opened in 2001 and would accommodate about 650 members of staff who worked in many different disciplines ranging from the call centre to information technology and estate management. In 2001 the Society announced the acquisition of Sun Bank, later to be called The Mortgage Works, which offered specialist mortgage products focusing on the rental market. In 2003 the Society merged with the Staffordshire Building Society. This prompted a new model for product distribution as the Staffordshire branches kept their name but sold Portman products and services. Timeline 1846 Provident Union Building Society is established in Ramsbury, Wiltshire. 1881 Portman Chapel Temperance Permanent Benefit Building Society is founded in London. 1989 31 July – Wessex Building Society agreed for the transfer of engagements to Portman Building Society and the Society officially changed its name to Portman Wessex Building Society 1990 1 October – The Portman Wessex Building Society merges with the Regency & West of England Building Society and the Society reverted to its original name of Portman Building Society 1993 Portman merges with the St. Pancras Building Society. 1997 Portman merges with the Greenwich Building Society. 2001 Portman acquires Sun Bank, a specialist mortgage lender. 2003 Portman merges with Staffordshire Building Society, and both are re-branded. 2004 Sun Bank changes its name to The Mortgage Works. 2006 Portman merges with Lambeth Building Society. 2006 Portman and Nationwide Building Society announce their merger intentions. 2007 Portman and Nationwide complete their merger, with Nationwide the successor entity. Merger with Nationwide Building Society On 12 September 2006, the society announced plans to merge with the Nationwide Building Society, creating a mutual body with assets of more than £150 billion. The merger became effective at the end of August 2007. Portman Members Against the Takeover, a protest group created against the merger, argued that "there is nothing wrong with Portman; it can exist on its own", and cited loss of jobs, customer service and members' interests as reasons that the merger should not go ahead. The campaign attracted significant media attention. Bournemouth Counciller Ron Whittaker, himself a Portman account holder, appealed to Portman members to vote against the merger and "not to be taken in by handouts", in reference to the windfall offered. Financial observers questioned the benefits of a merger (describing it as more akin to a takeover) citing issues such as job losses, less competitive rates and lower service standards as disadvantages.