Bradford-based Yorkshire Building Society said it delivered gross lending of £4.6 billion in the first half of 2026 — up from £4.3 billion at the same stage last year — with 19,300 new residential mortgages, of which more than a quarter went to first-time buyers.

Statutory profit before tax was £181.9 million (2025 H1: £187.9 million).

Yorkshire Building Society CEO Susan Allen said: “In the first six months of the year, we opened 288,000 new accounts and continued our track record – spanning more than a decade – of our rates outperforming the market average.

“On average, in 2026 our rates have been nearly 20% above the market, meaning our members’ money is working harder for them.

“Members earned an additional £115.4m in interest in the first five months of the year alone. Our shares balances have grown to £53.3bn (31 December 2025: £52.9bn).”