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.JPG) The headquarters of Yorkshire Bank on Merrion Way, Leeds | |
| Company type | Trading name |
|---|---|
| Industry | Banking, Financial services |
| Founded | 1 May 1859 Halifax, West Yorkshire |
| Founder | Edward Akroyd |
| Fate | Purchased by Virgin Money UK |
| Headquarters | Leeds, England, UK |
Key people | James Pettigrew (Chairman) David Duffy (Chief Executive Officer) |
| Services | Retail banking SME banking |
| Parent | Clydesdale Bank plc |
| Website | ybonline |
Yorkshire Bank is a trading name used by Clydesdale Bank plc for its retail banking operations in England.
The Yorkshire Bank was founded in 1859 as the West Riding of Yorkshire Provident Society and Penny Savings Society but the Provident Society was soon abandoned and the Bank then traded as the West Riding of Yorkshire Penny Savings Bank. After further abbreviations, its present name was adopted in 1959.
The Bank's model was unique in that it directly owned an extensive network of penny banks, remitting funds into a Central Office. By the late nineteenth century, it was larger than any of the Trustee Savings Banks. However, the Bank faced a potential withdrawal of savings in 1911 and was acquired by a consortium of clearing banks.
The Bank was acquired by National Australia Bank (NAB) in 1990 and was merged into another NAB subsidiary, Clydesdale Bank in 2005, continuing to operate as a distinct trading division. In 2016 NAB divested its UK operations as CYBG plc which went on to acquire Virgin Money plc in 2018. Subsequently the Yorkshire Bank name was phased out with all branches rebranded as Virgin Money.