• Doing business with the FSA
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    • Friendly societies
      • Frequently asked questions

Contact

If you have any questions relating to registration matters, please contact the
Mutuals societies registration team

Tel: 0845 606 9966 (option 3)

(call rates may vary)

A friendly society is a voluntary mutual organisation whose main purpose is to assist members (usually financially) during sickness, unemployment or retirement, and to provide life assurance.

Societies other than friendly societies may be registered under the 1974 Act - these comprise 'Benevolent Societies'; 'Specially Authorised Societies' and also 'Working Men's Clubs'. However since the Friendly Societies Act 1992 no new societies can be registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1974.

Is my society a friendly society, and is it registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1974?

If the society's 'register number' ends in 'F', 'FS', 'FI'; 'COLL', COLS'; 'W', 'WS', 'WI'; 'BEN', BENS', 'BENI'; 'SA', or 'SAS' then the society will be registered under the friendly societies legislation. If you are unsure of the society's register number then look at the society's rule book. You can also use the FSA Mutuals Register to check the 'Registration Act' for your society.

If the society's register number ends in an 'R' or 'RS' then the society will be an industrial and provident society.

Is my society a friendly society registered under the Friendly Societies Act 1992?

Only those friendly societies that have incorporated since 1993 or that have registered for the first time since 1993.

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