The role of banks and banking systems in facilitating and shaping the pattern of economic growth has been much explored in an attempt to understand differing levels of economic success in industrializing and mature economies. This is a collection of contributions to the understanding of this role.

First Published in 1966. This volume the fourth edition of Andreades classic history of the bank of England that looks at the period of 1640 to 1903, with its first edition appearing in 1909. The reprint after more than thirty years after the author's death has now secured its place among the classics of economic literature.