Collins, Alfred Tenison (1852–1945), banker, was born 22 September 1852 in Tipperary town, the son of Joseph Tenison Collins and Sarah Louise Collins, daughter of Charles Morrogh McCarthy. Joseph was for many years manager of the National Bank, Ballinasloe, and was a contributor to Chambers's encyclopaedia. Probably educated at the Abbey School, Tipperary, Alfred entered the service of the Hibernian Bank in May 1869 as a junior. He advanced rapidly and was an accountant at the Sackville Street branch, before becoming manager of the Thomas Street branch in August 1883. Thereafter he served as company secretary (from November 1883), general manager and secretary (July 1907 to 1937), and director (1908–39). On his retirement he had completed seventy years of service and was Ireland's oldest banker. A founding member, honorary secretary (1898–1928), and president of the Institute of Bankers in Ireland (1929 and 1930), he was particularly interested in the institute's educational activities. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Irish Banks’ Standing Committee (founded March 1920) and was a member of the Irish Currency Commission (20 March 1931 to 1 June 1939).
Although inclined to be retiring, he was a man of great ability and wide interests. A member of the Church of Ireland, he was by nature kindly and courteous, with a banker's interest in politics. He was deeply interested in the history of the home-rule movement, having had many contacts with it during his time as a banker, and contemplated writing a biography of Parnell for which he appears to have collected material. He died 31 January 1945 at the Shelbourne Hotel, Dublin, leaving an estate valued at £22,070. He married Barbara, daughter of J. J. O'Ferrall of Gibraltar House, Sligo; they had five daughters. He was a younger brother of Edward Tenison Collins (1845–1923), barrister at law, a prominent businessman, and Charles McCarthy Collins (b. 1850), barrister at law, who was also connected with banking.