DARLINGTON Building Society has had a record-breaking year for helping people onto the property ladder despite the continuing challenges of a volatile economic climate.

The Society, which celebrates its 170th anniversary this year, achieved gross new lending of £234m in 2025 – its highest ever figure and a 58% increase on the previous year.

The Society achieved a core operating profit before tax of £3.7m in 2025 compared to £3m in 2024, which was a year of consolidation following several years of record investment in new technology and systems.

The figures are included in the annual report and accounts which are being presented to members at the Society’s annual general meeting at the Arc Theatre and Arts Centre, at Stockton, on April 27.

Chief Executive Andrew Craddock, who is stepping down at the AGM after seven transformational years at the helm, said: “What is particularly pleasing about 2025 is the way we were able to overcome so much volatility in the global economy to stay true to our core purpose of supporting people into home ownership.

“It is a source of great pride that 40% of the record figure for gross new lending in 2025 was supporting first-time buyers to achieve their dreams of getting onto the property ladder.

“That has been central to our ethos for 170 years, and the fact that we have broken the Society’s record in such a crucial area of the business is testament to the hard work and commitment of our colleagues.”

There was also a strong performance on savings, with the retail savings book increasing to £939m at the end of 2025 compared to £853m at the end of 2024. The growth was mainly in fixed rate bonds and ISAs, although notice accounts, easy access and regular savings accounts also saw growth.

Up to November 2025, Darlington Building Society paid an average rate on its savings products of 3.38%, against an average market rate of 3.05%. That means savers with the Society have been paid £12m in additional interest over the past three years than if they had received the market average.

The Society also achieved its highest ever Net Promoter Score (NPS) of +92.3, which exceeds the average score for building societies. NPS is a widely used, independent metric, measuring customer loyalty and satisfaction.

In a milestone year, the Society broke through the £1bn mark for total assets, which increased by nearly 10 per cent from £935m at the end of 2024 to £1,025m at the end of 2025. That growth places Darlington 19th in the list of 42 building societies in the UK.

The Society also surpassed the £1m mark in grants given away through its annual pledge – launched in 2017 – to donate 5% of profits to good causes in the local community.

Mr Craddock said it was “perfect timing” that those financial milestones were achieved during the 250th anniversary of the building society movement, and Darlington Building Society being a key sponsor of the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Stockton & Darlington Railway.

In a farewell message to members, he said: “It has been an immense privilege and honour to work with so many talented and dedicated colleagues, serving the community in such a special part of the country.

“I am really proud to have seen our Society grow, prosper and mature, and am delighted to be leaving the Society in such robust health.”

In her first year as Chair, Rachel Court added: “We continue to build our financial strength with measured growth and sound profitability. Combined with continued progress and embedding our strategic investment programme, this will underpin our success and sustainability for many years to come.”

After the AGM, Mr Craddock will be succeeded as Chief Executive by Alex Windle, who was previously Chief Customer Officer at West Brom Building Society.