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Explore our timeline to find out, at a glance, how our story permeates the history of the island community we have always served.
We opened for business for the first time in Douglas in November 1865. Prior to our arrival Isle of Man had just two banks: Dumbell, Son & Howard (est. 1848) and Bank of Mona (est.1849). Both of these existing banks had suspended payment in 1857. The leading businessmen and officials who promoted Isle of Man Banking Co recognised that the island needed a stronger bank to serve the needs of the growing Manx economy. During the years after our foundation the island flourished with the improvement of the harbour and promenade at Douglas and the establishment of an island railway.
1865 |
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1866 |
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1867 |
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1869 | Iron Pier built in Douglas |
1870 | Isle of Man Steam Railway established |
1872 |
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1873 |
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1874 |
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1875 | Victoria Street completed in Douglas |
1876 | Horse tramway opened along Douglas promenade |
1877 | Public baths opened on Douglas Promenade |
1878 | Loch Promenade built on the Douglas foreshore |
1879 |
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1881 | Women’s suffrage introduced for spinsters and widows (making the island one of the world’s first democratic communities to enfranchise women) |
1882 |
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1883 | Tramways laid along Douglas Bay |
1886 | Queen’s Pier opened in Ramsey |
1887 | Jubilee clock installed on Loch Promenade to mark Queen Victoria’s golden jubilee |
1889 | Palace Ballroom opened in Douglas |
By 1895 we had seven busy branch offices in Douglas, Castletown, Ramsey, Peel, Port St Mary, Port Erin and Laxey. Meanwhile, the economy of the island had begun to change. Although agriculture remained important, fishing and mining declined and, for the first time, tourism became hugely important. Steamship traffic grew and hotels and boarding houses proliferated. Visitors to the island increased from 60,000 in 1870 to 351,000 in 1900, and soon representative offices of several mainland banks opened on the island too. The growth of Douglas was reflected in its incorporation as a municipal borough and the first TT race was held.
1890 | Barque Thorne shipwrecked at Onchan Head |
1891 | Douglas Prison on Victoria Road replaced Castle Rushen |
1892 |
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1893 | Manx Electric Railway opened between Douglas and Groudle |
1894 |
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1895 |
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1896 | Railway line laid between Laxey and summit of Snaefell |
1900 |
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1902 |
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1907 | First motorcycle Isle of Man Tourist Trophy (TT) race at St John's |
1911 | First TT motorcycle race on the mountain circuit |
1913 |
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1914 |
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The outbreak of the First World War brought an end to tourism on the island. Agriculture, however, prospered and the construction of internment camps provided a boost to the local economy. Many members of our staff enlisted - three were killed on military service - and women joined our workforce for the first time. In 1918 income tax was introduced on the island. During the post-war years poor weather reduced the number of visitors and those who came seemed to have less money to spend. Economic depression was soon biting hard. Massive unemployment in Lancashire further diminished the Manx tourist trade and the fishing and farming industries struggled. The last mine on the island closed.
1918 |
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1920 | National Provincial & Union Bank of England attempts to take over Isle of Man Banking Co – rebuffed |
1922 | Manx Museum established |
1924 | Douglas Marina branch opened and Douglas Regent Street branch rebuilt by Isle of Man Banking Co |
1925 | Isle of Man Banking Co celebrated the sixtieth anniversary of its foundation |
1926 | Bank name changed from Isle of Man Banking Co Ltd to Isle of Man Bank Ltd |
1927 | Isle of Man Bank offered trustee and executor services for the first time |
1928 | New purpose-built branch opened in Ramsey by Isle of Man Bank |
1929 | Laxey mine, the last on the island, closed |
1930 | Isle of Man Bank introduced home safe deposit accounts for small savers |
1933 |
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1935 | Onchan branch opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1936 | Major extension to Douglas Harbour opened, known as King Edward VIII pier |
1938 | Manx Regiment raised |
1939 | Royal Air Force Station Jurby opened |
Overall the economy of the island was detrimentally affected by the Second World War, although bombing raids were limited and the influx of internees and evacuees brought some new business to the Isle of Man. We experienced similar problems to those a generation earlier with controls over foreign exchange and involvement in the operation of the island’s clothing coupon system. Again, many of our staff joined up, requiring the recall of retired employees and use of more women workers. During the 1950s prosperity gradually replaced austerity. Ronaldsway Airport passed into the hands of the island’s government and the first Island Games were held.
1940 | First enemy alien internment camp opened at Ramsey |
1946 | Permanent Executive Council created, comprising seven senior Tynwald members |
1948 | Ronaldsway Airport sold by Admiralty to Isle of Man government |
1953 | Douglas Victoria Street and Kirk Michael branches opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1957 | Control of Manx customs revenues, finance, police, civil service and harbours passed to Tynwald |
1961 |
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1962 | Ballasalla and Douglas Prospect Terrace branches opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1963 | Ronaldsway Airport and Ramsey Chrystals Mart branches opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1964 | Manx Radio went on air |
During the 1970s the Isle of Man government increasingly focused on attracting business from the UK and a number of other mainland clearing banks established branches on the island. As the economic importance of the financial services sector increased, our bank flourished. We began to enter the offshore market, alongside developing our local business, and grew our shipping and insurance activities. In 1970 our parent National Provincial Bank amalgamated with Westminster Bank to form National Westminster Bank. Meanwhile the Isle of Man Post was established, a Freeport constructed at Ronaldsway and a new power station opened at Douglas.
1965 |
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1966 | Douglas Station sub-branch opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1967 | Douglas Queen's Promenade sub-branch opened by Isle of Man Bank |
1969 | New extension to Isle of Man Bank’s Athol Street, Douglas, premises opened housing foreign travel and safe custody facilities |
1970 | National Provincial Bank, Isle of Man Bank’s parent company, merged with Westminster Bank to trade as National Westminster Bank |
1973 |
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1979 | Tynwald celebrated its Millennium Year |
1982 |
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1983 | Manx Government established Financial Supervision Commission to license and regulate banks |
1984 | Isle of Man Bank’s Athol Street, Douglas, premises extended as an overseas department |
1985 | First Island Games held on Isle of Man |
1986 |
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1989 | New power station opened at Douglas |
The 1990s saw the construction of some important new facilities on the Isle of Man - a National Sports Centre, a power station at Peel, the Courts of Justice and the new Noble Hospital. In 2000 our parent company, NatWest, was acquired by The Royal Bank of Scotland and a new chapter in our history began. We embarked upon a major refurbishment of our branches, including a significant spend on our Regent Street office in Douglas. In recent years the way customers use bank services has altered considerably with the rise of telephone and online banking. This shift has been reflected in the recent closure of a number of our branches, but at the same time we have ensured that our customers still have access to local banking services through the introduction of our first mobile branch on wheels.
1990 | Executive Council renamed Council of Ministers |
1991 | First phase of National Sports Centre opened in Douglas |
1993 | Banking hall at Isle of Man Bank’s Douglas Athol Street branch extensively refurbished |
1995 | New power station opened at Peel |
1997 | New Courts of Justice built |
2000 |
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2001 |
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2003 | New Noble's Hospital opened at Braddan |
2006 | Voting age lowered from 18 to 16 for Manx general election |
2007 | Centenary of Isle of Man TT celebrated |
2008 | Jurby Prison replaced Douglas Prison |
2011 | Commonwealth Youth Games held on Isle of Man |
2013 |
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2014 |
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2015 |
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