SCOTTISH Building Society has appointed Raymond Abbott, the former managing director of Alliance Trust Equity Partners, as its new chairman.

Mr Abbott has taken over from Rob Golbourn who remains a non-executive director until he retires in October.

Established in 1848, Scottish Building Society is Scotland’s last remaining independent building society. It has mortgage assets of £311.3 million and savings balances of £365m.

Mr Abbott said: “It’s an honour to take over as chairman of Scottish Building Society. We have a proud history as the world’s oldest mutual, but the Society is not stuck in the past and it is an exciting time to take the reins.”