John Oram's photos with the keyword: NatWest

Victor Finance, 14 Market Place, Brigg. Formerly a branch of NatWest. TZ70_2_P1000840E

Ratcliffe & Bibby Solicitors, 44 Market Street, Carnforth. It is often easy to spot a former bank by architectural style but easier still when the word 'Bank' is engraved above the main entrance. 44 Market Street used to be home to NatWest. TZ70_P1000283CE

The NatWest bank at 12 High Street, Southampton (corner East Street) closed on 31 August 2017. Like so many other closed banks, it stands empty nearly three years later. 200_3_P1120919CE

If buildings can be cute, this falls into the category. Unfortunately, being vacant is not cute and my views on bank closures and vacant commercial property are well documented on this site. I could not find an exact closure date online but 150 High Street, Selsey was formerly a branch of NatWest. More importantly for the aficionado of banking history, this was, earlier still, a branch of Westminster Bank. The Westminster merged into National Westminster (later NatWest) as long ago as 1970. Although it is not clear in this picture, the removal of the NatWest fascia has left visible the shadow of the words 'Westminster Bank Limited'. 200_3_P1120682CE

The Sainsbury's Local at 266 Pentonville Road, London, N1 has the unmistakable architectural features of a former bank and was, in fact, a NatWest. The night safe can still be seen (centre) and the ATM is now branded for Sainsbury's Bank. TZ70_P1000382

Standing solidly but empty on Victoria Place, Axminster, the former NatWest closed on 30 May 2018 to be followed in June by branch closures in Chard and Sidmouth which much reduces the presence of the brand in a relatively small area. The HSBC, now Morton's Pharmacy , in Axminster closed some while ago so that now, as far as I know, only Lloyds and Santander survive to serve a busy town. The Lloyds will, reportedly, close for three weeks soon for conversion into a counterless branch. 200_3_P1070320E

On an evening walk in High Street, Staines, my partner observed that it is unusual these days to see representatives of The Big Four banks next to each other. In these days of branch closures this is increasingly true. Indeed, in many of Britain's towns today, one might not find more than one or two of these names. In the present era, The Big Four are regarded as Lloyds Bank, Barclays Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland Group (NatWest is part of the RBS Group) and HSBC. 200_3_P1060445CE

The opening of a bank branch is an unusual sight these days so I was easily motivated to take this photograph in Cornmarket Street, Oxford on a Sunday evening. Although the notice of opening hours was in place this branch would not be opening on the Monday morning. Evidence of the preparations for the opening is visible in the lit interior. The ATMs have notices reading 'Out of Order' and, on the left, a board marks the future location of the night safe. I assume the business will move from the nearby 32 Cornmarket Street. This property has for a while been the subject of a notice of change of use from Use Class A1 (Shop) to Use Class A2 (Financial Services). TZ30_P1040772E

The building now occupied by Streathers Solicitors at 53 Clapham High Street, London, SW4 (corner Tremadoc Road) is easily identified as a former bank as the original glazing with the familiar NatWest symbol remains in place. The office, one of four in London, was opened as long ago as 1988 and records suggest that it was a solicitors office for some while before that. 200_3_P1000574R