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News / Latest News / Harpenden wins ‘Best Local Building Society’ at the 2026 What Mortgage Awards

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Harpenden wins ‘Best Local Building Society’ at the 2026 What Mortgage Awards

Harpenden wins 'Best Local Building Society' at the 2026 What Mortgage Awards

Harpenden wins ‘Best Local Building Society’ at the 2026 What Mortgage Awards

On the 9th of July, our team took a trip to the Kia Oval in London to attend the 2026 What Mortgages Award.

The hot weather only bolstered their spirits as they chatted with many peers in the mortgage industry, as well as getting enjoy the sights of the cricket grounds…

We were delighted to have been nominated in five of their categories:

  • Best Building Society Customer Service
  • Best Large Loans Mortgage Lender
  • Best Local Building Society
  • Best Self Build Mortgage Lender
  • Best Specialist Lender

These nominations are already a huge achievement, as the What Mortgage Awards are voted by the public, and therefore every nomination is a vote of confidence for Harpenden Building Society.

When it was time for the awards to be announced, we were ecstatic to have won the ‘Best Local Building Society’, an award that we have won for 12 years running. We also received a recognition for being ‘Highly Commended’ in both the ‘Best Specialist Lender’ and ‘Best Large Loan Mortgage Lender’ categories, which we are very proud of.

Our CEO Tracie Meadows said, “We are incredibly proud to have been named Best Local Building Society for the 12th successive year. To receive this recognition consistently over such a long period is a testament to our unwavering focus on delivering great outcomes for our members and supporting the communities we serve.

Alongside this achievement, we were delighted to be Highly Commended in both the Best Large Loan Lender and Best Specialist Lender categories. Being recognised in these highly competitive awards is a real milestone for the Society and reflects the strength of our proposition and the progress we continue to make in specialist lending. It is a significant step forward and brings us one step closer to winning these prestigious categories in the future.

These awards are only possible because of the dedication, professionalism and commitment of colleagues across the Society. I would like to thank everyone for the part they have played in this success and for the outstanding work they do every day on behalf of our members.”

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