Stories from the Vaults: Jo's Story
We met Jo Roberts during a tour of the Jewelry Quarter in Birmingham. Once we started chatting about the Birmingham Municipal Bank, memories of her time in Acock's Green with her Auntie Pat came flooding back.
"I loved our chat about the “Muuuunicipal” – it gave me a chance to reminisce about my much-loved Auntie Pat, who I miss dearly.
Pat Perrett (née Duggins) lived on Westley Road, Acocks Green, and I spent time staying with her in the mid-to-late 1970s. She introduced me to the Birmingham Municipal Bank, opening an account for me at the Acocks Green branch on Warwick Road.
I visited the site recently and, although no longer a bank, I was pleased to see that the façade was just as I remembered. Auntie Pat encouraged me to save my Birthday and Christmas money, and when I stayed with her, we’d often take a trip to the “Muuuunicipal” to deposit my small but meaningful savings. The bank was more than just a place for transactions. It was part of Birmingham’s social fabric, promoting a sense of thrift, saving, and financial responsibility, especially among working-class families.
The Birmingham Municipal Bank was unlike other high street banks; it was a civic institution aimed at helping ordinary Brummies save and invest in their future. Its presence in communities like Acocks Green reflected a time when banking was local and personal, which helped to foster a sense of trust and belonging.
Beyond the bank, Auntie Pat introduced me to other iconic Birmingham spots. I have fond memories of Hudson’s Bookshop on New Street, where the scent of paper and ink filled the air, and Midland Educational on Corporation Street, a haven for school supplies and literary treasures. These were places of learning and aspiration, much like the bank, shaping the lives of many young people growing up in Birmingham.
Looking back, those days spent with Auntie Pat weren’t just about errands. They were about connections, traditions, and the everyday institutions that defined Birmingham. Though the Municipal Bank has long since closed, its legacy lives on in the hearts of those who remember.
Happy days indeed!"
The Acock's Green Birmingham Municipal Bank branch was on this site from 1925. The tenants of the building have since changed, but the facade remains.
Do you have any memories of Birmingham Municipal Bank?
You can email your memories to the Unlocking the Vaults project at: unlockingthevaults@contacts.bham.ac.uk.
We’d love to hear your stories!