BMB

Just north of Birmingham's city centre, two main roads (Summer Lane and Newtown Row) commence
their parallel courses northwards towards Aston. In this densely populated area, the Bank made a number
of attempts to establish a branch - firstly in Summer Lane in 1924, and then in Wheeler Street and
Newtown Row. Premises were found in Newtown Row, at its junction with Manchester Street.

In 1930, Newtown Row branch was opened as a part-time Evening Branch. Opening hours were from
18:00 to 20:00 on Mondays and Saturdays, and the address was 77 Newtown Row. The branch was
opened, together with Wheeler Street, as replacements for the temporary Summer Lane branch.
From July 31st 1931, the Saturday evening opening was switched to Fridays.

The 1938 Annual Report states that 'steps are being taken to erect a new daily bank in Newtown Row,
which will take the place of the existing evening branch, and it is hoped to have the new premises ready
for use in the autumn'. The Annual Report lists the branch's address as 53 Newtown Row - this appears
to have been a temporary location whilst the shop being used as a branch at 77 Newtown Row was
demolished to enable a new building to be erected.

The new premises at 77 Newtown Row were formally opened on January 13th 1939, by the Lord Mayor
(Alderman J Crump) 'supported by Members of the City Council and others'. The branch now adopted
normal daily opening hours.
A report in the following day's Birmingham Gazette stated:
In the Newtown-row district of Birmingham women - many wearing shawls - and a few men welcomed
the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress (Alderman and Mrs J Crump) in their midst yesterday.
The Lord Mayor paid the visit to what he described as "one of the poorest quarters of the city" to open
a new branch of the Municipal Bank.
He emphasised the wisdom of saving to guard against "a rainy day," and probably astonished many
by revealing that while the bank had been operating on two evenings a week in one of the shops
demolished to make way for the new bank, it had attracted no fewer that 2,390 depositors who had
Ł37,868 standing to their credit.
"That," he commented, "is a colossal sum to have been saved in what is looked upon as one of the
poorer districts of the city."
With the additional facilities now provided for savings, the branch, he thought, should go ahead.
(The Lord Mayor was presented with a silver inkstand as a memento of the occasion.)

In 1941, the branch's opening hours were reduced to 10:00 to 15:00 on Mondays, Tuesdays, and
Wednesdays only. In the early 1960s, the branch was used to train cashiers on Thursdays and Fridays.
The branch was closed in 1971, and the business transferred to Aston Newtown branch.

Managers:
1946 - N W Ravenscroft

1963 - E M Shaw
1964 - N A Worwood
1965 - A J Smith
1966 to 1967 - T P Cox
1969 - H J Clemmow
1970 - D M Bickley

Newly constructed premises: 1939

Crowd assembled at the branch's
opening ceremony:
January 13th 1939

The Bank's Chairman (Harrison
Barrow) speaks at the branch's
opening ceremony

One of the dignitaries (Councillor
Milne) addresses the branch's
customers as part of the opening
ceremony

Business commences:
January 13th 1939

Branch interior in 1939