At the counter

banner image
Back to Serving our customers

About this collection

The humble branch counter has a special place in our history. It has welcomed an infinite number of customers and witnessed countless transactions over the centuries. The counter has become less prominent in recent decades as people lead increasingly digital lives. However, it still remains at the heart of our extensive branch network around the world – meeting the day-to-day cash and transactional needs of customers. This selection of photographs explores the changes that have taken place.

Customers

Records

Switch to grid view
Illustration of the banking hall at the London Joint Stock Bank branch in Pall Mall, London, UK
Illustration of the banking hall at the London Joint Stock Bank branch in Pall Mall, London, UK
Photograph of the counter at the Preston Banking Company branch in Kendal, UK
Photograph of the counter at the Preston Banking Company branch in Kendal, UK
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Midland Bank branch in Ludgate Hill, London, UK
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Midland Bank branch in Ludgate Hill, London, UK
Photograph of the cash department of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch in Batavia (Jakarta), Indonesia
Photograph of the cash department of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch in Batavia (Jakarta), Indonesia
Photograph of school children visiting the Metropolitan Savings Bank branch at 3rd Avenue and 756 Broadway, New York City, USA
Photograph of school children visiting the Metropolitan Savings Bank branch at 3rd Avenue and 756 Broadway, New York City, USA
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Mercantile Bank of India branch in Madras (Chennai), India
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Mercantile Bank of India branch in Madras (Chennai), India
Photograph of the banking hall of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation of California head office in San Francisco, USA
Photograph of the banking hall of The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation of California head office in San Francisco, USA
Photograph of customers at a counter in the Central branch of Crédit Commercial de France in Paris, France
Photograph of customers at a counter in the Central branch of Crédit Commercial de France in Paris, France
Photograph of staff and customers in The British Bank of the Middle East branch in Abu Dhabi, UAE (formerly Trucial States)
Photograph of staff and customers in The British Bank of the Middle East branch in Abu Dhabi, UAE (formerly Trucial States)
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Midland Bank branch at Croydon Central, UK
Photograph of customers at the counter of the Midland Bank branch at Croydon Central, UK
Photograph of a counter at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch in Bangkok, Thailand
Photograph of a counter at The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation branch in Bangkok, Thailand
Photograph of customers at the counter of the HSBC Bank Middle East branch in Doha, Qatar
Photograph of customers at the counter of the HSBC Bank Middle East branch in Doha, Qatar