Society needed more funds to cope with the increasing levels of demand for mortgages as the housing market gathered steam. By the end of the same year the Society's assets grew to over £337 million. The Society introduced another new account, the Gold Seal account, which attracted substantial deposits and contributed to another record year which saw the Society's assets rise by 21% to £409 million in 1984. In 1985 John Heard retired as General Manager. During his 15 years at the helm, the Society had increased its assets to over £400 million and expanded the branch network from 14 to 45 branches. In line with 1986 Building Society Act, Portman was appointed the representative of the Scottish Life Assurance company in 1987 and introduced two new insurance products. 'Homeguard' (Buildings and contents insurance) and 'Loancover' (Personal accident, sickness and unemployment protection plan). In 1988 the Society continued expanding its insurance products, by offering Travel insurance, Drives Motor Car Policy and Thomas Cook traveller's cheques. Expansion also continued through mergers. In July 1989, Wessex Building Society gave its approval to merge with Portman and the Society officially changed its name to Portman Wessex Building Society. This merger boosted the Society's worth to £1 billion. The following year saw another significant amalgamation when the Society merged with Regency & West of England Building Society. This merger took effect from October 1990, with 95% of members from both Societies approving of the move. The enlarged Society now had over 100 branches and its assets totalled £2.25 billion; its name reverted to Portman Building Society. This merger also brought in the Ramsbury Building Society, originally formed as the Provident Union Building and Investment Society, Ramsbury. This Society's history could be traced back to 1846 and it had been part of Regency & West of England since 1985. The mergers continued throughout the 1990s. In 1993, the St Pancras Building Society with 5 branches and £90 million assets became part of the Portman. In 1997, the Greenwich Building Society with 7 branches and £176 million of assets merged with Portman. These mergers helped the Society to grow in a buoyant south of England economy making the Society the UK 6th largest building society. In 1997, the Society also decided to demolish Portman House and invest £30 million in the construction of a new head office to meet its administration needs. This head office was