A timely event that's worthy of note.

STAFF at NatWest in Conwy are marking 150 years of banking in the town. The branch is one of NatWest's oldest in Wales and traces its origins back to 1856 when the National Provincial Bank of England opened a local branch.

Staff are using the opportunity to celebrate the event with their customers and the branch will be displaying pictures depicting a century and a half of banking.

Conwy office opened in February 1856 as a sub-branch of the bank's Bangor office, trading from rented premises on Castle Street, opposite where the current branch stands. Business flourished from the outset, and Conwy was made a full branch of the bank in 1864.

It soon outgrew its original accommodation and in 1866 a new site was acquired at 24 Castle Street. A banking office, which still houses the branch, was completed a year later at a cost of pounds 1,300. Sub-branches later opened at Colwyn Bay and Penmaenmawr.

During the First World War conscription led to staff shortages and a staff member from Conwy was killed in action. In the 1920s a series of major bank amalgamations resulted in the emergence of National Provincial Bank as one of the nation's 'Big Five' high street banks. In 1970 National Provincial Bank and Westminster Bank merged.

CAPTION(S):

Back (from left ): Becky Hold, of NatWest, Conwy town mayoress Betty Roberts, Edward Dougherty, of Aberconwy Historical Society, Trevor Williams, society chairman and Alison Denton, of NatWest. Front: Llew Groom, society president, branch manager Eleri Owen, Conwy town mayor Hugh Roberts, and Robin Williams, NatWest area retail manager Picture: Keith Freeburn