Who we are

About Scottish Widows

 

At a glance

  • Founded in 1815
  • 6 million+ customers
  • £300bn+ assets under administration
  • Top-three UK provider in workplace pensions and individual annuities
  • 1.75 million+ digitally registered customers
  • 1 million+ app users
  • Supporting customers, employers and financial advisers across the UK.

Our history - how we began

 

Scottish Widows was founded in Edinburgh in 1815 to support women and children who had lost family members in the Napoleonic Wars. Established as Scotland's first mutual life office, it was created to provide financial security at a time when many families faced uncertainty and hardship. 

Over the decades, Scottish Widows grew alongside the people it served. From issuing a policy to Sir Walter Scott in 1824 to supporting the dependants of policyholders who lost their lives on the Titanic, the business built a reputation for helping families through some of life's most important and challenging moments. 

Today, Scottish Widows is part of Lloyds Banking Group, following its demutualisation in 2000. While much has changed over the last two centuries, our purpose remains the same: helping people plan, protect and prepare for their financial future.

 

Our products, services and market position

From building savings and investments, to protecting loved ones and planning for retirement, we help millions of people navigate some of life's most important financial decisions with greater confidence. 

What sets Scottish Widows apart is our ability to support customers throughout their financial lives. Whether someone is starting their first pension, consolidating existing savings, investing for the future or planning how to use their retirement income, we aim to help them build long-term financial confidence and resilience.

 

Shaping the UK's financial future

We're helping shape the future of pensions, savings and investing through industry insight, innovation and expertise. 

While our heritage remains an important part of our story, our focus is firmly on the future. We're investing in digital services, technology and innovation that make it easier for people to understand and manage their finances.

We're also developing new AI-powered tools and digital experiences to make financial information and guidance more accessible. By combining innovation with human expertise, we help people make informed financial decisions with confidence.

Our products and services continue to earn industry recognition, and customers consistently rate us highly, with a 4.6-star Trustpilot score.