John Oram's photos with the keyword: Bank

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

There are numerous interesting buildings in Alton, Hampshire and this is one of the most interesting. I cannot be absolutely certain that this is the original building indicated by the blue plaque which, after all, only says 'Site of' but it does appear to be of the correct period. Henry Austen set up three banks of which this, Austen, Gray and Vincent, was the first. The others, with different partners, were in Petersfield and London. Austen Collage

As previewed in my photograph of 12 October 2014, HSBC in Lee on Solent has now closed and is seen devoid of signage and equipment just a week after that closure. One might, at this point, reflect on the company's 'Your Local Bank' campaign - Lee on Solent now has no banking beyond its two Post Office branches. There is a rumour that two adjacent buildings have been bought and that representatives of Wetherspoons have viewed the properties. 200_2_P1020030

In spite of the enticing claims of their advertising, banks rarely if ever do anything that is not primarily in their own interests. Branch closure policies have been controversial around the country but closures have continued to the disadvantage of many even though the internet can not fulfill all needs. In Lee on Solent, HSBC on High Street is due to close on 28 November 2014 leaving no banks in the town. Traders are concerned because the post offices have paying in restrictions at the counter which might necessitate more than one visit in a day. This then is the bank for now. Presumably at the end of November I shall take a different photograph. 200_2_P1000902

The rebranding of Lloyds Bank, depicted in an earlier post, was coincident with the return to our towns after 18 years of TSB. This poster appeared in Wheatsheaf Alley, Sheerness only yards from the High Street branch. P1180918

The rebranding of Lloyds Bank, depicted in an earlier post, was coincident with the return to our towns after 18 years of TSB. This branch is in High Street, Sheerness. P1180915

Colwyn Bay, Conwy has some glorious architecture which, in this case, conveys to us some banking history too. This branch of HSBC is on Conway Road (sic) at the junction with Woodland Road West. The Conway Road face bears a wonderful engraved stone marking the building's history as a branch of North & South Wales Bank. At the top right of the entrance face one can just discern the word 'Bank'. The various unsympathetic signs attached to the building today, in my opinion, disfigure it. P1180439