Coutts - References in Culture

References in Culture

Coutts is mentioned in the 1889 Gilbert and Sullivan Savoy opera The Gondoliers in the following lyrics:

The Aristocrat who banks with Coutts —

The Aristocrat who hunts and shoots —

The Aristocrat who cleans our boots —

They all shall equal be!

Robert Louis Stevenson mentions Coutts in his 1886 classic novella "Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde" as being the bank of choice for Dr Jekyll: "...and presently came back with the matter of ten pounds in gold and a cheque for the balance on Coutts's drawn payable to bearer,..."

In the first episode of Michael Palin's Around The World In 80 Days, Michael visits the bank to inquire about the safeguarding and ease of replacing money whilst on his trip. His bank manager suggests a code-word, which will alert a less knowledgeable member of his staff that Michael is indeed who he says he is. The code-word in question was Jabberwocky.