As a tribute to, and in summary of all the things that made Martins special, we’ve created the following ‘postcards’ covering Martins history. We begin with 1928, and a selection of the years that follow until 1969. The gaps will be filled, in due course.

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A new chapter in the modern history of our bank is opened in 1928 when the directors of Lancashire and Yorkshire Bank make a name change the condition of joining together with the Bank of Liverpool and Martins.

The historic site of the first banking business in the history of our Bank – Sir Thomas Gresham’s Grasshopper - is brought into the twentieth century with the rebuilding of our London city Office at 68 Lombard Street.

Our palatial Head Office premises are completed, and 4 Water Street is a riot of internal colour and splendour, and an external show of strength and stability. The Beaux Arts take centre stage, and carved and painted sea creatures abound.

Building and acquisition of new branches brings us more outlets across England and Wales. Each one is carefully designed to fit the locality to which it will belong.

The Second World War takes it toll on our branches, with enemy action at Exeter, and at Liverpool South John Street where all that is left is the eerie sight of the bank vault underneath. Wimbledon is the evacuation point for London District, and the Bankers’ Clearing house moves in secret to Staffordshire.

The war is over, and The Colours of the King’s Liverpool Regiment are withdrawn from safe keeping at our Liverpool Clubmoor Branch. A star is born, and for the next twenty three years Martins Bank Magazine will bear witness to the changing face of the Bank.

The Mobile Branch service is launched in National thrift Week, making it even easier to pop in and make a deposit. the caravans are a familiar sight at shows and events up and down the land for the next 21 years.

Out and about with the mobile branches, attending events including the first bank branch specifically for boy scouts(?), and a publicity shot of the opulence of the Banking Hall at Head Office.

Children and their small screen heroes do their banking, and Lewis’s Bank provides Saturday afternoon “family banking”. Preston Branch as it used to be, and Martins’ own currency issue.

Hold on to your hat as banking by car becomes another first for Martins, putting Leicester firmly on the map. (The ROAD map, of course!) The idea is an instant and long running success for Martins.

Having been first with computers, been on display at the Cambridge show AND provided department store banking, Martins staff give thanks inside their own cathedral-like Head Office.

The new branches programme is in full swing, with only the best materials and brightest decoration throughout. Students are welcome, and spending money abroad is no problem.

Show season means setting up and taking down a variety of colourful and eye-catching stands. Along with the mobile branch, these stands play an important role in promoting the image of the bank that has always gone to extremes to be helpful.

More new branches show off the design and flair of Martins’ architects, the lid is lifted on the workings of the Bank’s Information Department, and staff training centres churn out the (male) managers of tomorrow.

Another new branch, the move from metal to fibreglass signage, 40,000 accounts are processed by the Liverpool Computer Centre, and Martins enters the toy market for Christmas.

The sixties are fairly swinging by now, with more new branches opening up, advertising to capture the youth market, behind the scenes staff go on show, and the account number becomes your most important link with your bank.

The London Computer Centre is state of the art, automated cheque clearing is handled effortlessly, newer computers cover more tasks, and the new information super-highway is paved with miles of punched paper tape.

Cash at your fingertips, even if it has to be £10 at a time, Martins says goodbye to the last issues of pre-decimal coinage, the “indestructible” money box arrives, as does a second drive-in branch.

Yet more new branches, and helpful guides to foreign destinations are the latest giveaways. Martins Unicorn advertises on both Granada, and the brand new Yorkshire Television, as well as in the south of England.

Royalty goes to university, another successful show stand is on display, the pre-fabricated branch pitches up in Liverpool, and change is in the air as new signs of the times appear all over the country.

© gut informiert 2007 to date

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