NatWest UK, and it has a large network of over 960 branches and 3,400 cash machines across Great Britain and offers 24-hour "Actionline" telephone and online banking services. Today, it has more than 7.5 million personal customers and 850,000 small business accounts. In Ireland, it operates through its Ulster Bank subsidiary. In 2017, NatWest was awarded Best Banking App in the British Bank Awards. The bank's origins date back to 1658 with the foundation of Smith's Bank of Nottingham. The creation of the modern bank was announced in 1968, and National Westminster Bank Limited commenced trading on 1 January 1970, after
Frederick Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn Frederick Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn Frederick Henry Smith, 1st Baron Colwyn PC DL (24 January 1859 – 26 January 1946), known as Sir Frederick Smith, 1st Baronet, from 1912 to 1917, was a British manufacturer, investor and banking executive. He was an influential Liberal figure in Manchester politics for many years. Smith was a rubber and cotton factory owner, deputy chairman of Martins Bank (which 23 years after his death with 700 branches was acquired by Barclays Bank) and a director of several railway companies. In 1917 he served as Sheriff of Caernarvonshire. He was created a Baronet, of Colwyn