Here is what I see when I look at the building society sector right now: an extraordinary opportunity hiding in plain sight and one that is very much aligned with everything building societies stand for: member value, relationship depth, and long-term sustainability.

I am genuinely excited about what the next two to three years hold for this sector, and AI is at the centre of that optimism.

The intermediary relationship is your greatest competitive asset

Somewhere between 70 and 80% of new mortgage business in the UK comes through brokers, and for many building societies that proportion is even higher. That is a distribution advantage the largest banks struggle to replicate with the same authenticity and member-first credibility.

Building societies have always competed on the quality of their relationships, and the broker community understands this better than most. They place business with lenders they trust; with lenders who are consistent, who processes work smoothly at the moments that matter most to their clients.

The societies that win the next decade would have predominantly deepened that advantage, and AI is precisely the capability that makes it possible.

What AI actually means for a building society

Deliberate, considered adoption of new technology is good governance, and it is entirely compatible with moving decisively on AI. The most forward-thinking societies are already demonstrating that these two things go hand in hand.

What I consistently find in conversations with senior leaders across the sector is a growing clarity about what AI actually delivers in practice. It gives teams; your underwriters, your BDMs, your intermediary support staff, the ability to spend more of their time on what they are genuinely good at. Income documents, bank statements, accountant certificates, and supporting evidence can be reviewed faster and more consistently, with fewer gaps and earlier resolution of issues that might otherwise surface at the worst possible moment. Case packs arrive more complete, intermediaries receive the experience they have always wanted, and the whole process feels more like the responsive, reliable service your broker relationships deserve.

This is operational improvement that directly and measurably strengthens the broker relationships driving your business forward.

The compounding value of moving early

The societies moving now are identifying specific, well-scoped opportunities that demonstrate tangible ROI before expanding further into the organisation. That approach sits entirely within a sound risk framework, and it is already building something more valuable than efficiency gains alone: a reputation in the broker market for being the lender that is simply the easiest to work with.

That kind of reputation compounds, as intermediaries who have a great experience placing business with you become advocates who bring more of it. 

What the next era looks like

Five years from now, the building societies that got this right will have intermediaries enjoying a genuinely frictionless experience from first enquiry through to offer. Underwriters will be focused on the decisions that rely on heuristics, rather than admin or processing paperwork. Colleagues across the origination team will feel more empowered and effective in their day-to-day work. Members will receive faster, more consistent outcomes that reflect the member-first values the society was built on.

That is a picture I find genuinely exciting, and it is well within reach for the societies that engage with it thoughtfully and early.

Let's have that conversation

We are carrying this discussion forward in two stages this month, and I would be delighted for you to be part of it.

The first is our webinar on 16 April, Winning with Intermediaries: How AI is Powering the Next Era of Mortgage Origination

On 29 April at the BSA Conference in Edinburgh, I will be joining the panel: From Strategy to Reality: Using AI to Empower Intermediaries for Better Member and Colleague Experience (Pentland Auditorium, 11:45–12:45).

If these themes are front of mind for your organisation and you would like to explore them in more depth, I would genuinely welcome the opportunity to arrange some time with you. The opportunity in front of building societies right now is real, accessible, and rewards those who engage with it early and strategically.