A MUTUAL is working with a planning business to offer customers greater financial advice.

Darlington Building Society (DBS) has signed an agreement with Wren Sterling.

The firm says the deal will deliver more help on pensions amid Government changes to retirement funds, which allow people to access savings easier.

Support will also be available on issues such as long-term care planning, inheritance tax, life and health insurance and critical illness cover.

Colin Fyfe, DBS’ chief executive, said: “As we build for the future, we need to put our members at the heart of everything we do and quality, independent financial advice is an important element.

Paul Chafer, Wren Sterling’s commercial director, added: “We’ve seen huge demand from other clients for advice on pensions in particular, so we’re looking forward to bringing this service to DBS.”

Earlier this year, The Northern Echo revealed DBS, which is the country’s 21st largest building society, is moving online to nurture the next generation of savers.

The mutual is adding mobile mortgage and saving services to its traditional over the counter offerings, and customers could be applying for mortgages digitally by the end of the year, with savings accounts following in 2016.

It is also looking at fitting machines in branches to count cash from youngsters’ piggybanks, to help them understand the value of saving.

However, Mr Fyfe said the society, which has assets of more than £530m, will not be leaving the high street or ending its traditional red passbooks.