11-04-20 Bradford University (Claremont)

Student digs?

Now here’s a novel (and probably unintended) way to attract student business - Whilst the rest of the UK “swings” its way through 1967, Martins goes back to basics, and opens a university branch in what looks like one room student accommodation, right next to the Amalgamated Engineering Union! To be fair, the university building programme of the 1960s forces all banks to think on their feet and find “innovative” outlets from which the valuable student banking market can be wooed.

In Service: 1967 until 19 April 1973

Image © Barclays Ref: 0030-0358

By the end of the 1960s, the Bank has nine university branches, housed in a variety of building styles. York University Branch starts life as one of the mobile branch caravans in the grounds of the University. At Bradford however, let’s hope the more left-wing students do actually approve of having a bank account!

The Bank produces leaflets like the one shown here, for students attending just about all of the universities in England. The larger Northern towns and cities such as Bradford often shave several branches of Martins including one at the University. Bradford has a choice of SIX branches, at which students will be made welcome, allowed to bank without charges, and to receive help and advice on managing their money, from the Bank’s staff. Each leaflet is tailored to a particular town or city, and also contains general information about the Bank, and also some of the services it offers to its customers.

Leaflet images © Martins Bank Archive Collections