Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879

1879 CHAPTER 11 42 and 43 Vict

An Act to amend the Law of Evidence with respect to Bankers’ Books.

[23rd May 1879]

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C1 Act extended by Isle of Man Act 1979 (c. 58, SIF 29:4), s. 12(3)

C2 Act extended by International Westminster Bank Act 1989 (c. xvi), ss. 10, 13

C3 Act applied (10.6.1991) by Criminal Justice (International Co-operation) Act 1990 (c. 5, SIF 39:1), s. 4(6), Sch. 1 para. 6; S.I. 1991/1072, art. 2, Sch. Pt. I

C4 Act applied (19.12.1991) by Commercial and Private Bank Act 1991 (c. xxii), s. 10(1) (with ss. 13, 15).

C5 Act applied (with modifications) (1.12.1992) by Ulster Bank Act 1992 (c. xiii), ss. 3,10

C6 Act extended (29.3.1993) by 1993 c. iii, s. 9(1).

Act extended (E.W.N.I.) (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. xiv, s. 9(1).

Act extended (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xvii, s. 13(2).

Act extended (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xviii, s. 11(1).

Act applied by 1996 c. ii, ss. 5(2), 9(2)

Act applied by 1996 c. vii, ss. 3, 9(1) (with s. 16)

Act extended (1.4.1997) by S.I. 1997/172, art. 31

Act applied by 1998 c. v, ss. 3, 12(2)(3)

Act applied by 1999 c. iv, ss. 3, 11(2)(3)

Act applied (10.2.2000) by 2000 c. iii, s. 12(1) (with s. 16)

Act applied (22.3.2001) by 2001 c. i, s. 9(1) (with s. 13)

Act applied (4.12.2001) by 2001 c. v, s. 14(2)

Act applied (with modifications) (26.11.2001) by S.I. 2001/3755, regs. 23(4), Sch. 4 para. 13(5) (with regs. 39, 45)

Act extended (with effect as mentioned in s. 4(1) of the amending Act) by 2002 c. iii, s. 13(2)

Act applied (with effect as mentioned in s. 4(1)(d) of the amending Act) by 2002 c. iv, s. 12(2)

C7 Act applied (26.4.2004) by Crime (International Co-operation) Act 2003 (c. 32), ss. 15(5), 94, Sch. 1 para. 7; S.I. 2004/786, art. 3

C8 Act applied (with modifications) (1.7.2004) by The Government Stock Regulations 2004 (S.I. 2004/1611), regs. 1, 7(7) (with regs. 33, 35)

C9 Act applied (with effect as mentioned in s. 9 of the amending Act) by HBOS Group Reorganisation Act 2006 (c. i), ss. 3, 20(2)

1 Short title. U.K.

This Act may be cited as the Bankers’ Books Evidence Act 1879.

2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F1 U.K.

Textual Amendments

F1 S. 2 repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1894 (c. 56), Sch. 1

3 Mode of proof of entries in bankers’ books. U.K.

Subject to the provisions of this Act, a copy of any entry in a banker’s book shall in all legal proceedings be received as prima facie evidence of such entry, and of the matters, transactions, and accounts therein recorded.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C10 Ss. 3–5 excluded (S.) by Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 32, SIF 47), ss. 6(3), 9, 10(3)

4 Proof that book is a banker’s book. U.K.

A copy of an entry in a banker’s book shall not be received in evidence under this Act unless it be first proved that the book was at the time of the making of the entry one of the ordinary books of the bank, and that the entry was made in the usual and ordinary course of business, and that the book is in the custody or control of the bank.

Such proof may be given by a partner or officer of the bank, and may be given orally or by an affidavit sworn before any commissioner or person authorised to take affidavits.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C11 Ss. 3–5 excluded (S.) by Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 32, SIF 47), ss. 6(3), 9, 10(3)

C12 S. 4 modified (1.12.1992) by Ulster Bank Act 1992 (c. xiii), ss. 3, 10(2)

C13 S. 4 modified (29.3.1993) by 1993 c. iii, s. 9(2).

s. 4 modified (E.W.N.I.) (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. xiv, s. 9(2).

s. 4 modified (S.N.I.) (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xvii, s. 13(3).

s. 4 modified (S.N.I.) (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xviii, s. 11(2).

S. 4 applied (with modifications) (17.6.1996) (with effect as mentioned in s. 5(2)) by 1996 c. ii, s. 9(3)

5 Verification of copy. U.K.

A copy of an entry in a banker’s book shall not be received in evidence under this Act unless it be further proved that the copy has been examined with the original entry and is correct.

Such proof shall be given by some person who has examined the copy with the original entry, and may be given either orally or by an affidavit sworn before any commissioner or person authorised to take affidavits.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C14 Ss. 3–5 excluded (S.) by Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 32, SIF 47), ss. 6(3), 9, 10(3)

6 Case in which banker, &c. not compellable to produce book, &c. U.K.

A banker or officer of a bank shall not, in any legal proceeding to which the bank is not a party, be compellable to produce any banker’s book the contents of which can be proved under this Act [F2 or under the Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988], or to appear as a witness to prove the matters, transactions, and accounts therein recorded, unless by order of a judge made for special cause.

Textual Amendments

F2 Words inserted (S.) by Civil Evidence (Scotland) Act 1988 (c. 32, SIF 47), ss. 7(3), 10(3)

7 Court or judge may order inspection, &c. U.K.

On the application of any party to a legal proceeding a court or judge may order that such party be at liberty to inspect and take copies of any entries in a banker’s book for any of the purposes of such proceedings. An order under this section may be made either with or without summoning the bank or any other party, and shall be served on the bank three clear days before the same is to be obeyed, unless the court or judge otherwise directs.

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C15 Power to extend s. 7 conferred by Army Act 1955 (c. 18), s. 103(2)(kk), Air Force Act 1955 (c. 19), s. 103(2)(kk) and Naval Discipline Act 1957 (c. 53), s. 58(3)

8 Costs. U.K.

The costs of any application to a court or judge under or for the purposes of this Act, and the costs of anything done or to be done under an order of a court or judge made under or for the purposes of this Act shall be in the discretion of the court or judge, who may order the same or any part thereof to be paid to any party by the bank where the same have been occasioned by any default or delay on the part of the bank. Any such order against a bank may be enforced as if the bank was a party to the proceeding.

[F3 9 Interpretation of “bank”, “banker”, and “bankers’ books”. U.K.

(1) In this Act the expressions “bank”and “banker”mean—

[F4 (a) an institution authorised under the Banking Act 1987 or a municipal bank within the meaning of that Act;]

[F5 (aa) a building society (within the meaning of the Building Societies Act 1986);]

(b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . F6

(c) the National Savings Bank; and

(d) the Post Office, in the exercise of its powers to provide banking services.

(2) Expressions in this Act relating to “bankers’ books”include ledgers, day books, cash books, account books and other records used in the ordinary business of the bank, whether those records are in written form or are kept on microfilm, magnetic tape or any other form of mechanical or electronic data retrieval mechanism.]

Textual Amendments

F3 S. 9 substituted with saving by Banking Act 1979 (c. 37, SIF 10), s. 51(1), Sch. 6 paras. 1, 13

F4 S. 9(1)(a) substituted by Banking Act 1987 (c. 22, SIF 10), s. 108(1), Sch. 6 para. 1(1)(2)

F5 S. 9(1)(aa)inserted by Building Societies Act 1986 (c. 53, SIF 16), ss. 54(3)(a)(5), 120, Sch. 18 Pt. 1 para. 1

F6 S. 9(1)(b) repealed by Trustee Savings Banks Act 1985 (c. 58, SIF 110), ss. 4(3), 7(3), Sch. 4

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C16 Definition of “banker” extended by instruments listed in the Chronological Table of the Statutes

C17 S. 9(1) modified (1.1.1993) by S.I. 1992/3218, reg. 82(1), Sch. 10 Pt. I para.2.

C18 S. 9(2) applied (29.3.1993) by 1993 c. iii, s. 9(3).

s. 9(2) applied (E.W.N.I.) (27.7.1993) by 1993 c. xiv, s. 9(3).

s. 9(2) applied (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xvii, s. 13(1).

s. 9(2) applied (5.11.1993) by 1993 c. xviii, s. 11(3).

S. 9(2) applied by 1996 c. ii, ss. 5(2), 9(1)

S. 9(2) applied by 1996 c. vii, ss. 3, 9(3) (with s. 16)

10 Interpretation of “legal proceeding,” “court,” “judge.” U.K.

In this Act—

• The expression “legal proceeding” means any civil or criminal proceeding or inquiry in which evidence is or may be given, and includes an arbitration [F7 and an application to, or an inquiry or other proceeding before, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal or any body exercising functions in relation to solicitors in Scotland or Northern Ireland corresponding to the functions of that Tribunal];

• The expression “the court” means the court, judge, arbitrator, persons or person before whom a legal proceeding is held or taken;

• The expression “a judge” means with respect to England a judge of the High Court, and with respect to Scotland a lord ordinary of the Outer House of the Court of Session, and with respect to Ireland a judge of the [F8 High Court in Northern Ireland];

The judge of a county court may with respect to any action in such court exercise the powers of a judge under this Act.

Textual Amendments

F7 Words inserted by Solicitors Act 1974 (c. 47), s. 86

F8 Words substituted by S.R. & O. 1921/1802 (Rev. XVI, p. 954: 1921, p. 1332), art. 2

Modifications etc. (not altering text)

C19 References to Ireland to be construed as exclusive of Republic of Ireland: S.R. & O. 1923/405 (Rev. X, p. 298: 1923, p. 400), art. 2

11 Computation of time. U.K.

Sunday, Christmas Day, Good Friday, and any bank holiday shall be excluded from the computation of time under this Act.