Staffordshire and Portman merger

The Portman is the third oldest building society in the UK

BBC Radio 4's Money Box was broadcast on Saturday, 27 December, 2003 at 1204 GMT.

The programme was repeated on Sunday, 28 December, 2003 at 2102 GMT.

On 31 December, 2003, the Staffordshire Building Society will merge with the Portman Building Society. Members of the Staffordshire will become members of Portman.

As part of the merger, anything official which currently says Staffordshire Building Society must be changed before 31 December, including stationery, marketing material, and all the signs outside branches.

Jennifer Clarke spoke to Marketing Manager Richard Dixon about the changeover project, and we clarified the size of the windfalls which 175,000 Staffordshire customers will get in the new year.

Information on bonuses for members

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Ipswich Building Society

The society has its own archivist

Another building society which takes its past seriously is the Ipswich. Founded as a freehold land society in 1849, the society has an unparalleled collection of old deeds, plans, record books and memorabilia.

Most of the material in the archive was rescued from two mysterious trunks which had lain abandoned in the basement for several decades.

IPSWICH ARCHIVE

A glimpse into the past at the Ipswich Building Society

In pictures

When Chief Executive John Whayman took over in 1988, he decided to open up the trunks and engaged local historian Margaret Hancock to act as the society's archivist. Margaret discovered a treasure trove of old documents, photos and ledgers, many of which are still being investigated 14 years later.

Paul Lewis went to Ipswich to meet John Whayman and Margaret Hancock.

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Nectar

A listener asks if Nectar customers can redeem their points for charity. We speak to Richard Campbell, Marketing Director for LMUK, the company which runs the Nectar programme.

Full story:

Nectar launches charity promotion

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Christmas quiz

There is still time to get your entries in for our Christmas finance quiz. All correct entries will enter the prize draw, and one lucky person will win a digital radio.

The deadline for entries is 5 January, 2003.

Enter our Christmas quiz

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Producer: Jennifer Clarke
Presenter: Paul Lewis