A growing building society is encouraging more of its 100,000 members to access Financial Planning advice as part of a new member benefit drive.

The Nottingham Building Society, which was established in 1849 and has 60 branches across the UK, is offering access to Financial Planning services, including a free initial consultation, through its member rewards scheme via a partnership with Nottingham-based Financial Planning firm Wren Sterling.

The building society said: “We are providing exclusive access to free Financial Planning at a time when it is becoming increasingly difficult to access on the high street unless you have savings above a certain level.”

Nottingham Building Society offers financial advice at all 60 branches through Wren Sterling, a third party partner which specialises in investment, protection and retirement planning. Anyone can access this advice by making an appointment at a building society branch and there is no minimum investment amount for building society members.

As part of its member rewards scheme, the building society is also offering a cash bonus of up to £500 to more than 1500 of its new benefit scheme customers. The company’s scheme also gives over 100,000 eligible members money back on home insurance and funeral plans.

David Marlow, chief executive of the Nottingham Building Society, said: “As a mutual building society we have an important role in helping our members to save for and plan for the future.  Our all-under-one-roof advice and service proposition means we are uniquely placed to help our members whatever stage of the financial journey they are on.

“Having listened to our members we know that they value our advice and service offering, and they want to be rewarded for their loyalty as well as doing the right thing to plan for and protect their financial futures.

“Through our member rewards programme we are rewarding loyal savings members with genuine benefits which will help them plan a better financial future for themselves and their families.”

A spokesperson for Wren Sterling confirmed that an initial consultation is free to a Nottingham Building Society member, with no obligation to proceed. Fees would then apply should the member wish to use Wren Sterling’s services but would be disclosed to the member before any chargeable work takes place.

He added: "The advantages of our arrangement for the individual member include in-branch advice, so members can see a Wren Sterling adviser in their usual branch, in a familiar setting. Because of the training we do with branch staff, they’re used to identifying where a member is likely to require financial advice so we can assist where appropriate."