[Gazetteer of Scotland Contents]
—Five of the Scottish banks – the Bank of Scotland, the Royal bank of Scotland, the British Linen Company, the Commercial bank of Scotland, and the National bank of Scotland, the first of which was established by Act of Parliament, and the other four incorporated by Royal charter – do not require, in pursuance of the act 7th Geo. IV., cap. 67, to lodge lists of partners. All the others involve the responsibility of each partner to the full extent of his possessions; and most are joint-stock establishments, with large constituencies. Their notes, which are permitted to be for twenty shillings, but not less, leave scope for an ample silver currency, but almost entirely exclude from the country coins of gold. Each bank is obliged to have exchequer bills in its possession equal to the average amount of its issues. A system of mutual exchange and security, established and worked by the banks themselves, acts as a check upon over-issues; the exchange is made in the country weekly, and in Edinburgh twice a-week; and whatever surplus remains of one bank’s notes over those of another with which the exchange is made, must be bought up with specie, exchequer bills, or an order on the Bank of England. The following table exhibits the names, numbers, dates and statistics, for the years 1837, 1838, and 1839, of all the public banks.
Firm and Head Office. | Established. | Branches. 1837-1838-1839 | Partners. 1837-1838-1839 |
1. Bank of Scotland, | 1695 | 24 25 29 | … … … |
2. Royal Bank of Scotland, | 1727 | 7 7 7 | … … … |
3. British Linen Company, | 1746 | 38 40 44 | … … … |
4. Commercial Bank of Scotland, | 1810 | 49 50 51 | … … … |
5. National Bank of Scotland, | 1825 | 37 35 35 | … … … |
6. Aberdeen Bank, | . . . | 7 9 11 | 122 163 189 |
7. Ayr Bank, | . . . | 4 4 6 | 10 11 11 |
8. Dundee Banking Company, | . . . | … … 1 | 57 54 52 |
9. Dundee Union Bank, | . . . | 4 4 4 | 79 80 82 |
10. Dundee New Bank (dissolved Oct. 10, 1838,) | . . . | 1 1 … | 4 6 … |
11. Glasgow and Ship Bank, | . . . | 1 1 1 | 27 30 28 |
12. Greenock Bank, | . . . | 3 3 3 | … … … |
13. Leith Bank, | . . . | 12 11 11 | 9 9 9 |
14. Paisley Bank (discontinued Nov. 20, 1833,) | . . . | 3 3 … | 4 4 … |
15. Perth Banking Company, | . . . | 3 3 3 | 185 182 182 |
16. Renfrewshire Bank Co., | . . . | 5 5 5 | … … … |
17. Paisley Union Bank, | 1809 | 3 3 … | 3 3 … |
18. Aberdeen Town and County Bank, | 1825 | 8 10 11 | 470 474 491 |
19. Arbroath Bank, | 1825 | 1 1 1 | 7 7 7 |
20. Dundee Com. Bank (dissolved Oct. 10, 1838,) | 1825 | … … … | 146 138 141 |
21. Glasgow Union Banking Co., | 1830 | 16 16 20 | 483 484 508 |
22. Ayrshire Banking Co., | 1831 | 6 6 7 | 7 7 7 |
23. Western Bank of Scotland, | 1832 | 12 17 21 | 497 454 469 |
24. Central Bank of Scotland, | 1834 | 7 7 7 | 469 402 465 |
25. North of Scotland Banking Co., | 1836 | 63 15 21 | 830 833 1564 |
26. Clydesdale Banking Co., | 1837 | … 1 1 | … 731 818 |
27. Southern Bank of Scotland, | 1837 | … … 5 | … … 226 |
28. Eastern Bank of Scotland, | 1838 | … … 1 | … … 774 |
29. Edinburgh and Leith Bank, | 1838 | … … … | … … 785 |