Technology is changing what members expect, how firms work and how financial services compete. Building societies must judge where to adapt, what to keep distinct and where working together could help the sector respond. AI is part of that change, alongside shifting member and broker expectations, pressure on skills and systems, new risks and the need to deliver transformation while protecting trust and human service.  The BSA Digital Symposium is for people across the sector who are leading, planning or delivering transformation projects and looking ahead to what comes next. It will bring together practical experience, emerging ideas and open debate on AI, wider change and collaboration. Delegates will leave with new ideas to test in their own work, lessons from societies already making change and fresh contacts for sharing problems and possible solutions.    The symposium will tackle three themes:  ADAPT | AI - Explore how societies are using and managing AI now, what they have learnt in practice, and what an AI mutual could become: fairer decisions, more flexible products and trusted support, with people in the moments that need judgement.  SHARE | TRANSFORMATION - Hear what societies are doing now, what has worked, what has proved hard and what others can use.  THRIVE | COLLABORATION AND RENEWAL - Decide what each society must own, what the sector could share and where joint systems, skills or services could give mutuals greater reach.  Further information: Timings: 10:30 -15:30 (registration from 09:30) Location: Leeds Building Society Cost: Free to attend - by invitation only Register: Please email the BSA events team if you'd like to attend

A free webinar hosted by BSA Associate, Katalysys This session challenges what building societies believe about managing climate risk.  Flood has become the sector’s go-to measure of physical climate risk. But what if it shows where risk has already landed, not where it’s heading? What are you missing? We’ll explore risks that rarely appear in risk registers, and ask whether the sector really needs so many versions of truth. SS5/25 lets each society set its own approach, but should the science underneath be its own too? Why this session, and why now? Most building societies, like most smaller banks, track little physical climate risk beyond flood. The largest UK banks fell short here too: the Bank of England’s 2021 climate stress test found that “some banks did not consider physical risks beyond flooding.” The usual reasons are easy to understand. Other hazards appear to cause small losses compared with flood, they offer no obvious financial upside, and the PRA’s principles-based approach leaves materiality to each firm’s judgement, so nothing forces the question.  The argument: Flood is a lagging indicator; heat is the leading one. A warmer atmosphere holds around 7% more water vapour for every degree of warming, so rainfall becomes heavier and floods follow. The evidence is already visible: UK domestic flood claims reached £312m in 2025, up 38% on 2024. Six of the UK’s ten wettest years since 1862 have come in the last 30 years. Junes reaching 33°C or more: none between 1996 and 2010, seven since 2011. Starting from heat also brings two hazards into view that societies rarely track: Drought: July 2026 was England’s driest since records began in 1836, reservoir storage fell from 75% to 57% over the summer, and the Environment Agency has recorded three droughts in five years. Wildfire: by week 31 of 2026, the area burnt in the UK was 80% above the 14-year average, after 2025 became the worst year on record. The proposal: The session will also set out how building societies could work together on a shared scientific baseline for physical climate risk.  Speaker: Anindya Ghosh Chowdhury, Chief Growth Officer, Katalysys.  Come ready to question your assumptions, and leave rethinking where your climate risk work should start. Come ready to question your assumptions, and leave rethinking where your climate risk work should start.

A free to attend event in Manchester, hosted by BSA Associate, Quadient Join us at the iconic Etihad Stadium, Manchester, for an exclusive Quadient Experience Day designed for leaders across the building society sector. This unique event brings together customer experience, digital and member services professionals to explore how building societies can meet evolving member expectations, strengthen engagement and deliver more personalised communications. Enjoy a behind-the-scenes stadium tour, participate in an interactive roundtable on the future of member communications and gain practical insights from industry peers. The day concludes with an exclusive networking lunch in the Manager's Corner, providing valuable opportunities to build lasting industry connections.   Quadient Experience Day Manchester 2026 is invitation-only and free to attend. Registrations are subject to confirmation.

An event in London hosted by BSA Associate, RelyComply   This event brings practitioners, policymakers and technologists together to debate the questions the industry often avoids. This edition puts AI on trial.  Six speakers from banking, policy, academia and AI will argue for and against the motion "AI is a hindrance to fighting financial crime in the UK", moderated by Maisie Linford of CNN, before the room casts its vote. Format:  Live debate on the motion "AI is a hindrance to fighting financial crime in the UK", with the audience voting at the end, followed by audience questions and drinks. Who it's for:  Financial crime, fraud, risk and compliance professionals at building societies, banks and fintechs, plus policy and government Speakers: Ravi Radia, Head of Economic Crime Prevention, Santander Anil Gopaul, Head of Economic Crime Innovation, Nationwide Building Society Susan Hawley, Executive Director, Spotlight on Corruption Neal Lathia, Founder and CTPO, Gradient Labs Mark Tsagas, Senior Lecturer, University of East London Centre of Fintech Samantha Emery, NED at ClearBank and Senior Advisor, RelyComply Note: The evening is held under the Chatham House Rule, and places are limited to around 70. A donation of £1 or more is required to register, with all proceeds going to Hourglass, the UK charity working to end the harm, abuse and exploitation of older people.

A free webinar hosted by SCC   Building societies are under pressure to modernise technology while maintaining the trusted, personal service that members value most. Yet digital friction often remains hidden. Traditional IT metrics may show systems are performing well, while colleagues continue to experience slow devices, application issues and inefficient processes that impact productivity, increase costs and ultimately affect member experience.  SCC work with eight of the UK’s ten largest building societies, bringing sector experience to this conversation. Join this session to discover how an Intelligent Workplace approach can help identify and remove digital friction through experience data, AI, automation and lifecycle management to move from reactive support to continuous improvement, without losing the personal service your members trust.

Designed specifically for Chairs and Non-Executive Directors of building societies and credit unions, the BSA’s Annual Boards Seminar provides an opportunity to consider the strategic issues shaping the sector. Bringing together board members from across the UK, the event will explore the economic, political, technological, and regulatory environment in which mutual organisations are operating. It will consider how boards can set ambition, provide effective challenge, and help their organisations translate the sector’s distinctive purpose into meaningful outcomes for members and customers. The seminar will combine expert insight, practical board-level discussion and opportunities to exchange experiences with peers. It will also provide an update on the BSA’s strategic work and the collective priorities that will help building societies and credit unions demonstrate their relevance, distinctiveness, and value. Key topics The programme will cover: The market outlook, including emerging developments and their implications for the sector. The political landscape, including the Government’s priorities, its interest in mutuals and the opportunities for future growth. Cyber governance and resilience, examining the board’s role in establishing effective oversight, challenging organisational frameworks and building confidence in executive preparedness. Delivering the BSA strategy, with an update on work relating to capital opportunities, regulation, collaboration and strengthening the profile and appeal of the sector. Capital and board oversight, including how Chairs and boards can develop their understanding of capital options and provide appropriate scrutiny. Board development, considering how boards can continue to strengthen their collective effectiveness. Customer and member engagement, exploring how organisations can deepen relationships, build trust and use meaningful engagement to reinforce the distinctiveness of the mutual business model. Who should attend? This event is intended for: Chairs of building societies and credit unions Non-Executive Directors Board and committee members with responsibility for strategy, risk, cyber resilience, capital or member engagement Why attend? Attendees will have the opportunity to: Gain insight into the external forces influencing the sector Consider the board’s role in setting ambition and strategic direction Explore approaches to effective oversight and constructive challenge Hear practical perspectives on cyber resilience, capital and member engagement Contribute to discussion about the BSA’s strategic priorities Share experiences and build connections with board-level peers from across the UK Further details, including the timed agenda and speaker information, will be added shortly. About the programme The event will include a mixture of plenary discussions, focused sessions and networking opportunities. A dedicated parallel session for Chairs is also planned as part of the programme. (Registration closes at 17:00 on Friday, 30 October 2026) Cancellation policy