Nationwide delivers 34 per cent rise in profits

File photo dated 05/01/13 of a Nationwide building society, which posted a 34% increase in pre-tax profits as it benefited from the continued boom in mortgage lending. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday November 20, 2015. The nation's biggest building society said pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September were £802 million, up from £598 million on the same period last year. See PA story CITY Nationwide. Photo credit should read: Paul Faith/PA Wire

The nation’s biggest building society said pre-tax profits for the six months to the end of September were £802 million, up from £598 million on the same period last year.

It was helped by a £1.8 billion (14 per cent) increase in its residential mortgage lending, taking the total amount lent to customers to a record £14.9 billion.

It comes a day after the Council of Mortgage Lenders revealed that borrowing by British homeowners had reached its highest level since 2008.

Outgoing chief executive Graham Beale said the building society had also increased savings balances by £2.6 billion and opened more than a quarter of a million new personal current accounts.

“This has been our best ever half-year of mortgage lending, along with a strong inflow of savings and the opening of over a quarter of a million new current accounts,” he said.

“Our first-half performance reflects the growing strength and security of the society, with all of our core product areas delivering standout results.”

Earlier this week, Nationwide revealed that BT Openreach chief executive Joe Garner would become its new chief executive next year.

He will replace Mr Beale, who announced his intention to leave Nationwide earlier this year.

It is not yet clear where Mr Beale will head next, and it is believed he is still considering his options.