Skipton Building Society
While Otley’s high street has steadily seen its traditional banking services disappear, there is one familiar name that has continued to welcome customers through the door rather than sending them straight to a website or an app.
Skipton Building Society has been part of the town’s financial landscape for decades. Founded in nearby Skipton in 1853, the mutual organisation expanded into Otley in the late 1960s when it took over the Otley Building Society – acquiring both the business and the Boroughgate premises in the process. Since then, it has remained a consistent presence in the town centre, continuing to offer face-to-face banking at a time when many high street institutions have moved their services online or into the Banking Hub on Kirkgate.
From its branch on Boroughgate, Skipton provides the full range of services you would expect from a modern building society. Customers can open and manage savings accounts, arrange mortgages, discuss insurance options and receive financial advice from knowledgeable staff who are part of the local community themselves.
What sets the branch apart, however, is the emphasis on personal service. Small details help create a welcoming atmosphere, from the dog water bowl placed outside the entrance for four-legged visitors, to the warm greeting customers receive as they walk through the door. The approach clearly resonates with the people of Otley.
The branch is run by a 13-strong team that work across the Otley and Ilkley branches, ably led in Otley by branch manager Sue Cree, whose commitment to customer care was recognised when they won Best Team at the 2026 Otley Business Awards.
With a full refurbishment of the Otley branch completed in 2024, the society has reaffirmed its investment in the town and its belief that there is still a place for personal, face-to-face financial services on the high street.
- Listing ID: 1613