The largest life offices in Scotland, Scottish Friendly is based in Glasgow, United Kingdom and operates throughout the UK and Ireland.

In 1867/68, the Society opened branches in Belfast, Sunderland, Troon, Kirriemuir, Kilsyth, Kirkwall, Manchester, Leeds, Dalry, Blairgowrie and Kilwinning.

In 1922, he became a Member of Parliament and, on 10 October 1932, was appointed as James Stewart's deputy and successor, eventually taking over as general manager in 1934.

It was then the fifth largest collecting friendly society in the British isles with 20 branches in Scotland, six in Northern Ireland, five in south Wales, and 24 in England.

In 1994 Scottish Friendly left its Bath Street head office and moved to new premises at 16 Blythswood Square, Glasgow.

During the 1990s, Scottish Friendly expanded, shifting its business model more to direct marketing focusing on tax-exempt savings plans for adults and children.

In 1998, Scottish Friendly appointed a new finance manager, Fiona McBain, who would become the first woman to sit on the board.

The same year, Scottish Friendly secured the contract to provide Nucleus with back-office and logistical support for its wrap business.

[4] Having earlier acquired Rational Shelley (2005), Preston Operative (2006),[5] and Pioneer Friendly, 2007 closed with the transfer of the London Aberdeen & Northern Mutual Assurance Society (LANMAS).

[citation needed] In January 2017 Jim Galbraith was appointed chief executive of Scottish Friendly.

[citation needed] In 2018 Scottish Friendly acquired a bundled group pension business from Mobius Life, with assets over £350 million.

[citation needed] 2019 was a landmark year for Scottish Friendly, with the completion of a significant acquisition of a book of business from financial services provider Canada Life;[citation needed] this helped to consolidate Scottish Friendly's position in the financial services industry.

[citation needed] In 2019 and 2020 Scottish Friendly were also crowned winner of the ‘Best UK Mutual Insurer’ award by the CFI.

The Book Tour allows young people, parents and teachers to meet leading children's authors.

[citation needed] In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, the Scottish Friendly Children's Book Tour went digital for the very first time by creating video content distributed across social media platforms.