UK's Most Famous Home Credit Bank: Nationwide Building Society

If "famous" means largest, most recognized, and longest-established in UK residential lending, the answer is Nationwide Building Society.

Why Nationwide?

• Size: World's largest building society; £250B+ assets; 16M+ members
• History: Founded 1884 (Provident Union Building Society, Poole)
• Market share: ~13% of UK mortgage stock; #2 or #3 by gross lending
• Mutual model: No shareholders — profits reinvested or returned to members
• Branch network: 600+ branches (largest of any UK mortgage lender)
• Product range: Fixed, tracker, offset, buy-to-let, first-time buyer, green mortgages

Other Major Players (For Context)

"Home Credit" Nuance

• Traditional meaning: Mortgages / home loans
• Alternative meaning: Home credit / doorstep lending (high-cost, weekly collection) — e.g., Provident Financial (now Vanquis), Morses Club. Not mainstream mortgages.
• If you meant doorstep lending: different sector, heavily regulated (FCA), declining

Choosing a Mortgage Lender

• Don't just pick "famous" — compare rate, fee, flexibility, service
• Use a whole-of-market broker (fee-free ones exist: L&C, Habito, Trussle)
• Check MoneySavingExpert for current best buys
• Building societies (Nationwide, Yorkshire, Coventry) often more flexible on criteria (self-employed, older borrowers, non-standard property)

Nationwide is the face of UK mutual lending. But the "best" mortgage is the one that fits your numbers — not the brand.