Leeds Building Society said its savings balances increased to £26.4 billion and gross mortgage lending remained strong at £2 billion (H1 2025: £2.6 billion) in the first half of 2026.

Total income at the UK’s fifth largest building society declined 6% to £197.2 million and profit before tax fell 32% to £70.7 million.

Leeds Building Society CEO Annette Barnes said: “Our rate of growth in the first half of 2026 reflects the deliberate investment choices we have made, including the multi-year modernisation of our core technology platform, which is now in the build phase.

“We will continue to invest for the future, in line with our plan to enhance member value and set us up for continued success over the long-term.

“Supporting people into homes is central to everything we do, and in the first half of 2026 we helped 13,000 people onto and up the housing ladder, almost half of whom were first-time buyers. I’m delighted that we continued to lend responsibly and launch innovative products to meet members’ needs.

“Looking ahead we see significant opportunity, despite economic uncertainty. Our financial strength and focused strategy mean that we are well positioned not only to navigate change, but to pursue opportunities that strengthen the Society and will create lasting value for members for generations to come.”