Find out what your society is legally required to do. This includes telling us about rule changes, submitting accounts and annual returns.
We provide guidance for co-operative and community benefit societies.
Obligations for societies are set out in mutuals legislation:
- Building Societies Act 1986
- Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act 2014
- Co-operative and Community Benefit Societies Act (Northern Ireland) 1969
- Credit Unions Act 1979
- The Credit Unions (Northern Ireland) Order 1985
- Friendly Societies Act 1992
- Friendly Societies Act 1974
All societies must:
- comply with legislative requirements
- follow their registered rules (available on the Mutuals Public Register)
- maintain a minimum number of members
- keep a registered office address in the United Kingdom
- maintain a register of members
- maintain and submit financial accounts
- register any changes to their rules with us
- include your registered name on all documents and correspondence
Further details are available on our ‘Resources’ page.
Societies carrying out activities regulated under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (FSMA) will also need to be authorised to do so and will have additional reporting requirements, and be subject to requirements under the FCA Handbook and, for PRA authorised firms, the PRA Rulebook.