Belfast Banking Company/Northern Bank
The first bank in Rathfriland was opened by the Belfast Banking Company in a room rented from Mr Robert Magill of the George Hotel on 19 June 1861. In 1862 the bank leased premises in the Square from Mrs Osbourne, later building in 1910 the imposing purpose-built Bank House that can be seen in the Square. In 1970 the Belfast Bank and the Northern Bank were merged by the owners Midland Bank and were known as the Northern Bank. In 1987 Northern Bank was sold to National Australian Bank, then sold to Danske Bank which closed the premises in 2011. The building is now in private ownership but the name Belfast Banking Company is still clearly visible on the facade of the building.
