Plymouth, Banking | Westminster Bank

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The Encyclopaedia of Plymouth History

WESTMINSTER BANK

The Surrey, Kent & Sussex Banking Company was established at Southwark in 1836 and soon had branches in places like Croydon, Brighton, Maidstone and Woolwich.

It was renamed the London and County Banking Company in 1839. Limited liability was acquired in 1866 and by 1875 it had over 150 branches, making it the largest British bank.

In August 1909 the Bank merged with the London and Westminster Bank, which had been established in 1834. As a consequence, it was re-titled the London, County and Westminster Bank, the London and Westminster, which only had 37 branches, then being wound up.

A further merger, with Parr's Bank Ltd, in 1918 brought another change of title, this time to the London County Westminster and Parr's Bank Ltd. In 1923, when a branch first appeared in Plymouth, at 21 Bedford Street, this rather cumbersome title was shortened to the Westminster Bank Ltd.

When the Bank of England closed its branch at Bank of England Place in Plymouth in 1949, the Westminster took over their premises but they had to terminate their tenancy on June 24th 1957.

The Westminster Bank in Bedford Street, Plymouth, was one of the few buildings left standing after the Blitz.

The Westminster Bank in Bedford Street, Plymouth, was one
of the few buildings left standing after the Blitz of 1941.
© Plymouth City Museum. June 1949.

A merger with the National Provincial Bank Ltd was announced in 1968 but it did not take effect until January 1st 1970, when the National Westminster Bank came into existence.