By the early 1970s, the examination subjects that had to be passed in order to become an Associate of the Savings Banks Institute (ASBI) had evolved into twelve papers that were grouped into three parts:

 

Part I
    English
    Economics
    Principles of Accounts - 1
    General Principles of Law

 

Part II
    Savings Bank Law and Practice - 1
    Savings Bank Law and Practice - 2
    Principles of Accounts - 2
    Savings Banks and the Social and Economic History of Britain

 

Part III
    Savings Bank Law and Practice - 3
    Monetary Theory
    Personal Taxation
    Personal Savings and Investment OR Social and Welfare Services

 

After September 1975, Part I was replaced by the Ordinary (or Scottish) National Certificate in Business Studies. The same year, holders of approved degrees and professional qualifications were given complete exemption from Part I, and in addition, were granted exemption from the Part II examinations on a subject-for-subject basis.

As the Savings Bank Law and Practice that was applicable to the Birmingham Municipal Bank was different to that applicable to Trustee Savings Banks, papers unique to BMB staff were set for that subject.

A number of prizes were awarded to successful candidates, including 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Part I; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd for Parts II/III; individual subject prizes; and specific prizes such as the J W Raftery Memorial Prize for English - in commemoration of the BMB General Manager who died in office in 1964.

 

Currently, limited information is available of BMB prizewinners, however, the following details have been extracted from the SBI Journals for October 1964, 1965, and 1967 plus the period March 1969 to December 1977 (excluding January 1976):

 

Economics – Part I – G L Capener

 

Book-keeping – Part I – Miss J B Smith

 

A E Walker Prize for Savings Bank Law and Practice (Inter) – M P Bourke

 

1965

 

 

1969 (see Image-130)
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Place Prize Parts II & III
 - 1st Prize: Miss J M Hooke

 

Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 2, Part III
 - Miss J M Hooke

 

Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Banking Practice - Part III
 - Miss J M Hooke

 

J W Raftery Memorial Prize for English - Part I
 - Miss S M King

 

1970 (see Image-130)
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Place Prize
 - 2nd Prize: A P Byrne

 

Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 1, Part II
 - Miss M S Phipps

 

Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 2, Part III
 - J H Winterbottom

 

1971
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 1, Part II
 - D W Hoccom

 

Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Principles of Accounts - 2, Part II
 - B Dipple

 

1972
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Place Prize - Part I
 - 2nd Prize: G Malin
 - 3rd Prize: R J Smallwood

 

1974
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 3, Part III
 - R J Smallwood

 

1976
Sir Thomas Jaffrey Subject Prize - Savings Bank Law and Practice - 1, Part II
 - N Morgan