Building Societies Association

The Building Societies Association (BSA), initially named the Building Societies Protection Association, was originally founded in 1869 to orchestrate a campaign to maintain stamp duty exemptions.^[1] It represents 42 building societies as well as seven credit unions in the United Kingdom. As of 2024 together these organisations serve c. 26 million customers.^[2]

Building Societies Association

Founded	1869 (1869)
Headquarters	London , England, UK
Website	www.bsa.org.uk

The BSA's objective is to push for the best outcomes for building societies and other members from the plethora of new and changing regulation and legislation in the UK and Europe.

Key sector statistics

Building societies have total assets of £415 billion and, together with their subsidiaries, hold residential mortgages of almost £330 billion, 23% of the total outstanding in the UK.^[when?]

They hold over £280 billion of retail deposits, accounting for 19% of all such deposits in the UK and account for 37% of all cash ISA balances.^[when?]

Building societies employ approximately 42,500 full and part-time staff and operate through approximately 1,470 branches.^[when?]

Coat of Arms

The BSA was granted a coat of arms by the College of Arms in 1956^[3].

Coat of arms of Building Societies Association

Granted 30 August 1956 Crest On a wreath of the colours, Issuant from a wreath of thrift proper a demi griffin Or, grasping in the dexter claw a key erect, wards upwards and outwards gules. Escutcheon Per chevron gules and azure, a chevronel argent between in chief two sprigs of thrift Or and in base a castle of three towers, the portcullis raised, gold. Supporters On either side a talbot pean charged on the shoulder with a sword erect gules surmounted of a portcullis pendant from the neck by the chains Or. Motto Unitate fortior