Fitzgerald enterprise. (Fitzgerald, Ga.) 1895-1912, 1908-12-01
The Mitham Banks.

tion is Siftngthe old and the new methO0S OF bank
ing and after collecting information in New York,
Canada and Washington, on tho subject of branch
banking, they have the following to say of the
latest and best plan Of running small banks the
COMMUNITY IDEA'-THE RIGHT VIEW
Gin a communication recently received from
W. D. Marley of the s'Witham" banks, issue
is taken with the American Banker for the edi-
toral On branch banking published flew weeks
ago. The points which Mr. Manley makes are
fully appreciated but it seems to us that no
better proof of our contention exists than the
success and the strength OF the string of banks
which Mr.. Witham has organized and which
Mr. Manley cites. 1t isquite true that each
bank is an entirely separate organization, with
local boards of directors, stockholders, ETC.,
yet it is equally true that the one hundred
banks in this system of Mr.. Witham's arelink
ed together through their connection with the
Bankers Financing Company. Their polices
are directed and their safety guarded by their
organizers, and ifany untoward event occurred,
none of these banks would be allowed to suffer
through want of outside assistance.
We are very glad indeed to have the opportu.
nifty to refer to Mr. Manley's letter and call
attention again to thcsystem of banks in which
he is interested and which Mr.. Witham has
successfully built up for the past twenty years
WITHOUT A DOUBT
They arc not only strong and profitable, but
their organization under central force,
or by one precludes any possibility of their fail
ure. and establishes at once an unusual meas!
ure of confidence for them Each bank may
be individual in it's dealings and local in it's
character, yet its depositors recognize the
fact that there would be prompt help from the
outside if it was needed-and that is sufficient
to warrant its not being called for. In the re-
cent panic the depositors did not feel anxious.
There were one hundred banks banded together
in one system.
NO PANIC IF ALL WERE AS STRONG AS WITHAM
BANKS
t.assa.Had the banks of this whole nation been so
connected there would have been no panic.
The Witham bank stockholders are largely
farmers and people of the rural districts. These
banks have always stood by the farmers to the
exclusion of others in panic times we know Mr..
Whitman and can say he and his banks are all
right
DEPOSITS ARE INSURED AGAINST LOSS
A unique and interesting feature of the Wit
ham banks is the Depostors Guarantee Fund
which nsures thedeposits against loss. There
are no other banks in the world that offer this
additional protection.
OVER $3.50, 900. 90 INSTANCE FUND
This country, progressive and original asitis
has not furnished business development more
successful and interesting or of greater practi
cal value to the people and territory affected
is the judgement of we'll Informed writer in
the sEAtlanta Constitution" than the Witham
system of banks each separate and distinct,
and vet a part of the whole, scattered through
out the states of Georgia. Florida, Tennessee,
New Jersey and New York with central office
in Atlanta.
The Witham banks have been of incalculable
benefit to the rural districts of Georgia, and
have accomplished more in the way of substan.
tial aud permanent improvements than any
other agency with ten times the amount of capt.
tai they employ. They have created means
for the concentration and economical handling
ofscattered funds. Opportunities for profitable
investment have encouraged development and
improvement and have placed the country towns
and communities on the same basis as the pop
ulous cities for marshaling their capital and
developing their resources.
They have assisted in erecting school houses
putting in water works and electric, lights
have encouraged immigration agriculture and
have encouraged the building of brick stores
instead of wooden shacks; thus increasing the