Smart Money People Logo

Voting in the Consumer credit awards 2026 is open - Vote here

Share this page

Family Building Society reviews

The Family Building Society Logo
Rated Excellent 4.66/5

Family Building Society reviews

Verified business Last reviewed within 7 days Customer Satisfaction Champion Consumer Guardian
  • Award winning organisation
    Award winning organisation
  • Positioned as being a socially responsible organisation
    Positioned as being a socially responsible organisation
  • Has branches you can visit in-person
    Has branches you can visit in-person
  • Manage your account or policy via an app or website
    Manage your account or policy via an app or website

Review summary

People rate this company as Excellent based on 1,966 product reviews

Average score of 4.66/5
5 star
83%
4 star
9%
3 star
3%
2 star
1%
1 star
4%
Reviews for Family Building Society have trended negatively over the past 90 days

Family Building Society really shines with its friendly, patient, and knowledgeable staff who make mortgages and savings straightforward and personal. Their mortgage advisers explain options clearly and support older borrowers well. However, the online banking system and website cause frustration with complicated logins, slow responses, and limited electronic services. Phone wait times can be long but service is excellent once connected.

Positive themes

  • Family Building Society staff are friendly, patient and genuinely helpful on phone and in branch.
  • Mortgage advisers at Family Building Society explain options clearly and guide you through the process.
  • Family Building Society offers competitive savings rates with easy online account setup.

Negative themes

  • The online banking system is confusing and difficult to use with frequent login issues.
  • Long phone wait times frustrate but service is good once you get through.
  • Family Building Society cannot accept electronic ISA transfers or payments by bank transfer.
Summarised by AI
Was this helpful?

About Family Building Society

Family Building Society is a trading name of National Counties Building Society which has been looking after people's money and helping homebuyers since 1896.

From its headquarters in Epsom, Surrey, Family Building Society helps over 47,000 customers throughout England and Wales. Being a mutual means it’s owned by and run for the benefit of members. With no shareholders, all profits are put back into the Society.

Family Building Society offer a range of products across mortgages and savings.

Family Building Society at a glance

Contact details

Website
Visit provider website
Main address
Family Building Society, Ebbisham House, 30 Church Street, Epsom, Surrey KT17 4NL
Social media

Reviews for Family Building Society

Showing 11 of 1966 company reviews Last reviewed within 7 days

Please have an APP for use on a smartphone.

Savings 30th April 2026

Please have an APP for use on a smartphone. Please send separate certificates of interest for each account which should be available to download. Please... Please have an APP for use on a smartphone. Please send separate certificates of interest for each account which should be available to download. Please notify us when these are available. Please do not send anything in the post and communicate only by email or text. Please pay interest earned monthly and not at the end of January or July! Would be much appreciated. Thank you. Read more Read less

Rated Average 3/5
Read more product reviews

FIRST CLASS

Savings 30th April 2026

I opened a bond 12 months ago. It matured so I requested FBS to retain £20k for a new bond and to forward £40k to... I opened a bond 12 months ago. It matured so I requested FBS to retain £20k for a new bond and to forward £40k to the Bank as I was opening 2 ISAS for myself and my husband. On the day of maturity money was in Bank, new account was dealt with. All follow up paper sent out promptly and professionally. First class. To date you are the most efficient and professional Company I have dealt with and I am delighted. Read more Read less

Rated Excellent 5/5
Read more product reviews
  • 4/5

    Funds transfer

    Great customer service, however, the limit on moving funds between FBS accounts is rather out of date. Moving large sums is tedious having to log... Great customer service, however, the limit on moving funds between FBS accounts is rather out of date. Moving large sums is tedious having to log in day after day to complete what should be a single transaction. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Tony B","full_name":"Tony B","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Tony B 30th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Excellent experience very helpful discussion

    Excellent experience very helpful discussion

    {"display":"Ermete G","full_name":"Ermete G","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Mortgages
    Ermete G 30th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Great Customer Service

    It was very positive and reassuring.

    {"display":"Lorraine ","full_name":"Lorraine ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Mortgages
    Lorraine 29th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Online access problem.

    I had a problem with my online access today. I was all sorted out over the 'phone very patiently and efficiently.

    {"display":"David G","full_name":"David G","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    David G 29th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Aimee was polite and very helpful.

    Aimee was polite and very helpful. She had good product knowledge

    {"display":"s m","full_name":"s m","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Mortgages
    s m 28th April 2026
  • 1/5

    Mutuality and its practice within our building society

    Mutuality and its practice within our building society I have been a Member of our building society for many years and have found it to... Mutuality and its practice within our building society I have been a Member of our building society for many years and have found it to be exemplary both in the savings products it offers and in the knowledge and helpfulness of its staff. It is therefore with a measure of reluctance that In find myself having to write to you on a matter I find troubling. I am sure that you will agree with me that at the core of building society philosophy lies the principle of mutuality, that the organisation exists for the benefit of its Members, and that each Member should be treated equally. While the individual financial circumstances of Members might mean that some are unable to save in some products offered eg the minimum of £10,000 required to save in a Windfall Bond, such products nevertheless contribute to the overall strength and resilience of our Building Society by attracting new Members as well as savings from existing ones. However, of a quite different nature is the discrimination against Members because of restricting the method of applying for a product, a practice which is sadly spreading but which, as far as I am aware, our Society has hitherto commendably resisted. The case in point is your introduction of a One Year Bond paying an attractive 4.65% but with the caveat that it can only be applied for online. Other building societies offer on line products but usually with the option of paying the same rate for postal and in-branch applications. While I can see that there is an argument that can be made that such products save manpower and hence can pay a higher rate, surely that argument is trumped by the principle of mutuality, of fairness among all Members. I go further. It seems to me that the decision to offer such a product is perverse in that Members who would benefit the most from a higher rate - the less well off who may not have access to on line - are denied it. Similarly the elderly or those less trustful of dealing with their financial affairs electronically (you will be aware of the many data breaches over the last few years) are also disadvantaged. In conclusion, I am not a Luddite and I am quite aware of the advantages that stem from technology. But please do not leave behind those less willing or able to embrace it: let our Society serve all its Members equally, Read more Read less

    {"display":"David Henry","full_name":"David Henry","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/uploads\/avatars\/users\/1548638.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    David Henry 27th April 2026
  • 5/5

    I was having trouble accessing my accounts online

    I was having trouble accessing my accounts online and spoke to Phoebe in customer support who was extremely helpful and patient as I lost internet... I was having trouble accessing my accounts online and spoke to Phoebe in customer support who was extremely helpful and patient as I lost internet access and the phone line during my call. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Vivian ","full_name":"Vivian ","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Vivian 27th April 2026
  • 5/5

    Mortgage for seniors

    Spoke to Erick about obtaining a mortgage, my husband is 80, already retired and this is one of the few lenders where age is not... Spoke to Erick about obtaining a mortgage, my husband is 80, already retired and this is one of the few lenders where age is not a barrier. Erick was extremely pleasant, helpful and knowledgeable, took all our details and came back to me a few hours later to say we had passed the initial affordability test. Now waiting for a call back from a mortgage advisor. Very impressed with the initial service. Erick is a fantastic ambassador for your organisation. Read more Read less

    {"display":"Sharon D","full_name":"Sharon D","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Mortgages
    Sharon D 25th April 2026
  • 5/5

    I needed to have my password reset.

    I needed to have my password reset. Your customer service colleague was extremely pleasant, helpful and patient. She went the extra mile.

    {"display":"Pauline Wood","full_name":"Pauline Wood","avatar":{"url":"\/assets\/images\/default_new.png"}}'s avatar
    Savings
    Pauline Wood 24th April 2026

    Products from Family Building Society

    Showing all products offered by Family Building Society

    We are Smart Money People

    Join 2 million active users who make better financial decisions with the power of reviews.

    Create an account

    Protecting trust by verifying companies and reviewers

    The only site that specialises in financial services

    Providing everyday people with a voice