ONE of the North-East's oldest institutions has unveiled a new name and logo as part of a major rebranding.

The Kensington Friendly Society, which has had its head office in Kensington Road, Middlesbrough, for over a century, has been renamed Tees Mutual.

The society was established in the mid-1890s as the Trade Union Friendly Collecting Society to provide a way for Cleveland ironstone miners and their families save money for their funeral costs and changed its name to the Kensington in 1992.

Now Tees Mutual, which has around 7,500 members, is looking to the future by expanding its team of 17 agents, while also extending its range of policies to include income protection and enabling members to apply and make payments online for the first time, as well as launching a social media presence.

Mark Brooks, chairman, said: “We are extremely proud of our rich history but we’re also keen for local people to see that we continue to be a financially strong society with a modern vision."