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Birmingham Municipal Bank

  • Thread starter Thread starter dollyferret
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My local one was in Perry Barr not far from the Library I can remember it smelt funny and the counters were high, I had to stand on the brass foot rail and still couldn't see over the counter. Mind you I was vertically challenged I think I still might have to stand on the foot rail now
 
I have been given some Carl Chinn press cuttings which may be of interest to forum members. Please note the cuttings are not dated and detailed so I cannot provide a correct reference source. These will be copyright Carl Chinn or the newspaper which, I presume is the Evening Mail? I have only scanned them for members to read and enjoy. It may help preserve the articles for future reference.

Here is an article on Neville Chamberlain and the Municipal Bank, along with Lee Longlands ......
 

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cookie273uk said:
I opened my first Bank a/c at the Municipal Bank Aston Cross about 1944/45 after starting work. Eric
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My first bank account was opened at their branch on Bordesley Green, near Blake Lane.I would be about 7/8 years old. There was a long counter made of wood which was quite wide.I suppose it needed to be because of the large ledgers that were used to enter the account transactions. Not a lot of money in my account but an important lesson to learn to save.
 
Tinpot said:
My first bank account was opened at their branch on Bordesley Green, near Blake Lane.I would be about 7/8 years old. There was a long counter made of wood which was quite wide.I suppose it needed to be because of the large ledgers that were used to enter the account transactions. Not a lot of money in my account but an important lesson to learn to save.
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I did the same at Erdington Municipal Bank, Station Road.
 
Mine was this one, once the Bham Municipal Bank. Don't know how old I was but I think my account would have been opened before I was 11. And I think (a) bank is still there on the site with altered street level frontage
 

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I can't believe I haven't put in my tuppence worth on this subject, but I did a search and nothing was found. My first account was at Acock's Green, 1111, Warwick Rd. the sort of number you remember. Probably around 1945. I too remember the wide wooden counters and the brass foot rail, what was it for if not to enable little boys, and girls, to see over the counter. My first bank book was beige though later I had a blue one. Don't remember the significance I too had one of their money boxes. We lived with my mother's parents during the wartime and I had a great number of great aunts and uncles who we would visit and their threepence gifts would be deposited in my money box and how they mounted up!.
 
My first account was at the branch on Lozells/Villa Rd across the road from Hazelhursts Chemists shop. The bank was next to a men’s store that sold suits and stuff like that I could not afford.
 
My account at the Shirley Branch was opened by my Grandad when I was a baby.
The savings gave me the deposit for my first car. I was lucky enough to be given pocket money by that Grandad and the money went in my BMB money box and then to the bank.
 
Out in the sticks Brummy said:
My local one was in Perry Barr not far from the Library I can remember it smelt funny and the counters were high, I had to stand on the brass foot rail and still couldn't see over the counter. Mind you I was vertically challenged I think I still might have to stand on the foot rail now
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Sure there was a branch a the Yew Tree Yardley opposite the Yew Tree pub same side as Yardley Junior and Infant School.
 
devonjim said:
I can't believe I haven't put in my tuppence worth on this subject, but I did a search and nothing was found. My first account was at Acock's Green, 1111, Warwick Rd. the sort of number you remember. Probably around 1945. I too remember the wide wooden counters and the brass foot rail, what was it for if not to enable little boys, and girls, to see over the counter. My first bank book was beige though later I had a blue one. Don't remember the significance I too had one of their money boxes. We lived with my mother's parents during the wartime and I had a great number of great aunts and uncles who we would visit and their threepence gifts would be deposited in my money box and how they mounted up!.
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thats odd jim..i put in birmingham municipal bank and this thread came straight up...glad you found it though

lyn
 
From Birmingham Images gives this information.
Date:1931 - 1945 (c.)

Description:This interior view of the Birmingham Municipal Bank in Broad Street, Birmingham, reveals the sort of space one might expect from the rather grand Neo-Classical facade. The building was designed by T. Cecil Howitt as the bank's head office and it was erected between 1931 and 1933. Howitt subsequently designed Baskerville House on the opposite side of Broad Street. The photograph is undated but the fashions might suggest the 1940s. It was clearly a day when they could have done with more cashiers.
 
Di.Poppitt said:
The Municipal was bought by Trustees Savings Bank, now part of Lloyds. it would be interesting to find what sort of return you would get now for your £1 14s 6d Pete. :)

The Municipal Bank was started at the instigation of Neville Chamberlain, he raised the idea in Parliament and against some opposition the Birmingham Corporation Savings Bank was opened to help with funds for the war in 1915, after the war the name was changed to the Municipal.
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I was taken by my father to the municipal bank on the top of Spark Hill. I was handed down over the counter a very large and heavy ledger and stood at this small table had to write my name on the top of the ledger and deposited. I think it was savings stamps, by the time I was 18 amount of grown into £100 which I withdrew and bought my first car, which was an Austin A40 Somerset.
I don’t think I have a photo of the bank but will need to have a look. I didn’t know that the bank was consumed within Lloyds thanks for the informationBrian Essery.
 
mikejee said:
Here is a photo of the counter inside the head office of the Municipal Bank in Broad Street.

View attachment 207085
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I remember those banks of cards in the wooden boxes behind the counter. They were the ledgers in which your deposit was recorded by hand. I can remember it now - being lifted up by my Dad (usually) and sat on the high couter to watch the cashier (teller) open my box and count the money. Write it in my pass book and then fetch "my card" to record it on as well.
That was the Shirley branch - where Lloyds now is almost opposite Solihull Road.
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(Before anyone asks - yes - the ghost sign on the wall next door is on the Ghost Signs Thread :D )
 
Opened my first account at the Yardley Branch
i say first account i already had Post Office one
and i was with the Bradford & Bingley
while doing a job as a joiner in the Broad St Branch
along with security escort
Don Estelle & Winsor Davies walked in
 
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