A NORTH-EAST building society has called on the Government to ensure customers get a fair deal in financial services.

Darlington Building Society (DBS) has contributed to the Manifesto for Financial Mutuals report.

That brings together brings together proposals from the Building Societies Association (BSA), of which DBS is a member, and the Association of Financial Mutuals.

It says it aims are to help the next Government deliver a fairer deal for consumers, adding it wants to support ministers to create a stronger savings culture and tackle the housing crisis.

Colin Fyfe, DBS chief executive, said: “Like us, many mutuals operate in a defined geographical area and therefore have an excellent understanding of the needs of local customers.

“This enables more unique and personal lending assessments to be made rather than centralised, computerised decisions.

“The Government needs to translate the aspirations it has for diversity in the sector into actions to ensure financial services are resilient, customers have choice and the problems of the last recession, and the part some banks played in that, are not repeated.”