33. Yorkshire Bank Financial Services

Fee and commission income (1999): £18.2m
Pre-tax profit (1999): £2.8m

Head office:
21 Merrion Way
Leeds
West Yorkshire
LS2 8NZ
Tel: 0113 247 2000

Major shareholders: Yorkshire Bank

Company history:Yorkshire Bank, part of the National Australia Bank Group, combines global strength with the local service of a well established regional bank. The bank offers a range of services for personal and business customers, combining qualities developed in over 140 years of service with a modern approach to financial services. It recognises that customers are becoming discerning and require value from their relationship with Yorkshire Bank through its increasing range of products and services.

Yorkshire Bank was founded in 1859 in Halifax, West Yorkshire, by Colonel Edward Akroyd as a philanthropic organisation aimed at providing a means of saving for the working classes. During the late 19th century, the bank became known as Yorkshire Penny Bank and, by 1866, the number of branches reached their peak at 955. In 1874, the first school banks were launched. Yorkshire Bank developed into one of the most profitable regional banks in the UK and, in 1990, National Australia Bank Group became the new owners at a cost of £1bn.

Today, Yorkshire Bank is the principal English arm of the National Australia Bank Group's European operations. With its head office based in Leeds, the bank employs 6,000 staff and has a network of 255 retail branches, stretching from from Newcastle to London and from Hereford to King's Lynn. 1994 saw the launch of Business Financial Services, which has developed into a network of ten regional business centres, supported by 45 area business centres.

Main lines of business: Personal and commercial insurance.