Our timeline

1838 - Clydesdale Bank is founded in Glasgow’s Miller Street, with a basic belief to give people the chance to make the most of the few opportunities that were emerging after a time of economic crisis.

1859 - Yorkshire Bank is founded in Halifax, West Yorkshire by Colonel Edward Akroyd, a successful Victorian businessman, to ‘help the poor help themselves’.

1965 - Northern Rock Building Society is formed by the merger of the Northern Counties Permanent Building Society (established in 1850) and the Rock Building Society (established in 1865).

1970 – the Virgin brand is launched by Sir Richard Branson.

1987 – Clydesdale Bank is bought by the National Australia Bank Group (NAB), one of the largest financial institutions in Australia.

Clydesdale Bank banking hall, St Vincent Place, Glasgow, c1970s

1990 - Yorkshire Bank is also bought by NAB.

1995 – Virgin Group establishes a personal finance company named Virgin Direct, later to become Virgin Money.

1997 – From its building society roots, Northern Rock demutualises and becomes Northern Rock bank.

2000 – virginmoney.com launches as a price comparison website.

2001 - Virgin Money is born from the merger of Virgin Direct and virginmoney.com.

2008 – Following the global financial crisis, Northern Rock is taken into public ownership and subsequently restructured into two separate businesses: NRAM and Northern Rock plc.

2012 – Virgin Money purchases Northern Rock plc.

Virgin Money purchases Northern Rock plc in 2012

2014 – Virgin Money lists on the stock market as Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc following an initial public offering (IPO).

2016 – Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks demerge from NAB to become CYBG.

2018 – CYBG acquires Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc to create the Virgin Money of today.

In 2018 CYBG acquires Virgin Money Holdings (UK) plc to create the Virgin Money of today

2019 - Clydesdale and Yorkshire Banks begin the rebrand to Virgin Money.

2021 – Virgin Money launches A Life More Virgin, the bank’s purpose-driven colleague proposition that encourages flexible working to ensure a positive work-life balance.

2023 – Virgin Money moves into its new Glasgow hub on Bothwell Street, representing a significant investment in Glasgow and reflecting the roots of its Clydesdale Bank heritage in the city.

Virgin Money moves into its new Glasgow hub on Bothwell Street in 2023

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