The history of banking in Marlborough dates back to 1860, when a branch office of the Bank of New Zealand was opened at Picton, under the management of Mr. Bridges. An agency was also opened at Blenheim, but in 1865, when the seat of Government was removed from Picton to Blenheim, the chief branch of the bank was also transferred to the capital. There are now three banking houses transacting business in Blenheim; namely, the Bank of New Zealand, the National Bank of New Zealand, and the Bank of New South Wales. On page 84 of this volume some information is given concerning the operations of the banks doing business in New Zealand during the year 1904. A large amount of business is also transacted through the Post Office Savings Bank. For the three months which ended the 30th of June, 1905, the money deposited in the savings banks of the colony amounted to £I,705,218, and the withdrawals to £I,582,604. Of these amounts, the eight savings banks in the Blenheim district received £33,691 75 in deposits, and paid out £26,164 12s 7d in withdrawals. The excess of deposits over withdrawals—£7,526 14s 5d— was, with the exception of the four chief cities, and Invercargill and Nelson, greater than in any other district in the colony.