COOKIES

An explanation of how and why we use cookies

What are cookies?

A cookie is a small text file that is placed on your electronic device (computer, laptop, tablet, phone) when you visit a website.

Cookies are used by all websites and have several different functions. They: 

  • Allow a website to recognise your device and change the format of the website to suit that device
  • Allow the site to work properly and help keep it secure
  • Help you to navigate between pages efficiently by remembering pages you’ve visited, so you can go back to them if you wish
  • Give information about how the website is used, and use this to improve your experience on the website
  • Help by remembering information that you've entered so the next time you visit you don’t have to enter it again .

How do YBS use cookies?

We use cookies to:

  • Improve your experience by making it quicker and easier for you to use the website
  • Identify what stage of an application process you are at
  •  Allow you to log in and manage your savings and mortgage accounts
  • Identify how effective our advertising is and provide you with information in the future that we think you’ll be interested in. 
 

We do not use cookies to:

  • Store the password or memorable data you use to access your accounts online

Consent

Cookies are needed to allow you to get the full experience from our website and services. Before we put cookies on your device we need your consent.

When you visit our website, you will see a banner telling you that our website uses cookies. This will stay in place until you either accept cookies or manage your preferences.

By default, Necessary cookies are always turned On. The rest of the cookies (Performance, Functional and Targeting) are turned Off unless you choose to change the setting.

By clicking on Accept All, you agree to our use of cookies as set out above. By clicking on Reject All, you can reject all cookies except for Necessary cookies. Without these cookies, the website will not work.

Your preferences will expire after 12 months, at which point the banner will re-appear to ask again for your consent. You can also review or change your cookie preferences below at any time.

What types of cookies do we use?

These cookies allow you to move around the website and use its features, such as allowing secure access to your logged in areas of the website. Without these cookies, services you have asked for cannot be provided.

We use strictly necessary cookies to:

  • allow the website to work effectively
  • help keep your visits to the logged in area secure
  • allow you to log-in and vote in our AGM

These cookies collect information about how visitors use a website, for instance which pages visitors go to most. These cookies don’t collect information that identifies a visitor - all the information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. It is only used to improve how a website works.

We use performance cookies to:

  • check if you have cookies enabled
  • identify what stage of an application process you are in
  • help us understand how our website is used so we can improve customer experience
  • help us improve the content on our website
  • help us understand what errors come up so we can fix them

Our performance cookies will not store any personal information about you unless you proceed with an application. Then the details of your application may be linked to your customer record.

These cookies allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, these cookies can be used to remember changes you have made to text size, fonts and other parts of web pages that you can control. They may also be used to provide services you have asked for, such as watching a video, or to remember information that you have already provided on previous visits to a website.

We use functional cookies to:

  • store preferences that you select, such as font size
  • remember your username or customer number, if you’ve asked us to
  • remember if we've asked you to fill in our online survey (so we don't keep pestering you)
  • remember the options available to you through our online appointment booking system while you're on the website.

These cookies are used to deliver adverts that are more relevant to you and your interests. For example, if you're looking for a mortgage, you might see more advertisements for mortgages - simply because the cookie has detected what you're looking for. They are also used to limit the number of times you see an advertisement, as well as to help measure the effectiveness of advertising campaigns.

Targeting cookies are usually placed by third parties such as advertising networks with the website operator’s permission, so they are usually linked to site functionality provided by the third party organisation.

We use targeting cookies to:

  • Identify how effective our advertising is and provide you with information in the future that we believe is relevant to you

We work closely with some third party companies who provide services such as customer feedback, advertising, and social networking. In these cases, the third party organisation may set their own cookies which are controlled by them and covered by their own policies:

Please note YBS is not responsible for the content of external websites.

You can turn off targeting cookies only by blocking specific companies if you’d prefer. You will still receive advertising on the internet, but the ads you see may not be as relevant to you and your interests.

You can set your preferences here: www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choice

What is the difference between a first or third party cookie?

A first party cookie is set by the website you are visiting. For example, cookies on the Yorkshire Building Society are set by the  Yorkshire Building Society.

Some of our services are reliant upon cookies set by other websites which are known as third party cookies, and the domain setting a cookie may appear as 'www.another-website.com'. 

How long will cookies stay on my device?

When you visit our website, ‘session cookies’ are placed on your computer for the time you spend on the website and are removed when you close your browser.

Other types of cookies, called, ‘persistent cookies’ remain on your computer for a longer period until they are set to expire (usually after 12 months) or until you use the browser function to clear cookies.

 

Further information about cookies

For more information on how private browsing works, as well as its limitations, visit the support pages for your browser: Microsoft Edge , Internet Explorer , Firefox , Chrome , Safari (mobile and desktop ) and Opera .

How can I opt out of targeted advertising

If you prefer not to receive targeted advertising, you can choose to opt out by registering your decision to opt out with advertising companies. The European Interactive Digital Advertising Alliance website Your Online Choices allows you to install opt-out cookies.

You'll still receive advertising on the internet, but the adverts you see may not be tailored to your likely interests or preferences. You can set your preferences here:  
 www.youronlinechoices.com/uk/your-ad-choices.