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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 new Virgin Money.

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


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

2024 – Virgin Money is acquired by Nationwide Building Society, a combination creating the second largest provider of mortgages and savings in the UK.


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