Rushden Research Group: co-op Banking

Rushden Industrial Co-operative Society

Co-op Bank and Banking

The first Co-op Penny Bank was in the upstairs of the Park Road Grocery Store opened in 1894.


This Share Pass Book is an account held by the Rushden Society, with the Co-operative Union Ltd. There are no pages, just the cover and the rule "Shares 5s each. Each member to hold only ONE Share which shall not be withdrawable". Rushden Society bought their share on March 31st 1890.

This bank book is Rushden Co-operative Society's own account held with the Leicester Carriage Builders & Wheelwrights Ltd. The membership number is 20.

It was opened on February 9th 1905 with £10 which entitled them to 10 shares.

They continued to hold this account until 1972 when the balance of £215 was "Transferred to new book".

Many Co-op Societies held accounts with each other, and took out loans from time to time as the Co-op Movement continued to thrive - it was well founded on true "co-operation".


The top of the withdrawals book - 1932 - 1934	Part page - withdrawals signed for in 1932

Summaries from the Withdrawals Book for 1932/3

Total Contributions Q E Sept 10th 1932	1289	14	2½
Brought forward from Wellingborough Road Book	314	0	10½
Brought forward from Park Road Book	126	1	1½
Brought forward from Hove Road Book	76	2	10
Brought forward from Podington Book	49	7	3½
Total Contributions Q E Sept 10th 1932	1855	6	4
Brought forward Q E June 11th 1932	1902	12	8
Total Half-year Ending Sept 10th 1932	3757	29	0

Total Contributions Q E March 11th 1933	2449	8	3½
Brought forward from Wellingborough Road Book	511	19	9½
Brought forward from Park Road Book	271	11	6½
Brought forward from Hove Road Book	150	6	2
Brought forward from Podington Book	55	5	3
Total Contributions Q E March 11th 1933	3438	11	0½
Brought forward Q E Dec 10th 1932	3033	18	4
Total Half-year Ending March 11th 1933	6472	9	4½

Total Contributions Q E Dec 10th 1932	2127	13	5½
Brought forward from Wellingborough Road Book	520	10	6½
Brought forward from Park Road Book	200	4	10½
Brought forward from Hove Road Book	153	16	1
Brought forward from Podington Book	31	13	4½
Total Contributions Q E Dec 10th 1932	3033	18	4

Total Contributions Q E June 10th 1933	1908	17	4½
Brought forward from Wellingborough Road Book	448	8	0
Brought forward from Park Road Book	182	3	7
Brought forward from Hove Road Book	116	19	1
Brought forward from Podington Book	38	9	11
Total Contributions Q E June 10th 1933	2494	17	11½

A Penny Bank Savings Book 1960

The Banking Hall at the Main Offices in 1957
C Hincliffe, J Bridge, Miss L Mansbridge & Miss A Miller

This rather poor picture shows the Handy Bank kiosk
inside the Co-op Electrical store c 1960s

Savings account

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