Bank, 32 Eglinton Street, Beith

A later 19th-century bank, located at 32 Eglinton Street, Beith, it incorporates a former bank agent's house. The building is two storeys and an attic, with five bays, and takes the form of an Italianate provincial bank. The central round-arched doorway is recessed behind a rusticated doorpiece, featuring a keyblock, cornice, and anthemion acroteria. Flanking the doorway are bipartite windows, also with acroteria to the cornices. The first-floor windows are architraved with decorative luggs. Outer rusticated pilasters support a cornice and panelled parapet. There are three gabled dormers on the roof. A base course and floor cill courses are present. The exterior is finished in polished buff ashlar.

The rear elevation has three bays, spanning two storeys, an attic and a basement. A canted bay is present on the left at the basement and elevated ground floor levels.

The windows are timber sash and case, with plate glass; some rear windows feature lying pane glazing and plate glass 4-pane windows. Grey slates cover the roof, and there are rendered end stacks.

The ground-floor left interior has been modernized as a bank. The first floor, which was formerly the bank agent's accommodation, is accessed via a vestibule on the right, with a part-glazed timber panelled door. Features include dentilled cornices with decorative consoles, a curved stair with a cast-iron balustrade and a mahogany handrail, and a ceiling rose to the principal front room. Timber panelled doors are also present.

The building retains its original function as a bank. The first-floor agent’s accommodation exemplifies the style of the period, reflecting the agent's important role and requirement to be close to the bank. It is similar in style to another Bank of Scotland branch in Stewarton. Architectural historians believe this building, and the Stewarton example, were likely designed by Charles Kinnear. The style is described as a fairly plain palazzo style. The design is comparable to the Royal Bank of Scotland branch office in Stewarton, known to have been designed by Peddie and Kinnear in 1857.

The building is marked as a "Bank" on the 1897 Ordnance Survey map.