2008 is a landmark year in Bacs’ history as we celebrate two major milestones: Our 40th anniversary and 20 years of our Consumer Payments Survey.

Four decades of automated payments
For the past four decades, Bacs has been responsible for processing automated payments on behalf of the UK banking industry, giving both individuals and commercial companies a simple and secure means of transferring money.

From its beginnings as the Inter-Bank Computer Bureau in 1968, to the present day, Direct Debit volumes have grown to over 5.5 billion payments per year.

To view the key events in Bacs’ history take a look at our timeline:

Bacs timeline (122 Kb PDF)

Consumer Payments Survey 2008 - 40th anniversary edition
Since Consumer Payments Survey records began in the late 1980s, Bacs has built up a fascinating overview of the financial habits of the adults in this country, including the way attitudes to different payment methods have changed over time. Today almost three billion Direct Debit payments are processed by Bacs each year and 75% of adults have at least one Direct Debit commitment. The 2008 Consumer Payments Survey report, which is based on our own data, aims to give a flavour of financial life 40 years ago, 20 years ago and today.

Consumer Payments Survey 2008 – Bacs 40th anniversary (1.12 Mb PDF)

40 fast facts about automated payments
Learn something new about Bacs with our 40 fast facts – including surprising information about Direct Debit and Bacs Direct Credit, plus some mind boggling numbers!

Direct Debit advertising
After the first Direct Debit TV ad was launched in 1986, further TV campaigns, from 1991 to 2002, were developed to support volume generation. Take a look at images from the Direct Debit ads from the past two decades:

1986:  Direct Debit – it’s a better way to pay
1991:  Direct Debit it makes bills easier to swallow
1992:  Ain’t no IOUs when you pay DD
1996:  To delight in your dosh, DD your dough!
2002:  Do it with a debit – Direct Debit

Images from Direct Debit ads 1986-2002 (144Kb PDF)

Media resources
Find out more about Bacs 40th Anniversary and the 2008 Consumer Payment Survey by reading the latest press releases:

Bacs celebrates 40 years of automated payments
New report from Bacs looks at 40 years of financial life in Britain