Northern Rock was a British bank, most recently owned and operated by Virgin Money. It was based at Regent Centre in Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom. During 2012 the Northern Rock brand was phased out and replaced by Virgin. Northern Rock was best known for becoming the first bank in 150 years to suffer a bank run after having had to approach the Bank of England for a loan facility, to replace money market funding, during the credit crisis in 2007.