Significant dates: 1861: Established as the Workingman's Benefit Building Society.
1875: Incorporated under the Building Societies Act.
1960: Changes name to First National Building Society.
1994: Acquires Mortgage Trust Limited, British centralised lending business.
1995: Opens a deposit taking subsidiary in Guernsey, Channel Islands.
1996: Completes takeover of UK-based Mortgage Corporation.
o Retail deposit operation opens in Britain to obtain sterling deposits and fund expanding mortgage business in UK
1998: Members vote to convert to a public limited company at a.g.m. o Shares listed on Dublin and London stock exchanges at €2.79, raising €132 million in new capital from existing members and from the institutional markets.
2000: Chief executive Mr John Smyth announced his resignation by "mutual agreement" after seven years in charge.
o Merger talks with Anglo Irish Bank end without agreement
o Share price falls below €1.80
o Cormac McCarthy succeeds Mr Smyth as chief executive
o Sells head office at Booterstown, moving to new premises at Leopardstown.
2002: Pre-tax profits of €66 million achieved.
2003: Acquisition by Royal Bank of Scotland announced.
