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Harpenden Building Society reviews

Harpenden Building Society Logo
Rated Good • 4.18/5

Harpenden Building Society reviews

Verified business Last reviewed within 7 days
See more on their website Write a review

Review summary

People rate this company as Good based on 451 product reviews

Average score of 4.18/5
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

Website
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Reviews for Harpenden Building Society

Showing 11 of 451 company reviews • Last reviewed within 7 days

My local Harpenden Building Society

Savings • 27th March 2026

Harpenden Building Society is my local building society, offers great products and excellent service to customers. I particularly like how they communicate with customers via... Harpenden Building Society is my local building society, offers great products and excellent service to customers. I particularly like how they communicate with customers via email. Their messages are clear as they use simple language whilst being succinct. When I go into the branch, I always feel welcome and overall I have confidence in investing my money with HBS Read more Read less

{"display":"Sylvia Gomes","full_name":"Sylvia Gomes","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
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This is a short note to express our gratitude

Savings • 20th March 2026

This is a short note to express our gratitude for the warm and helpful assistance we received when trying to set up our Savings ISAs... This is a short note to express our gratitude for the warm and helpful assistance we received when trying to set up our Savings ISAs at the Harpenden store. We were particularly grateful for the way the staff patiently took us through the paperwork with such good humour Read more Read less

{"display":"Charles P","full_name":"Charles P","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
Rated Excellent • 5/5
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Reply from Harpenden Building Society
Hi Charles, Thank you very much for sharing your kind feedback. We’re delighted to hear that your experience at our Harpenden branch was both helpful and enjoyable. Our colleagues take great pride in offering clear guidance and support for our members so it’s wonderful to hear their good humour made the process smoother for you. We truly appreciate you taking the time to recognise the team. Your comments will certainly put a smile on their faces. If we can support you with anything further, please don’t hesitate to let us know. Kind regards, Jon
23rd March 2026
Harpenden Building Society
  • 3/5

    I closed a 45 day notice account.

    I closed a 45 day notice account. I was asked for my bank details, which I sent, expecting the money to be directly transferred to... I closed a 45 day notice account. I was asked for my bank details, which I sent, expecting the money to be directly transferred to my account. Instead I received a cheque, which meant I had to travel to Milton Keynes to take my cheque to a bank. This was a real nuisance as I had to make a special journey to MK. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Frank","full_name":"Frank","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Frank 7th March 2026
  • 5/5

    Helpful staff made for a pleasant experience.

    The account I wanted, which had one of the best interest rates I could find, was easily set up when I called into Harpenden branch.... The account I wanted, which had one of the best interest rates I could find, was easily set up when I called into Harpenden branch. Tabitha was most helpful and it was a relaxed experience in pleasant surroundings. Read more Read less

    {"display":"John G","full_name":"John G","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    John G 11th February 2026
  • 5/5

    Great local banking branch

    Great to have a local branch to go into and speak to a human. Good product and lovely people.

    {"display":"Steve","full_name":"Steve","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Steve 9th February 2026
  • 5/5

    Exceptional telephone Staff.

    I would like to express how extremely helpful the staff members were on the telephone when dealing with Cash ISA questions, namely Jane, Laura and... I would like to express how extremely helpful the staff members were on the telephone when dealing with Cash ISA questions, namely Jane, Laura and Catherine. They were all very knowledgeable with an excellent manner, and a credit to Harpenden Building Society which I highly recommend. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Jacqueline ","full_name":"Jacqueline ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Jacqueline 2nd February 2026
  • 5/5

    Leighton Buzzard Branch Staff...

    The manageress & staff of the Leighton Buzzard Branch were extremely helpful in walking me through the forms & actions I needed to enable me... The manageress & staff of the Leighton Buzzard Branch were extremely helpful in walking me through the forms & actions I needed to enable me to change my Branch based savings & ISA accounts to the online versions Read more Read less

    {"display":"Ian H","full_name":"Ian H","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Ian H 26th January 2026
  • 5/5

    Great staff very helpful and knowledgeable

    Great staff very helpful and knowledgeable

    {"display":"Elizabeth F","full_name":"Elizabeth F","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Elizabeth F 23rd January 2026
  • 5/5

    the best most personal bank in Hertfordshire

    excellent customer service and always go the extra mile to help.....they take time and always address you by name, maybe not the best on rates... excellent customer service and always go the extra mile to help.....they take time and always address you by name, maybe not the best on rates but have a new very competitive account for local residents, Read more Read less

    {"display":"elizabeth mew","full_name":"elizabeth mew","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    elizabeth mew 22nd January 2026
  • 5/5

    Staff were very welcoming and friendly

    Staff were very welcoming and friendly, dealt with my transaction quickly and efficiently. Very impressed with the new location. Thank you ladies.

    {"display":"S F","full_name":"S F","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    S F 20th January 2026
  • 5/5

    A really seamless Trust account opening procedure wi...

    A really seamless Trust account opening procedure with excellent comms from Laura Tomlinson.

    {"display":"Dan B","full_name":"Dan B","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Dan B 17th January 2026

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