Bankers' Books Evidence (Amendment) Act, 1959

What is this act about?

This law, the Bankers' Books Evidence (Amendment) Act, 1959, updates the definition of "bank", "banker", and "bankers' books" for the purposes of the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879.

Who it applies to: Banks and bankers, including specific named banks and those holding a licence under section 47 of the Central Bank Act, 1942, as well as Post Office Savings Bank and certain other savings banks; Officers of the Revenue Commissioners who issue certificates regarding banking licences.

At a glance

Country: Ireland
Area of law: Banking, insurance and financial markets
Articles: 4
Source: irishstatutebook.ie
Text retrieved: 2026-06-17
Explanation updated: 2026-07-07

What does this act regulate?

The meaning of "bank" and "banker".
What constitutes "bankers' books".
The repeal of specific subsections and sections from other Acts.

Who does this act apply to?

Banks and bankers, including specific named banks and those holding a licence under section 47 of the Central Bank Act, 1942, as well as Post Office Savings Bank and certain other savings banks.
Officers of the Revenue Commissioners who issue certificates regarding banking licences.

What are the key points?

"Bank" and "banker" include specific named banks like the Bank of Ireland, the Hibernian Bank, Limited, and the Post Office Savings Bank, among others.
"Bankers' books" now include any records used in the ordinary business of a bank, or in its transfer department, regardless of their physical format (bound volumes, loose-leaf, cards).
"Bankers' books" cover documents in manuscript, typed, printed, stencilled, or created by any mechanical or photographic process.
A certificate signed by an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, confirming a banking licence was issued under section 47 of the Central Bank Act, 1942, is considered prima facie evidence of that licence.

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Legal text

Contents (4)

Section 1
Section 2
Section 3
Section 4

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BANKERS' BOOKS EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1959.

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS Section

Section 1

Principal Act.

Section 2

Amendment of Principal Act.

Section 3

Repeals.

Section 4

Short title and collective citation.

SCHEDULE Acts Referred to National Debt Act, 1882 1882, c. 72 the Savings Bank Act, 1893 1893, c. 69 Number 21 of 1959.

BANKERS' BOOKS EVIDENCE (AMENDMENT) ACT, 1959.

AN ACT TO AMEND THE BANKERS' BOOKS EVIDENCE ACT, 1879. [29th July, 1959.] BE IT ENACTED BY THE OIREACHTAS AS FOLLOWS:— Principal Act.

1.—In this Act “the Principal Act” means the Bankers' Books Evidence Act, 1879.

Amendment of Principal Act.

2.—The Principal Act is hereby amended by the substitution for section 9 thereof of the section set out in the Schedule to this Act.

Repeals.

3.—Subsection (2) of section 11 of the Revenue, Friendly Societies, and National Debt Act, 1882, and section 6 of the Savings Bank Act, 1893 , are hereby repealed.

Short title and collective citation.

4.—(1) This Act may be cited as the Bankers' Books Evidence (Amendment) Act, 1959.

(2)The Principal Act and this Act may be cited together as the Bankers' Books Evidence Acts, 1879 and 1959.

SCHEDULE Interpretation of “bank”, “banker” and “bankers' books”.

Section 2

9.(1) In this Act the expressions “bank” and “banker” mean any of the following: (a) the Bank of Ireland, the Hibernian Bank, Limited, the Munster & Leinster Bank, Limited, the National Bank, Limited, the National City Bank, Limited, the Northern Bank, Limited, the Provincial Bank of Ireland, Limited, the Royal Bank of Ireland, Limited, and the Ulster Bank, Limited; (b) any other person who is the holder of a licence issued under section 47 of the Central Bank Act, 1942 (No. 22 of 1942); (c) the Post Office Savings Bank; (d) the Cork Savings Bank, the Dublin Savings Bank, the Limerick Savings Bank, the Monaghan Savings Bank, and the Waterford Savings Bank.

(2)Expressions in this Act relating to “bankers' books”— (a) include any records used in the ordinary business of a bank, or used in the transfer department of a bank acting as registrar of securities, whether comprised in bound volumes, loose-leaf binders or other loose-leaf filing systems, loose-leaf ledger sheets, pages, folios or cards, and (b) cover documents in manuscript, documents which are typed, printed, stencilled or created by any other mechanical or partly mechanical process in use from time to time and documents which are produced by any photographic or photostatic process.

(3)A certificate which— (a) purports to be signed by an officer of the Revenue Commissioners, and (b) certifies that a licence was issued under section 47 of the Central Bank Act, 1942 , to a specified person and authorised him to carry on banking business from a specified day until the next following 31st day of December, shall be prima facie evidence of the licence for the purposes of this Act, and it shall not be necessary to prove the signature of the officer or that he was in fact an officer of the Revenue Commissioners.

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