News and Updates
Welcome
Welcome to the Northern Bank Pension Scheme website where Members will find useful information about the Scheme. We would encourage you to re-visit the website from time to time, as further information and updates will be added periodically.
Townhall Meetings
September 2023: The Trustee is pleased to inform members that it will be holding a series of townhall events on Monday 16 October 2023 at the following venues and times:
| Start and finish time | Venue name | Venue Address and directions |
|---|---|---|
| 10:00 to 11:30 |
Armagh City Hotel, Armagh Fisher Suite |
2 Friary Road, Armagh, BT60 4FR Located around 15 minutes south of the M1 and 45 minutes from Belfast. Free car parking is available. When using a sat nav please do not use the postcode, this will take you outside of Armagh, please use 2 Friary Road, Armagh. |
| 14:30 to 16:00 |
Crowne Plaza, Belfast The Malone Suite |
117 Milltown Road, Shaws Bridge, BT8 7XP Located c.2 miles outside the city centre, and close to all main transport links. There is also free parking available at the hotel. |
| 18:00 to 19:30 |
Crowne Plaza, Belfast The Malone Suite |
In order to provide numbers for catering purposes to the respective venues, please inform the Scheme Secretary if you would like to attend by Wednesday 11 October by emailing Northern.bank.ps@wtwco.com. The Trustee looks forward to meeting as many members as possible.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
August 2023 – Members are invited to note that the audited Scheme Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2022 are now available to view on the Scheme Information page.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
October 2022 – Members are invited to note that the audited Scheme Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2021 are now available to view on the Scheme Information page.
Appointment of PAN Trustees UK LLP
June 2022 — As recently communicated to all members, PAN Trustees UK LLP (PAN Trustees) are to be appointed by the Bank as professional corporate sole trustee with effect from 1 September 2022, at which date the appointments of the current Trustee directors will end. The appointment of PAN Trustees will have no impact on the payment of members’ pensions.
Transfers Out — New Regulations
December 2021 — Regulations have recently been introduced which require the Trustee, in certain circumstances, to carry out additional checks before transferring benefits from the Scheme. This is to help safeguard members from the risk of being defrauded. Please be aware that some delays may result from the need for these checks to be carried out. Members should, however, continue to remain vigilant to the risk of pension scams.
Purchase of Insurance Policy
October 2021 – The Trustee is pleased to inform members that it recently entered into a ‘buy-in’ insurance policy with Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited. The policy is a further step in de-risking the Scheme’s investments and requires Aviva to make monthly payments to the Scheme which cover the Scheme’s obligations to pay certain pensions and death benefits. Further information will be provided in the 2021 Member Report.
Privacy Notice
October 2021 - Members (and contingent beneficiaries) are invited to note that the Trustee’s Privacy Notice has been updated following Aviva Life & Pensions UK Limited becoming a data controller in relation to your personal data. A link to Aviva’s Privacy Notice has also been added. View our updated Privacy Notice.
Annual Report and Financial Statements
June 2021 – Members are invited to note that the audited Scheme Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2020 are now available to view on the Scheme Information page.
Scheme Administrator (Equiniti) – Change of Telephone Number
March 2021 – Members are advised that the contact telephone number for the Scheme Administrator (Equiniti) has recently changed. The new telephone number is 0203 997 6720.
Pension Scams
Members are reminded to be aware of pension scams and are advised to take extreme care if considering transferring benefits out of the Scheme (or indeed, if investing pension benefits such as pension commencement lump sums). Read our dedicated Pension Scam Awareness page for more information.
