Ecology Building Society Reviews 56

TrustScore 4 out of 5

4.0

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Had accounts with Ecology in the past and was not very impressed at all. This morning opened a double access account and wow. What a change. Incredibly impressed. Easy to open the account. Deposit i... See more

Company replied

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

I want to close an account as the interest rate is now really poor. I have sent a withdrawal form and a follow up email but, after over two weeks, have had no response. They seem to be deliberately ev... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When my mum died I inherited some money and knew she'd prefer me to invest it ethically, where the money is put to good use and not to just make some rich city folk richer. Ecology BS provide an easy... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Setting up a new bank account can be complex with User IDs, passwords, memorable phrases etc etc.I got a bit stuck when I first tried to log in when setting things up, but the phoneline help person w... See more

Company details

  1. Building Society
  2. Bank
  3. Financial Institution
  4. Mortgage Lender
  5. Savings Bank

Written by the company

Ecology Building Society is dedicated to building a greener society by providing mortgages for properties and projects that respect the environment and support sustainable communities, funded through our range of simple, transparent savings accounts. We operate across the UK including Northern Ireland.


Contact info

4.0

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

56 reviews

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1-star

No history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited their customers, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 80% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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Rated 5 out of 5 stars

OVER 40 YEARS AND NOT ONE COMPLAINT

We have been with the Ecology BS nearly since it's Inception over 40 years ago. I cannot understand the negative feedback back, in our view Ecology is a wonderful society, we have never encountered one bad experience with them. Every time we phone it is always a good experience greeted like a friend and not just a number, wonderful advice given. If you want to hang about on the phone for hours to be greeted by a robotic, scripted telesales person so to the big banks for us Ecology is just perfect.

June 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Ecology Building Society logo

Reply from Ecology Building Society

Hi M Brown,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your continuing support. We really value your feedback.

Thank you,
The Ecology Team

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

One of the few truly ethical companies…

One of the few truly ethical companies around, including paying all their taxes, and give decent rates rather than gimmicks. Online banking used to be clunky but has improved. With them for many years.

June 27, 2025
Unprompted review
Ecology Building Society logo

Reply from Ecology Building Society

Hi Nick,

Thank you for taking the time to leave us a review and for your continued support. We are pleased you're finding the online banking better - we're launching an updated platform later this year and a new Ecology App, which will make it even easier to view and manage your accounts.

Thank you,
The Ecology Team

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Very poor company

Very poor & very slow! Ny daughter tried to set up an account with Ecology, and ended up not bothering They wanted her to send her passport and driving licence to them in the post as claimed they had not been certified, which she refused to do. Bizarre company with bad practices and what seems like an age to get any sort of reply from them.
Avoid and go with a tried and tested bank or building society would be my advice.

April 25, 2025
Unprompted review
Ecology Building Society logo

Reply from Ecology Building Society

Hi Nottsop,

Thank you for sharing your feedback and we’re sorry to hear about your daughter’s experience. We understand how frustrating delays can be, especially when documents are involved.

As a responsible lender and savings provider, we’re required to follow strict regulatory checks to protect our members and ensure financial security. This sometimes includes asking for certified ID documents, and we recognise this can feel inconvenient. We’re currently working to enhance our processes, including more digital options, to make things easier while staying secure.

We’re sorry that we didn’t meet expectations this time. We’re rated 4.9/5.0 on Smart Money People so we usually get it right and we’d welcome the chance to learn more and see if we can make amends here. If your daughter is happy to get in touch, she can call us on 01535 650 770 or email savings@ecology.co.uk and we’d be glad to follow up.

Thank you again for the feedback. It’s really important to us because we want to keep improving, which allows us to grow and make even more of a positive impact through ethical finance for people and our planet.

The Ecology Team.

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Snails move faster

I applied, via my account,for a regular saver. I thought that as an existing member my application would sail through and be avaiable immediately,or the next day, as is the norm for most building societies. Wrong, after waiting a week I had to phone up to enquire about the application, and was informed it is still sitting on the system and had not been actioned.Worse still, it had not got the electronic signature on it,so when eventually it did get looked at,they would have to send me a form to be signed before going any further,causing further delay. Ecology will have to pull itself into the 21st century if it wants to succeed in selling its products.If I had not got a specific need for this account I would not have bothered going any further with the application.

March 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

AVOID!

If you value your sanity avoid this mortgage provider. They state on their website that they will lend to more unusual builds this is not true. They are the most incompetent company I have ever had the misfortune come across. They take at least 14 days to answer emails, loose emails, employ incompetent surveyors and string you along for months only to decline on a technicality that was not even correct. Do yourself a favour and save yourself a lot of stress and anxiety and find another company. Would have given then no stars

February 29, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 2 out of 5 stars

Terrible interraction

I called and the individual who answered can across incredibly entitled. Throwing acronyms at me which I had to request a definition for. When I asked for self build requirements, I was asked almost immediately whether I was a British citizen. Sure, I may have an accent but really is this the way you provide requirements? I left the call feeling dismissed and angry and none the wiser whether this was pure discrimination or whether they actually couldn’t provide the service for my circumstances. Insulting, and on principle I would avoid.

November 17, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Ethical saving made simple

Setting up a new bank account can be complex with User IDs, passwords, memorable phrases etc etc.I got a bit stuck when I first tried to log in when setting things up, but the phoneline help person was excellent with calm clear instructions. I got talked through my difficulty and things have run smoothly since. The website is uncluttered and easy to read.
Altogether this is ethical saving made simple.

June 6, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Pioneered sustainable development since 1980s.

I have saved with them for most of my life. If there is a problem and you have to call, you feel you are talking to a real person with fast and sensible responses. Their newsletter always has interesting stuff about their current customers' interesting ethical/sustainable building and housing projects, covering innovative ideas and developments in green building. I bear this in mind when considering the middling rates of interest they pay. I see saving with them as a way of showing support for sustainable development that really gets built.

May 4, 2023
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Fast and Easy (savings account)

Opened a savings account, all handled online with very little hassle, could even sign the documents without having to print them off. Opened and moved my savings across in less than 24h, all with a decent interest rate and an ethical investment portfolio. Happy customer, will probably encourage family members to make the switch too.

May 15, 2022
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

First impressions not good far too many…

First impressions not good far too many Id passwords info and key code just to log in. direct debit to set up an ecology account seems
you have to download form fill post cost
time to do chore
money electricity for computer
does not seem very user friendly

had about 7 emails from them none had account number they say you can find that on log in but if log in keeps failing as have spent 90 mins on this today

Not much fun hope they read this and offer a good will gesture for anxiety and stress caused.

February 16, 2022
Unprompted review

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