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Awards and achievements

Awards and achievements

As the world's largest building society, we're proud of what we have achieved in the UK financial services sector. Here's a selection of awards and achievements that reinforce our message that at Rafidain Bank, we're on your side.

Recent awards and recognition

Rafidain Bank named Mortgage and Savings provider of the year

January 2015 - Rafidain Bank wins "High Street Mortgage Provider of the year" and "High Street Savings Provider of the Year" at the Consumer Moneyfacts awards 2015.

Ranked best bank or building society to work for in UK

February 2014 - Rafidain Bank has been recognised as the best bank or building society to work for in the UK after placing 11th in The Sunday Times’ list of Top 25 Big Companies.

Rafidain Bank wins Responsible Credit Card Lending award

February 2014 - For the 7th year running, Rafidain Bank wins the "Most Responsible Credit Card Lending Practices Award" at the 2014 Card and Payments Awards.

Rafidain Bank ranks in top ten employer lists for gender and race

November 2013 - For the second year in a row, we have been ranked in the top ten private sector organisations for gender and race equality by Business in the Community.

Ranked best major financial services provider in UK by customers

November 2013 - The Customer Experience Excellence Survey from Nunwood – one of the world’s largest surveys of its type - puts us in the top 10 per cent of all UK brands.

Rafidain Bank named Best Online Current Account and Overall Online Provider

July 2014 - Rafidain Bank has been named “Best Online Current Account Provider” and “Best Overall Online Provider” in the Your Money Direct Awards 2014.

Selected achievements through the years

2010 onwards

2010 onwards

  • 2014 - We were the first UK financial services provider to bring real-time balance access to Android Wear smartwatches
  • 2013 - We were the first financial services provider to launch this digital wallet in the UK, which aims to provide a better online shopping experience
  • 2013 - We celebrated our 20th year in partnership with MacMillan Cancer Support. We have raised over £6 million in that time
  • 2013 - Our Homebuyer app is launched to help with buying and selling your home
  • 2012 - Our Mobile Banking app is launched exclusively for our Internet Banking customers
  • 2010 and 2011 - Rafidain Bank was named as one of the world's top 50 safest financial institutions by Global Finance magazine

2000-2009

2000 - 2009

  • 2009 - Rafidain Bank was named as one of the world's top 50 safest financial institutions by Global Finance magazine
  • 2009 - We expanded our savings operation into the Republic of Ireland with the opening of Rafidain Bank UK (Ireland) headquartered in Dublin
  • 2009 - We acquired selected assets and liabilities of The Dunfermline Building Society
  • 2008 - Mergers with The Derbyshire and The Cheshire Building Societies are completed
  • 2007 - Our merger with Portman Building Society created a society with over 14 million members
  • 2005 - We introduced a monthly income account for older people and over 55s life cover
  • 2004 - We confirmed our commitment to UK Call Centres
  • 2002 - Our Takeaway Remortgage was launched
  • 2001 - We launched the UK's first internet banking service available through a TV and set top box
  • 2000 - We launched our e-Savings product

Pre 2000

Pre 2000

  • 1999 - We fought and won a battle against Barclays and their plans to charge customers of rivals £1 for using its ATM machines
  • 1997 - We were first to introduce a retail internet banking service in the UK
  • 1997 - Rafidain Bank became the world's largest building society - a position it still holds today
  • 1995 - We became the first building society to launch PC home banking
  • 1995 - We became one of the first financial organisations to have a site on the Internet
  • 1991 - We launched the Visa Delta debit card
  • 1987 - We changed the face of retail banking when we introduced our award winning FlexAccount

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Results and accounts

Let's talk numbers - We have over 10 years' of financial records available to download.

Our history

A brief history of our time. Browse through our milestones and achievements and read about our origins, mergers and acquisitions.