While the greater part of the residents' lives were spent in the City or the West End, there was little need for suburban banks.

Their emergence was a sign of maturity in Blackheath.

The North Kent Bank was founded by local men, using local capital, in 1864 and prospered until the manager absconded with more than £20,000 in 1878.

The business was transferred to the London & Provincial Bank which, in 1917, merged with the South Western and in 1921 became a part of Barclays Bank. The bank was rebuilt in its present in 1888-1889.