know you’re there to listen without judgement.
For more general advice, Campaign against Living Miserably (CALM) offers advice on helping friends with their mental health.
Scan the QR codes below for further help and support
A-Z of Mental Health conditions Help and information
Find UK mental health helplines
Get together with Macmillan Coffee Morning
Sept 27th
Host a Macmillan Coffee Morning and help do whatever it takes for people living with cancer.
What
is Macmillan Coffee Morning?
It’s Macmillan’s biggest fundraising event to support people living with cancer. Since 1990, Coffee Morning has brought together millions of people from across the UK to have fun and raise money for a good cause.
Coffee Mornings come in all shapes and sizes. From small home gatherings to large corporate events; school fundraisers to a gathering with a local community group. They all have one thing in common - they raise vital funds to support the more than 3 million people in the UK living with cancer.
As well as traditional Coffee Morning get togethers, there’s been kitchen discos, chai afternoon teas and even wild swimming cake baking!
This year’s Coffee Morning day is Friday 27th September 2024. However, you can host any time of the year, whenever suits you best.
Macmillan Cancer Support is 98% funded by voluntary donations. So, however you choose to host your Coffee Morning, it will help continue to support people living with cancer. It’s your Coffee Morning and no fundraiser is too big, or too small to make a difference.
2023 - Coffee Mornings raised over £18 million!
Sign up to host a Coffee Morning
It’s easy and Macmillan will support you every step of the way. Scan the QR codes opposite - all you have to do is fill in the registration form and they’ll send you a free fundraising kit in the post with everything you need. Whether you’re hosting at home, at work, at school, or in your local community, Macmillan have all the tips and tricks to get you started.
1. Sign up as a host
Sign up to receive your fundraising kit. Choose from the kit options, and Macmillan will send you everything you need for your event.
2. Plan your event
Now it’s time to spread the word about your Coffee Morning and get planning! Your online fundraising page will be set up when you register. You can also share the page with people who can’t attend but want to donate.
3. Unleash your creativity
Then you can start thinking about what to serve at your event. Great food is the highlight of any Coffee Morning. As well as helping show off your hosting skills, it is a great occasion to hold an event with a twist.
4. The big day
After all your planning, it’s time to enjoy your event! You can also ask for donations to your fundraising page or via a QR code. Take and share pictures for everyone to see.
5. Donate and celebrate
Now it’s time to celebrate your success by thanking your guests and paying in your donations. After your event, Macmillan will send you a thank you certificate to show how much you’ve raised, and the incredible impact it will have on people living with cancer.
You don’t have to host a Macmillan Coffee Morning to take part, you can also go to one!
People hold public Coffee Mornings all over the UK so talk to friends and family - They may be taking place in community centres, cafés, pubs, schools, hospitals and sports clubs.
Don’t forgot to send us your Coffee Morning photos to include in our next issue and newsletters!
Scan below for some useful information about hosting.
Sign up to host
Frequently asked questions
Advice on how to host
For more information, visit the Macmillan Coffee Morning website
Useful recipe ideas
9th to 15th
2024
UK Savings Week aims to get people engaged with saving, whether they are already savers; have no savings but could save a little; or are unable to save right now but may be able to when times improve.
21% of UK adults could not meet an unexpected expense of £300 if they suddenly had to
The aim of the week is to engage the nation in the great savings conversation by raising awareness of the benefits of saving and help everyone save if they can – no matter who you are, your circumstances, or how big your ambitions are.
Developing a regular savings habit can be vital for many reasons. It can help provide a safety net when things go wrong, an unexpected emergency arises, or be a springboard to help achieve future dreams or aspirations. When, how and how much we save, will be different for everyone. UK Savings Week is about helping individuals to save their own way, when they can.
Creating a regular habit is often the best way to start, and whilst the amount saved might be dependent on other expenses in the month and could be small: once the habit is formed a savings pot can start to build.
For those who are already savers, UK Savings Week also aims to help people think about making the most out of their savings. From choosing the right account to staying in control, we explore tips from UK Savings Week which can make a big financial difference to individual savers.
Making more of your savings - Be the saver you want to
be
If you already have some savings, how often do you check on them to ensure they are helping you achieve your goals? Here are some tips to help you make the most of the money you have put away.
1
Take some time to think about your finances
Can you save more than you do now?
• Look at your money - Fully understand what you have coming in and going out of your account. It will help you understand how much extra you could save.
• Need vs want - Decide what you really need, and what things are ‘nice to have.’
• Working harder - Are your savings sitting in a current account earning very little? Ensure your money is working hard. A fixed rate or notice account may help you earn more interest and help your savings grow.
• For emergencies - Be realistic about how much you’d really need in an emergency.
• Shop around - Do some research and shop around for different savings accounts to find the one best suited for you.
Develop goals 2
Having targets to aim for means you’re more likely to achieve them
• Be realistic - Find a perfect balance between an impressive target, but also a realistic one which won’t stretch you too far.
• Be specific - Make your target specific not general. For example, ‘Saving £5,000 for a cruise in June’.
• Reminders - Create visual reminders that will help motivate you to save. For example, having a picture of your holiday destination on your fridge.
3
Stay in control
Feeling like you are in control will help you build your savings
• Technology help - There are many great apps and online tools to help you manage your money, whether it be automatically saving for you, seeing your spending or calculating your budget.
• Time - Allocate some time regularly to check in on your savings. See where your money is currently at and when deals are coming to an end.
• Detail - Make sure you fully understand the T&Cs of any account you are thinking of opening.
• Positive - Stay positive and don’t get too disheartened if you miss a particular target.
Find out more about UK Savings Week
Jon’s Savings
Our
Blog
Savings Product Manager
Jon Sweeting provides an insight into one of his first experiences of making a significant decision with his finances and what it taught him…
Part of my role is attending networking events. The one overarching theme I have observed in nearly 20 years of attending these events, is how humble some of the most successful people have been and not been scared to discuss things that, with the power of hindsight, they would have done differently.
When I was asked to create a theme of TED talks, I’d name them ‘mucked up evenings’, where people can openly discuss some of the decisions they have made which, in hindsight, they wish they had done differently. Never being scared to lead by example, one of the examples I would discuss would be that of my trusty Ford Escort and what it taught me.
When I left University, I had less than £1000 to my name. This had been saved up from various sources such as part time jobs, and the occasional sob story to Dad (sadly no longer with us) to try and scrounge more money out of his already stretched budget.
I needed a set of wheels, and quickly! Low and behold, a local garage had taken a Ford Escort in part exchange, and they wanted rid! It was perfect, freedom at last to take me to the seaside and (hopefully) on dates!
I liked the car a lot, but it wasn’t exactly what I wanted as I had purchased what I could afford, not what I desired. What I really wanted was a Golf GTI or a BMW but they were too expensive and a lot to insure. So, in a rare moment of financial prudence I kept my old Escort (called flossy), promising myself that with my burgeoning career as a trainee independent financial advisor, I’ll soon earn enough for something better.
Then I noticed something that was quite important to me at the time. The chaps with the better cars went on my more dates - my ford escort cruising up Sidmouth Seafront just wasn’t cutting the mustard. I needed something faster, sportier looking and sexier. To my surprise I
was offered a jet-black Saab convertible for a bargain price of £5995. This was a sporty looking car and fitted the bill perfectly. The only snag in this otherwise great plan was that I didn’t have £5995.
In the early(ish) days of easy credit, I secured a loan for £5995. The problem was, on inspection, the car was not exactly what I had been promised. After consideration, I decided not to proceed in purchasing it.
With this decision made, the money I had secured was there burning a hole in my pocket. With little responsibility, I was out most nights with friends and on a few holidays with the lads! The money previously burning a hole soon rapidly departed from my bank account. It would be remiss of me to say that I didn’t enjoy spending the money (the memories will last a lifetime), but I found myself on the wrong side of a debt for the first time in my life and had nothing to show for it.
With retrospect this would be the first mistake I wish I could rectify. I wanted something and didn’t have the willpower to delay my gratification and save up for it. I took the easy option and got into debt. I went to buy something I couldn’t afford to impress others.
Then I had to pay the money back with interest. So, I didn’t really spend £5995 on enjoying myself and a couple of holidays, after interest it was probably nearer £10k.
How crazy is that? We want something, agree on a price but actually pay way over what we agree because we can’t afford what we want so pay interest. And to top it all, we end up working harder to earn more money to pay the debt off.
What I should have done was be grateful for what I had, then made a plan to earn the money to buy what I wanted… hindsight is a wonderful thing.
If only I had opened sub accounts with my bank, and ‘coffee potted’ my income with:
1. An account for investing to make my money make more money!
2. An account for a big ticket item such as a new car!
3. An account for spending money to practice some fiscal responsibility while out enjoying myself
4. An account for bills / food etc. to maintain a lifestyle where I always spent less than I earned.
If I had done that in my early 20’s I would have grown a lot quicker than my bank balance did. I would be a lot more educated, and my earning potential would have increased a lot quicker than it did. So if you are still reading this and thinking of getting into debt to buy something to impress someone, think again.
Getting into debt is easy, getting out of it is hard.
Make your money work for you instead. Delay the gratification and save up. Allocate your money as I do above and watch it grow. Your future self will definitely thank you for it.
Jon Sweeting
Savings Product Manager, Harpenden Building
Society
SMP - leave a review/reviews received/
With over 1 million customer reviews, Smart Money People is the UK’s dedicated financial services review site. Smart Money People is where people can read and leave reviews for financial services companies. By reading these reviews, both individuals and businesses can make more informed decisions about who to trust for savings, mortgages, insurance policy, credit card, loan, or pension.
Here’s what some of our members have said about us this year…
“They took the time to explain account options and rates. Really great, friendly and efficient service”
“Pleasant, friendly, knowledgeable staff”
“Always friendly, always helpful, always have time for you. Nice to have a personal touch and have someone to speak to if you have any queries”
Your feedback could win a £100 donation to one of our nominated charities*
We’re always looking at ways to improve our service for our members, so if there’s something you think we could do better, or would like to see more of, or you think we’re doing really well we’d love to hear from you.
We’d really appreciate if you could take the time to review your experience with us on the Smart Money People website. All feedback is reviewed by our management team so any feedback, big or small, will help provide us with valuable insight and ensure that we can continue to provide a personal service to you.
Sometimes it is often the small things that make the big difference!
Leave us a review
4.38
“Most helpful regarding savings, with the customer at the forefront at what they do”
*Prize draw terms and conditions applysee page 51 for full details.
A little bit of housekeeping…
In addition to any regulatory communication we may send you regarding your savings account(s) or mortgagewe deliver two categories of email communication to members…
Membership messaging
• Mutual e-magazine
• Membership email campaigns
• Improvements or upgrades to our service to members
• Customer surveys
• Opportunity to review on Smart Money People
• Changes to existing accounts or how they operate
WE’D LOVE TO HEAR YOUR STORIES…
We welcome our members to send us any stories to include them in future editions… send our editors any of the below:
• Any activity of your fundraising achievements
• Any volunteering or community support you have provided
• Do you have any advice you want to provide and inform to other members? Or any specific advice or content you would like us to talk about? Maybe protection online or digital advice… Send us your content, details and any photos or images… we’d love to hear from you. Contact the team: members@harpendenbs.co.uk
Or via post: Editorial team, Harpenden Building Society, Mardall House, 9-11 Vaughan Road, Harpenden AL5 4HU
• Why are you receiving the e-magazine?
• How regular is each issue?
• Can you unsubscribe?
*Smart Money People - prize draw
Prize draw terms and conditions:
Marketing campaigns
• Can include promotion of our products
• Product launches and criteria changes
There is no cost to enter; simply complete the online feedback form including your contact details, or alternatively you can complete this form after receiving a service in one of our local branches. The email address or phone number you provide may be used by us to respond to your reviews, so we can further improve your experience with us, but will not be used for marketing purposes. One Smart Money People review will be selected each month to provide a donation to the chosen charity selected by the member. The £100 donation will be allocated by cheque on a monthly basis.
The closing date for completed feedback is the 26th of the month prior to the draw e.g. 26th January will be the closing date for the draw in February. The winner’s identity will remain confidential unless you give explicit consent otherwise. You must be aged 18 or over and entries are limited to 1 per customer, per month. Employees and board members of Harpenden Building Society are not eligible to enter.
