Our Carmarthen branch is celebrating a major milestone – ten successful years of serving the people of Carmarthenshire and West Wales. In an era when many of its high street competitors, including Co-operative (formerly Britannia), TSB and Halifax, have closed – or are due to close – their local branches, the Society continues to thrive – a testament to its personal, community-focused approach to financial services.
Under the leadership of Area Manager Sioned Jones and Branch Manager Curtis Morris, the Carmarthen branch has gone from strength to strength since first opening its doors in 2015. The branch’s success has been so significant that the Society has now purchased the former TSB building on Blue Street, Carmarthen, as it has outgrown its current premises. The move will provide space for an expanding team and allow the Society to continue recruiting additional West Wales-based staff to meet the growing demand for its savings and mortgage services.
The Carmarthen branch currently employs 15 staff, with new vacancies planned for Business Development Managers in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion to help manage the Society’s growing customer base across the region.
As of September 2025, the branch manages 727 mortgage accounts worth £137 million and 6,545 savings accounts totalling £182 million. Alongside its popular retail savings products, the Society has developed a strong reputation among professional firms in the region – including solicitors and accountants – offering client and business accounts that provide a secure and flexible way to manage funds.
The branch’s growth has also been fuelled by the Society’s ability to offer tailored mortgage solutions for those with complex circumstances, such as company directors, the self-employed, and those seeking finance for smallholdings, self-builds, or other non-standard properties. This bespoke approach has helped attract a growing number of customers from Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, further strengthening the Society’s footprint across West Wales.
While Swansea Building Society remains firmly committed to face-to-face, personalised service, it continues to invest in digital innovation to provide customers with more choice and convenience. The Society recently launched a new dedicated savings app and enhanced online platform, allowing both existing and potential customers across Wales to open and manage their savings accounts online – offering the perfect balance of traditional service and modern accessibility.
As a mutual organisation, the Society exists solely for the benefit of its members and the communities it serves. Its Carmarthen branch has played an active role in supporting local causes, most notably through its partnership with Prostate Cymru, the Society’s charity of the year for 2025. Working closely with the Carmarthen Friends of Prostate Cymru, Sioned Jones and her team have helped organise subsidised PSA blood test events across South and West Wales. These events have already had a lifesaving impact – with over 1,100 men tested and more than 60 receiving urgent medical referrals following early detection.
Reflecting on the anniversary, Sioned Jones, Area Manager, said:
“It’s been an incredible ten years for Swansea Building Society in Carmarthen. We opened our doors at a time when other banks were closing theirs – and we’ve never looked back. Our success is down to the loyalty of our customers and the dedication of our team, who go above and beyond to deliver a truly personal service. The purchase of the Blue Street premises marks another exciting chapter in our journey as we continue to grow and invest in the future of West Wales.”
Alun Williams, Chief Executive of Swansea Building Society, added:
“Our continued expansion in Carmarthen is a reflection of the trust we’ve built with local communities and the strength of our mutual model. While others are retreating from the high street, we remain committed to maintaining and growing our physical presence, alongside offering digital channels that make life easier for our customers. We’re proud of what Sioned, Curtis, and the team have achieved over the past decade, and we look forward to seeing our presence in West Wales go from strength to strength.”
As Swansea Building Society marks ten years in Carmarthen, it remains true to its founding principles – combining exceptional customer service, community support, and innovation to help people across Wales achieve their financial goals. With plans well underway to open a new branch in Abergavenny, the Society remains firmly committed to its ethos of opening, not closing, branches.