Heritage

The Vanquis Banking Group Foundation is launched. The Foundation supports children and young people in the communities we’ve served since 1880; aiding financial inclusion and supporting social mobility.

The name of the Group changed to Vanquis Banking Group. In line with Woolard Review, the Group made the strategic decision to focus on the mid cost credit market and evolve. The change of name is reflective of this evolution and the Group's fresh position. 

Moneybarn expands its product range into the near-prime vehicle finance market.

Moneybarn moves into Athena House, a purpose-built, eco-accredited office. The office has the ability to house over 400 colleagues.

The business receives FCA authorisation. 

Moneybarn expands its product to offer vehicle finance for motorbikes as well as vans and cars.

After successfully developing a loans platform, Vanquis commences testing instalment loans, initially to its credit card customer base with encouraging early results.

Moneybarn broadens its product offering by financing vans as well as cars.

The business broadens its offering to the non-standard credit market by acquiring the vehicle finance specialist, Moneybarn.

The business launches an online loans business, Satsuma Loans. 

The business launches it's first credit card under a new brand, Vanquis.

A brand new head office was built on Sunbridge Road in Bradford to accommodate the increasing number of colleagues.

The business is floated on the stock market on 16 March 1962. It marked the transition from a private family business to a public company under the new name of Provident Financial plc. The flotation was followed by a period of growth as product ranges expanded to reflect the ever-changing needs of the modern customer. 

Provident, our original home credit business, notably endures the Wall Street Crash of 1929. 

By the time Sir Joshua Waddilove dies in 1920, The Provident Clothing and Supply Co Limited has grown into a nationwide business with over 5,000 agents operating from a head office in Bradford.

Sir Joshua Waddilove, working as an insurance agent, sees first-hand how some working class families struggle to pay for essential items like furniture, clothes and shoes. He devises a voucher system that can be exchanged in local shops for clothing, food and coal. Families then repay the vouchers in small weekly instalments they can afford. Demand grows so Sir Joshua opens an office and recruits agents to help collect the repayments. The Provident Clothing and Supply Company is born.