1 Pound Belfast Banking Company

The Belfast Banking Company was one of the six Ulster provincial banks that retained note-issuing rights after the Government of Ireland Act 1920 partitioned the island. That political rupture created immediate practical chaos for Irish banking — notes issued before partition were valid in both jurisdictions but newly issued notes faced uncertain cross-border acceptance, a problem that dragged on through the early 1920s as the Irish Free State established its own Currency Commission.

The company was eventually absorbed into the Midland Bank group in 1970. Pick 150B distinguishes itself from the broader 150 series by signature variety — the difference between these issues is administratively significant but easy to overlook without careful comparison against confirmed signed examples.