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Harpenden Building Society reviews

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Rated Good • 4.14/5

Harpenden Building Society reviews

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Review summary

People rate this company as Good based on 439 product reviews

Average score of 4.14/5
5 star
80%
4 star
8%
3 star
4%
2 star
2%
1 star
6%
Reviews for Harpenden Building Society have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Harpenden Building Society shines with its friendly, helpful staff and the comfort of local branches offering personal service. Many appreciate the traditional passbook and face-to-face contact, which feels like a proper community. However, the online experience often frustrates users with clunky systems and poor support. Interest rates and mortgage handling also draw mixed feelings, with some finding them uncompetitive or slow to adjust.

Positive themes

  • Harpenden Building Society’s staff are consistently friendly, helpful and make you feel valued.
  • Having a local branch with face-to-face service and passbooks is a big plus for Harpenden Building Society.
  • Harpenden Building Society offers competitive interest rates and good savings products.

Negative themes

  • The online system is clunky and frustrating with activation and login issues at Harpenden Building Society.
  • Interest rates on mortgages are slow to drop and savings rates often get cut without proper notice.
  • Opening hours and branch closures cause inconvenience for some Harpenden Building Society customers.
Summarised by AI
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About Harpenden Building Society

Harpenden Building Society was founded in 1953 and is a mutual organisation. This means it’s run for the benefit of members and not shareholders.

Since 2023 it’s provided savings products on a national scale that includes easy access, ISAs, notice accounts and fixed rate bonds.

Harpenden Building Society also provides mortgages via intermediaries to borrowers turned away by the high street who have complex income or unusual properties.

Harpenden Building Society at a glance

Contact details

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Reviews for Harpenden Building Society

Showing 11 of 439 company reviews

Surprise interest rate drop

Savings • 17th December 2025

I opened an ISA this October, understanding it was an interest rate of 4.35%. Just checked today and it is 1.6%. Was not told about this, unlike other societies.

{"display":"Valerie B","full_name":"Valerie B","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Terrible • 1/5
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Reply from Harpenden Building Society
Hi Valerie, Thank you for your note, and I apologise if there has been any confusion regarding the interest rate on your account. From your message, it appears that you applied for an Online Single Access ISA in October. This account offers a higher rate if you make one or fewer withdrawals per calendar year, and a lower rate if you make more than one. Interest is accrued at the lower rate throughout the year, and provided that no more than one withdrawal has been made, the higher rate will be applied when interest is compounded on 31st December. If you would like me to check the status of your account or if you have any further questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Kind regards, Jon Sweeting Commercial Manager
18th December 2025
Harpenden Building Society

I received a telephone call yesterday for a request...

Savings • 12th December 2025

I received a telephone call yesterday for a request regarding a charity donation nomination Found this quite surprising but if you do need an answer... I received a telephone call yesterday for a request regarding a charity donation nomination Found this quite surprising but if you do need an answer anything to do with young people (boys and girls ) especially if they play football would be good. If you do not have that any organisation that's close will be OK. You can choose. Regards Charles Forrester Read more Read less

{"display":"C W F","full_name":"C W F","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Good • 4/5
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Reply from Harpenden Building Society
Dear Mr Forrester, Thank you for your kind note. For context, we encourage customers to provide feedback (both positive and negative) to help us continue delivering outstanding customer service and accounts that meet our customers’ needs while offering fair value. To encourage this, customers who are happy to leave their details are entered into a prize draw to choose one of our selected charities for a £100 donation. Following your note, we have made a donation to a youth-based charity. Once again, may I thank you for your feedback (both this time and previously). If I can be of any further assistance to you, please do not hesitate to contact me at [email protected]. Kind regards, Jon Sweeting Commercial Manager
18th December 2025
Harpenden Building Society
  • 1/5

    I am unable to log in

    I am unable to log in as I have the wrong internet browser. This seems to be an ongoing problem which needs to be addressed ASAP. Please get it sorted.

    {"display":"N RAT","full_name":"N RAT","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    N RAT 10th December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    Very helpful and friendly efficient staff.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    When we lived in Radlett, we loved staff members they are understanding, knowledgeable, nothing was too much trouble.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    Friendly helpful staff - Always pleasant. It was great to have a local building society in Tring. So sad that it is moving away.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 4/5

    In branch service review

    Local branch, good service, Trusted. The rates could be higher though.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    It small independent and friendly. The savers interest rates could be better.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    Very happy to have a local branch in the town, extremely helpful staff. Preferably to online.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    Very knowledgeable, friendly and helpful staff in Yarn. Service as it should be - not often found these day.

    Savings
    Verified source 1st December 2025
  • 5/5

    In branch service review

    It is small and friendly with knowledgeable staff.

    Savings
    Verified source 4th November 2025

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