When studying for my Chartered Institute of Banking exams as a Grade 1 Bank Clerk in the late 1980’s little did I know where my banking career would take me!
My roles in product management, as the CEO of systemically important payment systems, my responsibility for the live launch of the Current Account Switching Service and being chairman of the first accredited Request to Pay company have all benefitted from my day release studies at the Chelmsford College of Further Education.
As a product of my studies, I give you ‘An introduction to deposits and savings‘ at the South East Bank PLC – copyright 1986.
Art isn’t my thing so you can see that I benefitted from the drawing skills of Elaine Oddy.
ATM Cash Withdrawals
Cash withdrawals from an ATM were clearly an important function of this mythical 1980’s bank account – withdrawals were limited to a maximum of £100 and it seems that cash withdrawals at other banks was yet to become a reality.
Cheque-ing Account
Receiving your salary electronically was a feature of the account and, given my future role as Bacs’ CEO, I am pleased that I was promoting Direct Debits even then.
You will be pleased to read that ‘after a while you can apply for a (£50) cheque guarantee card’ and overdrawn positions were charged on an item basis at just 29p an item.
Bonus Savings Account
I’m pleased to see that my teenage self was keen to encourage saving.
However, the account restrictions were quite draconian – monthly deposits were required with just one missed month and / or one withdrawal permissible every six months without affecting the bonus interest rates.
Would you open an account with South East Bank PLC?
Both banking and payments have come a long way since the late 1980’s and I am not sure that the offering from the South East Bank would fare well against a modern day bank account.
That said, my tutor thought that the marketing brochure was ‘well illustrated’ (thanks Elaine) and was comprehensive and readable – grading the piece of work as an ‘A’.
That said, I didn’t manage to complete the course so could never proudly display the letters ACIB after my name on my business card or CV.