The Monmouthshire Building Society is celebrating its 149th anniversary in January.

Founded by Newport businessmen on Saturday 23 January 1869, the Society granted its first loans on 7 May 1869.

It now has over 70,000 savings and borrowing members today and the Society says it remains committed to investing in its branch and agency network across South Wales and the South West of England.

Will Carroll, the Monmouthshire’s chief executive, said: “Monmouthshire Building Society was formed with the very simple aim of helping local people save for the future and to buy their own homes and as a mutual building society, our connection to the community is as strong now as it was in 1869.

“We’re committed to ensuring that the Society is the premier provider of mortgage and savings products for people in South Wales and the South West of England, championing a business model that is just as relevant today as it was almost a century and a half ago.”