Thrifty Barrow children were running their own savings accounts in school and banking on the scheme being a major success, in 2007.

Pupils from Parkview School, at West Avenue, Barrow, had joined forces with NatWest to set up a School Bank in preparation for running their own finances in the future.

And with all the new skills they were learning the young Barrovians stood a better chance of becoming tomorrow’s captains of industry, reported The Mail.

Guidance for the scheme had come from Chris Dacre, of Barrow’s NatWest on Dalton Road.

The branch would be run and staffed by pupils with ongoing support from the high street experts, who had given the young bankers cashier training.

To get a job in their own bank, pupils had to run the gauntlet of a gruelling job application process complete with CVs, references and interviews.

And pupils at the secondary school could make deposits and withdrawals in between lessons during the branch’s published opening hours.

They would also receive regular statements, which NatWest staff would go through with them, to help them understand the banking process and to watch their savings accounts blossom from tiny acorns into mighty oaks. Some pupils had saved up three-figure sums for a special purchase or with one eye on a future university course.

The school used a safe for pupils’ deposits and money was banked in branch each day.

It was all part of the NatWest Face2Face with Finance programme, which encouraged youngsters to develop business and finance skills before they reached adulthood.

Rose Saunders, a maths teacher, said: "The students are really excited about this new venture.

"It's very important that they gain basic money management and enterprise skills so setting up, running and using their own bank is an extremely practical and fun way of doing this."

NatWest spokeswoman Ann Dowdy said: "I'm delighted that we are able to help Parkview School ensure all its pupils will be better prepared for the time when they have to manage their own finances."