ABSTRACT
The number of banks operating in the United Kingdom was greatly reduced over the period 1870-1982. In 1870 there were 336 domestic banks in England and Wales, 12 in Scotland and 9 in Ireland. By 1900 there were 151, 11 and 9, and in 1921 47, 8 and 9 respectively. On the outbreak of the First World War the monthly statements of the leading banks were no longer made public, but were instead sent to the Treasury as weekly balance sheets. The London clearing banks' monthly statements for 1919 to July 1939 were an average of the weekly accounts of each bank in each month. The weekly balances, which were not drawn upon a day common to all banks, were not published. The new system provided for integrated returns, made on common reporting dates and based on common definitions, which all banks are required to submit at mid-months and at end-quarters.
