1914 Opened 10th March.
The photos of Gresford, NSW and the author are reproduced from Current Accounts, July, 1961.
Extract from the Bank Magazine "Current Accounts" July 1961 written by John Nisbett. He identifies the man "supporting" the building (as he puts it!) as staff member, H.M. Moses.
Supplied by John Munro:
GRESFORD OR ST. IVES RETIRED officer Mr. J. D. Nisbett puts the case for Gresford.I was interested in the article "FastWork" that appeared in the last issue of "Current Accounts" but I cannot agree that the opening of our St. Ives branch is probably the C.B.C. record for speedy decision and speedier action. I believe that honour belongs to Gresford. While relieving the manager at Paterson I posted a letter to H.O. on Wednesday, 4th March, 1914, recommending that the bank open at Gresford. On Saturday, 7th, I received a letter instructing me to open the branch and on Tuesday, 10th March, the branch was opened at 9.00 a.m., four days after the board first saw the proposition. With the help of Paterson accountant Huntly Scott, I arrived at Gresford with a packing case of stationery, £500 in notes, gold, silver and copper, a very heavy revolver which I had to carry in my pocket all the time, and a calico sign. That sign was a wonderful letter of introduction for I had only to show it to a Gresford resident to get all the assistance he could give me. First I had to find an office and the only unoccupied building was let to a butcher who kept it closed to keep out a possible rival. I went looking for the butcher and found him at his killing yards. He was a very nice chap and was very pleased to hear the bank was to open, not only to have local banking facilities, but also because he could cease paying rent for a building he didn't use. Butcher's Hook The exterior of the building was far from pretentious and I opened the door of my future office with some misgivings. I immediately observed that it had actually been used as a butcher's shop and that it was very dirty, while the air was so heavily impregnated with a stale meat atmosphere that I recoiled in haste. I discovered that the huge chopping block was the great offender and to sooth our olfactory nerves I had it removed forthwith. I also got the inside of the building cleaned and the walls slapdash painted. The next morning I went to the premises at 7.00 o'clock, tacked the calico sign in a prominent position and having borrowed a table and chair, opened for business at 9.00 a.m. So far so good, but lacking a safe, I still had the problem of guarding the cash—and I had to sleep. My bedroom at the hotel was the best available but the whole lock had been broken off, so before retiring each night I pushed the heavy chest of drawers and my luggage against the door. I concealed the gold and large notes in small calico bags inside my pyjamas. The bags of gold I tied around my less just above the knee and the notes around my waist. The silver and copper I kept in a leather bag against one of the bedposts hoping that if a burglar got into the room he would grab the bag and the weight would make him think he had everything so that he would happily get away quickly. The revolver and £1 notes I kept under my pillow. I was extremely uncomfortable. On my return to Head Office I learned that Mr. W. H. Pinhey, the northern inspector, was very surprised that I opened the branch so quickly but the thought paramount in my mind was, "Get the branch opened—no delay." So you can sec that while I admit the chrome and polish of St. Ives might give it something our first Gresford premises lacked, I cannot allow it to take from Gresford a record so thoroughly deserved. (But can any other branch beat Gresford?—Ed.) 1934 Listed in Century of Banking.
1960 May new branch known as East Gresford opened and this branch closed. | 
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