Pearson Solicitors welcome the Vernon Building Society to Uppermill

Face-to-face savings and mortgage services are returning to Uppermill, with the Vernon Building Society set to open a new community branch from the High Street offices of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management.

Residents and businesses across Saddleworth and the wider Oldham area will soon have access to local, face-to-face financial services, following the arrival of the Vernon Building Society at the High Street premises.

The new community branch is due to open in November and will be available every Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10am to 4pm.

The move comes at a time when access to traditional banking services on the high street has changed significantly across the UK. Saddleworth has been without a traditional high street bank since NatWest closed its Uppermill branch in 2016, meaning residents have had to travel to Oldham town centre or Tameside when they require certain financial services in person.

Since 2015, Oldham East and Saddleworth have lost more than 75 per cent of their banking facilities.

The arrival of the Vernon Building Society will provide another option for local people and businesses who value being able to speak to experienced financial professionals face-to-face.

A new financial service for Uppermill

The Uppermill branch represents the Vernon Building Society's first physical presence in the Oldham borough.

Colleagues from the Vernon will be based at the offices of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management on High Street, providing access to savings and mortgage services for people across Saddleworth and the wider Oldham area.

The new service also adds another dimension to the professional services already available from the Uppermill premises, where residents and businesses can access legal and financial expertise.

Joanne Ormston, Director at Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers, said:

“As a Stockport resident, I have long been aware of the Vernon and the important role it plays in the communities across Greater Manchester, and we’re delighted to welcome the Vernon to join our office space.

“There is a real synergy between our organisations, with a shared commitment to providing people and businesses with accessible, personal advice and support. The addition of Vernon’s services means local people can access a wider range of legal and financial expertise, all under one roof.”

Supporting access to high street financial services

The opening comes as communities across Greater Manchester continue to see changes to their high street banking provision.

For many people, the ability to visit a local branch and speak to someone face-to-face remains important, particularly when dealing with more complex financial matters such as mortgages and savings.

Vernon's community branch model is designed to provide a local alternative in areas where traditional banking facilities have reduced.

Darren Ditchburn, CEO at Vernon Building Society, said:

“We’re proud to be extending the Vernon’s member-owned approach to Oldham, bringing our commitment to personal service and local communities to our new community branch in Uppermill.

“Oldham is home to many vibrant communities, and we want to play our part in supporting them. Our Uppermill branch will bring the Vernon closer to residents and businesses in Saddleworth, while also giving us the opportunity to develop relationships across the wider Oldham area.

“Uppermill is an important milestone for the Vernon. It’s our first community branch and the first step in our plan to establish a presence in all Greater Manchester boroughs over the coming years.

“Having the right local service providers in place was essential to establishing our first community branch. Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management are two trusted organisations with strong roots in the Saddleworth community and a shared commitment to accessible, face-to-face services on the high street.

“Their High Street location provides a welcoming setting where local residents and businesses can access the financial support they need, while giving the Vernon an opportunity to build stronger links across Saddleworth and the wider Oldham area.”

More financial expertise under one roof

Richard Eastwood, Director of both Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management, said the arrival of the Vernon would add to the range of services available locally.

“The arrival of the Vernon adds another important dimension to the services available to the local community. We have created a real powerhouse by bringing together expertise across legal, financial and building society services, with a shared focus on helping local people and businesses. We’re excited about what this will deliver for Saddleworth and the wider Oldham community.”

More than 100 years of local financial experience

Founded in Stockport in 1924, Vernon Building Society has been serving communities across Greater Manchester and Cheshire for more than 100 years.

The independent building society provides savings and mortgage services and is owned by its members rather than shareholders. It takes a long-term approach to its members and the communities it serves, with profits reinvested locally.

Its arrival in Uppermill forms part of a wider expansion plan, with the Society aiming to establish a presence across all Greater Manchester boroughs over the coming years.

The Society has also recently completed a £1.2 million refurbishment programme across its existing six branches in Stockport, Hazel Grove, Bramhall, Poynton, Reddish and Marple.

Alongside its planned expansion into new Greater Manchester locations, this brings the Vernon's investment in local high streets to almost £2 million.

Supporting communities beyond banking

The Vernon's community presence extends beyond savings and mortgages.

Through the Vernon Charitable Foundation and Community Stars programme, the Society awarded more than £37,500 to charities and not-for-profit organisations in the communities it serves during 2025.

Its financial education programme reached more than 1,700 students, while colleagues contributed more than 100 volunteering days to local causes.

The new Uppermill location will also provide an opportunity for the Vernon to develop relationships with local organisations and explore how it can support the wider Oldham community.

For Saddleworth, the arrival of a new face-to-face financial service marks another change for the High Street – but one that gives local residents and businesses an additional way to access savings and mortgage advice without having to travel further afield.

With the Vernon Building Society now establishing a presence at the High Street offices of Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers and Albion House Wealth Management, Uppermill is set to gain another local destination for professional financial services.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Please note that the information and opinions contained in this article are not intended to be comprehensive, nor to provide legal advice. No responsibility for its accuracy or correctness is assumed by Pearson Solicitors and Financial Advisers Ltd or any of its members or employees. Professional legal advice should be obtained before taking, or refraining from taking, any action as a result of this article.