Heads of societies predict their firms' finances to remain strong - but have expressed worry over the regulator's savings compensation levies.
Building societies are still feeling upbeat about their financial prospects over the next year.
Chief executives of the savings providers, polled by the Building Societies Association (BSA), indicated that the current financial downturn had not dampened the long-term prospects of the sector. A majority (55 percent) agreed that they remained "optimistic" about the firms' financial performance in 2009.
However, concerns were raised among the building society heads over their obligatory savings compensation payments to the regulator. The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) guarantees that the first £50,000 of guarantees of UK savers will be paid back in the event of their savings provider collapsing.
This compensation is funded by a central pool of money, levied from financial firms in the UK through compulsory payments. Around 53 percent of chief executives told the BSA that they feel savings rates might have to fall in order for their firm to meet the cost demands of the FSCS.
Adrian Coles, director-general of the BSA, said: "The last 12 months have certainly been tumultuous, but it's encouraging to see that the majority of building societies have a positive outlook. Despite challenges faced by building societies, their chief executives feel they are in a strong position to overcome them."
A majority of poll respondents were found by the BSA to predict the Bank of England base rate to be maintained at 0.5 percent for the rest of this year.
