BMB

Front covers of early passbooks - probably
the original design applicable from 1919. The
passbooks are individually printed with the
name of the branch - an expensive option that
was abandoned in due course. The front
cover also has the depositor's account
number shown, another practice that was
dropped for later cover designs

The inside cover of the Bournville passbook
illustrated above; transactions are dated for
1920. The 'initials' column has provision for
the mark of two officers:
'C' - presumably 'Cashier'
'L' - presumably 'Ledger'
which would correspond with the
requirement of the Bank's early Regulations
that 'two or more officers of the Bank shall
be parties to every transaction of the
depositor, so as to form a double check on
every such transaction.'
Note that the outstanding balance of 7d has
been rubber stamped 'Insp S.E.B.' This is a
confirmation that a Branch Inspector (in this
case: S E Bennett) has compared the
passbook balance with the ledger balance
(see Inspection)

The inside of the back cover of this Harborne
branch passbook shows the limited amount
of information etc that was printed in
passbooks at this time; later editions (see
below) carried a lot more detail. The list of
Committee members etc has been obscured
by two stickers

The design of the Lozells passbook dates to
about 1924 (judged by the list of branches
printed in the rear cover). Although the
branch name and account number are still
shown on the front of the book, both details
are rubber stamped in spaces provided for
the purpose. The colour of the book has
been changed from pink to yellow

This Bournville passbook shows
transactions for the period 1939 to 1941.
The majority of the withdrawal transactions
are written in red ink, suggesting that this
was the standard procedure until the 1940s.
Additions of Annual Interest are marked
with an appropriately dated rubber stamp,
and the Bonus Interest paid by Cadbury
Brothers to their employees is shown with
another stamp (see Bournville branch)

An example of a passbook issued in 1940
(Northfield branch). The colour is still
yellow, and the branch name is still being
rubber-stamped on the front cover

Following the introduction of the No 2
Department in 1957, passbooks were colour
coded: yellow for the No 1 Department, and
blue for the No 2 Department. The latest
version still bears the Coat of Arms of the
City of Birmingham

The interior of the 1957-redesign is shown in
the following illustrations.
The inside front cover now has three boxes
for the addition of cross-references:
- where the depositor also has an account in
the No 2 Department;
- Home Safe number, where issued;
- Nomination number, where applicable.
Previously, this type of information was
added by use of a rubber stamp.
The space above the 'Hours of Business'
was used to insert (by rubber stamp) the
branch details (name; address; telephone
number)

This page includes details of the two deposit
products now available to depositors, and
details of how certain type of transactions
can be conducted.
Further pages of the passbook gave details
of various services available through the
bank, and the rear cover is printed with the
Bank's 'key' logo