Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-06-06
Things You Want TO Know ISS .,. American "f Ss"4a n.

The eighth annual convention of the
American Institute OF Banking will meet
Wednesday in Chattanooga. Education In
the general principles and technique OF
banking Is the prime purpose OF the organ
iEation which is composed Of bank clerks
and Junior bank officers. no one above
the rank Of assistant cashier being eligible
for active membership. The institute has
fifty-seven local chapters in as many cities
having an aggregate membership OF 1856.
Its activities are not limited. however,
to cities sufficiently large to support local
chapters, and the institute maintains cor
respondence chapters, having a member
ship of i,lS6 bank clerks and officers in
the smaller cities and in the country.
The Institute maintains a regular course
Of study, embracing subjects pertaining to
banking, commercial law. and kindred
subjects Diplomas are given TO graduates
OF this course The local chapters make
feature Of debates. in which a general ex-
change OF views on practical subjects is
permitted, and in which the men have the
advantage of training In public speaking.
The practical benefits Of the institute are
indicated in the statement OF a prominent
banker that among young banking men in
the last few years more than 30 per cent
of the promotions have gone to men
actively interested In institute work. The
organization has none of the character
istics Of trades union, undertakes to
establish no rules or regulations concern
ing compress and exercises no c6ercve
Jurisdiction whatever. 1t simply is an in
stitution for the promotion and dlssemina-
ton of knowledge OF practical banking
combined with certain advantages OF social
intercourse among the younger banking
men OF the community.
The first annual convention met in Cleve-
land In 1908 and the organization was then
known as the American Institute of Bank
Clerks. The convention OF 1906, which met
at Atlantic City decided to change the
name TO the present title of the American
Institute of banking. This action was
taken on account Of the general growth
OF interest in the organization, the fact
that junior officers were included in the
active membership, and the great influx
OF older banking men who Joined as sus-
tanning members. Since that time the scope
of the institute has been broadened. prac-
tically TO include all banking men who
are interested in its educational features.
The institute is a section of the American
Bankers association, comparable to the
clearing house and the savings bank sec
lions. At the last meeting OF the Ameri-
can Bankers association 1t was proposed
that the monthly journal of the American
Bankers association be consolidated with
the monthly bulletin of the American
Institute of Banking. This action probably
will be ratified by the Chattanooga con-
vention, and In the future the official
organs Of the two organizations will appear
together. This consolidation will be OF
mutual benefit az 1t will bring the ag-
gressive educational work of the young
bankers and the mature deliberations of
the older and controlling bankers into CO.
ordination.
.. The bulletin of ihe institute contains
each month several papers by prominent
bankers discussing the general principles
OF the banking business, In addition to a
department devoted to practical, everyday
banking routine. There Is also q depart
ment devoted to commercial and banking
law. Each local chapter has monthly
report in the bulletin. The local chapters
usually maintain chapter house, used
exclusively for their own meetings, and
to a certain extent, club features are in
troduced.
Perhaps one of the most useful services
OF the institute has. been it's practical
The forum of the local chapter affords an
opportunity for the youngest clerk to enter
into forensic disputation with his fell
lows and his superiors, and he dis
cards his natural handicap of timidity
upon the actual battlefield. A little
later, when the clerk OF today has
become the banker of tomorrow, he will
be equipped for his work by readiness
Of speech which could not otherwise be
obtained 90.
The social features Of the local chapters.
while subordinated to the serious business
of the institute, are of great value In
bringing together the younger banking ele-
nent of each city. The ignorance OF iso-
lation is thus dispelled by giving the men
a broader view of their own LIES work
than can be obtained within the narrow
confine Of the four walls of any one bank
Furthermore, bank clerks are hard working
Young men. for the most part seriously
devoted 10 their business, and social rec
reation with other members Of the clan is
OF great benefit to them.