A 150-YEAR old North-East building society is the first in the UK to launch an iPhone app for its customers.

Darlington Building Society has beaten bigger rivals to become the first to offer the service, which will allow customers to use their mobile phones and iPads to access a range of information about the society. The app, which is free to download, includes a tool which locates the nearest branch and cash machine, as well as a calculator to work out savings interest or mortgage repayments.

The app was developed by Newsquest North-East, publisher of The Northern Echo.

John Wall, the society’s Teesside district manager, said: “Darlington Building Society is always looking at ways of improving the customer experience.

“Being the first building society in the UK to develop an iPhone app reflects how the society is ready to embrace and employ the latest technology for the benefit of its savers and borrowers.

“We are determined that our customers are given the ability to obtain information about the society in a format and at time that suits them.

“Thanks to the iPhone app, they will be able to use a highly convenient, effective and easy-to-use tool, which they can access anywhere and at any hour of the day.”