Records of Reliance Bank, The Salvation Army's bank

Scope and Content

Records of the Salvation Army's Reliance Bank, 1893-2003.

The collection is arranged as follows:

RB/1 Correspondence, 1901-1988

RB/2 Balance sheets, 1960-1967

RB/3 Annual reports and accounts, 1982-2003

RB/4 Papers, 1893-1998

Administrative / Biographical History

The Reliance Bank was founded as The Salvation Army Deposit Bank in 1890 and registered as The Salvation Army Bank by William Booth in 1891. Booth intended the bank to provide services for both Salvationists and non-Salvationists whilst using all deposits for the purchase of properties for The Salvation Army. In 1901, due to expansion, the need arose for limited liability status and so the Reliance Bank Ltd was established in succession to The Salvation Army Bank. The name was changed to that of the Reliance Trust Ltd in 1980 due to the Banking Act of 1979 but reverted back to Reliance Bank Ltd on 1 March 1988.

Access Information

Open for research. The reading room of The Salvation Army International Heritage Centre is open Tue-Fri 9.30-4.00. It is advisable to make an appointment. Tel: 0207 326 7800; email: heritage@salvationarmy.org.uk.

Other Finding Aids

A multi-level description of this collection can be accessed in the International Heritage Centre's online catalogue: http://www.calmview.eu/SalvationArmy/CalmView/. A paper catalogue is available in the reading room of the International Heritage Centre.