Home > About us > OneFamily turns 50

From humble beginnings

We started out in a one room London office in 1975, with the intention of creating a ‘new and dynamic friendly society’.

From these entrepreneurial beginnings we have grown to become one of the UK’s most exciting and ambitious modern mutuals, forever pushing the boundaries of what’s possible to inspire better futures for our members.

And that’s by helping families to invest in their future, protecting what matters most to them and by supporting those who’ve been underserved by traditional financial services.

But this is just the start. We’re ready to take mutuality to the next level, to be at the forefront of a shift in the financial services landscape that will see inclusion and trust being a priority once more.

50th Anniversary Logo

Inspiring Better Futures

With no shareholders to pay we can reinvest our profits to design affordable products and services that provide the support that real families tell us that they need.

We’re unafraid to be bold and speak truth to power, campaigning for the voiceless and most vulnerable, bringing about change that makes a difference to real lives.

But we’re not just about words, as well as providing funding to charities and organisations that support our aim to build a more inclusive and financially resilient UK, we roll up our sleeves and get stuck in - providing much needed hours of voluntary help too.

Taking mutuality to the next level

This year we're celebrating:

  • Fifty years of being there for our customers and supporting the issues and organisations that matter to them.
  • Fifty years of ambition and entrepreneurial spirit
  • Fifty years of ownership by you

Our big 50th anniversary giveaway!

To celebrate us turning 50, if you take out a OneFamily Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA between 1 May and 31 May 2025 we’ll enter you in a prize draw to win one of 50 £50 John Lewis gift cards!

ISA rules apply. Capital at risk.

Tell me more

Terms and Conditions apply.

Our big 50th anniversary giveaway!

To celebrate us turning 50, if you take out a OneFamily Lifetime ISA, Junior ISA or Stocks and Shares ISA between 1 May and 31 May 2025 we’ll enter you in a prize draw to win one of 50 £50 John Lewis gift cards!

ISA rules apply. Capital at risk.

Tell me more

Terms and Conditions apply.

A timeline of OneFamily's history

Family-Assurance-Friendly-Society-1975

1975

Family Assurance Friendly Society begins

1975

Family Bond launched

1980

Homeowners Friendly Society is established

Family-Assurance-Friendly-Society-1975
A blue booklet dated to 1982 for the Family Assurance Society. In the centre is an outline drawing of a family, consisting of a mother, father, daughter and son.

1982

Family Charities and Ethical Fund launched

1996

Awarded both regional and national ‘Employees in the Community Award’

1999

Our first ISA product is launched

A blue booklet dated to 1982 for the Family Assurance Society. In the centre is an outline drawing of a family, consisting of a mother, father, daughter and son.
Family Investments is formed

1999

Recognised with a national award by Business in the Community - Community Investment Programme ‘Working Together’ for The Neighbourhood Renewal Award

2000

Family Charities Ethical Trust Won Lipper Leaders 2000 high performers award

2004

Family Investments is formed - Family Assurance is renamed as Family Investments

Family Investments is formed
A grandfather and grandson laugh together, laying in the grass.

2005

Engage Mutual Assurance is formed - Homeowners Friendly Society is renamed Engage Mutual Assurance.

2006

Ethical Child Trust Fund launched - providing the only actively managed ethical stakeholder Child Trust Fund on the market

2008

Over 500,000 Child Trust Fund accounts managed

A grandfather and grandson laugh together, laying in the grass.
OneFamily is formed in 2015

2015

OneFamily is formed - Family Investments and Engage Mutual merge to become OneFamily,

2016

We expanded our product range by launching OneFamily Lifetime Mortgages.

2017

We developed our new brand, reflecting our focus on modern family finance.

OneFamily is formed in 2015

2018

Further expansion of our products and services, with the launch of our Lifetime ISA and OneFamily Advice.

2019

We introduced our new Young Person’s Education Grants initiative, supporting 15-19 year-olds with the costs of further education.

2020

We launched our Inspiring Better Futures vision and our new climate-focused investment funds, which invest in companies working towards tackling climate change.

Dog in front of a sign that reads: Spear Brighton, Team Domenica, Clock Tower Sanctuary

2021

We created new partnerships with charities that align with our Inspiring Better Futures vision - supporting them with funding as well as hands-on support.

2022

We acquired Beagle Street, a company that specialises in affordable, simple to purchase, life and critical illness insurance.

2023

We welcomed Jim Islam as our new CEO. We also launched our brand new customer portal, making it easier for more of our members to manage their OneFamily accounts.

Dog in front of a sign that reads: Spear Brighton, Team Domenica, Clock Tower Sanctuary

OneFamily History - Infographic (Infographic) (1)

Related pages

About OneFamily

We want to empower modern families through their financial lives. Find out what we've achieved, where we're going and how we can help you.

Inspiring Better Futures

Our Inspiring Better Futures vision is at the heart of what we do. Learn more about how we support our members, invest in our colleagues and give back to our communities.

Charity Partnerships

We believe in playing an active role in our communities, creating mutually beneficial partnerships that provide meaningful support.