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{{Authority Side}}
== Overview ==
A number of banks operated in the area.
Australian and European
[[Bank of New South Wales|Bank of New South Wales]]
Bank of Victoria, [[Avenel|Avenel]], [[Seymour|Seymour]], [[Oxley|Oxley]] Bridge, Woods Point
Colonial Bank had branches at [[Seymour|Seymour]], Woods Point, Benalla, Gaffney's Creek, Lauraville, Jamieson
Commercial Bank had branches in [[Albury|Albury]], Lancefield, (Argus16/8/79)
English Scottish and Australian Chartered Bank
Land Credit Bank ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/10/1880|Argus16/10/80]])
London Chartered Bank of Australia
[[National Bank|National]] Bank had branches at [[Euroa|Euroa]], [[Violet Town|Violet Town]]
Oriental Bank Corporation, [[EI Dorado|El Dorado]]
Union of Australia, [[Alexandra|Alexandra]]
The banks urged the government to send the [[Army|army]] to protect the banks after the Euroa robbery ([[The Argus at KellyGang 16/12/1878 (3)|Argus16/12/78]])
The Royal Commission made the following comments upon the threat to the banks from the '''KellyGang''' and the actions of the police to protect them;
" 15th November 1878, in which it was intimated that the '''KellyGang''' would probably attack one of the banks at [[Seymour|Seymour]]. This information was communicated to Superintendent [[Hare|Hare]] on the 26th November, and that officer took immediate steps in his own district to guard against such an eventuality. On the 28th the document reached the hands of the officers in Benalla, and on the following day Mr. [[Nicolson|Nicolson]] telegraphed to the Chief Commissioner, suggesting that the police at Seymour should be reinforced.
It seems clear that at this time rumors were current that one or other of the banks in the district would he robbed; and it has not been satisfactorily shown that Mr. Nicolson or Mr. [[Sadleir|Sadleir]] took any precautions to frustrate an attempt of that nature if made in the North-Eastern district. Indeed, their action indicates that they were either ignorant of the rumors or attached no importance to them, although the witness [[Patrick Quinn|Patrick Quin]] asserts, in the course of his evidence, that some time prior to the robbery he informed the Assistant Commissioner not only as to the locality in which the Kellys were secreted, but that one of the banks at [[Bright|Bright]], [[Avenel|Avenel]], or [[Euroa|Euroa]] would probably be attacked. That the force at the command of the officers in charge of the district was inadequate to resist the threatened raid in every centre of population in the district was apparent. Nevertheless it has not been satisfactorily proved, from the documents or the evidence submitted to your Commissioners, that Mr. Nicolson realized the danger and applied for reinforcements. There is a document, dated some eight or nine months later, written by Mr. Sadleir, in which he alleges that application had been made to the Chief Commissioner for additional police prior to the attack upon Euroa, and Mr. Nicolson, in cross-examination, reiterates the statement, but beyond these mere assertions we have no proof that any special effort was made at this time to protect the banks in the North-Eastern district.([[Royal Commission second Report Part IX ( page 12)|RC2ndReport IX]])
The cheque used by the KellyGang to get into the bank in Euroa was drawn on the '''Oriental Bank'''
([[The Argus at KellyGang 12/12/1878 (4)|Argus12/12/78]])
In late 1879 when there was a threat that the '''KellyGang''' might hold up the banks in [[Beechworth|Beechworth]], the postmaster, erected a telegraphic communication between all the banks and the police station, by wires being placed, and the uniting of these wires would cause an alarm at the banks and station, at any hour of the day or night that the '''KellyGang''' was likely to come. If they came to one of the banks, the station bell would ring, and police would be able to respond to the alert. The banks paid for the expence. ([[Royal Commission report day 37 page 30|RC13584]])
By this time most money was not held in country branches but sent to Melbourne. There was a shortage of cash in the region. Authorities now had the problem that the '''KellyGang''' might attach the trains carrying the money. ([[The Argus at KellyGang 10/11/1879|Argus10/11/79]])
== Banks and other business at KellyGang ==
The banks exercised great influence over the selectors. They controlled credit and there was a concern that they could take over selections all too easily ([[The Argus at KellyGang 19/4/1880 (2)|Argus19/4/80]]) ([[The Argus at KellyGang 27/4/1880 (2)|Argus27/4/80]])
See also [[Banks- local branch|bank]] branches and staff
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