The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-11-28
by NEIL M'NEFF.

Women are rapidly becoming accus-
toned to their new freedom One OF
the evidences OF the broadening OF their
interests is particularly noticed in the
banking world. The Increasing number
of accounts opened by women both In
the savings and checking departments
has been matter of wide comment by
bankers all over the United States II
is this movement that makes the woman
ctor In bank bui ding and planning,
declares II. T. Underwood president of
the Underwood Contracting Corpora
ton OF New Orleans, specialists In bank
construction and equipment.
The bank officer who desires to make
his institution Of real value TO the COM
munity and who seeks to promote the
efficiency OF his organization. increase
the facilities for serving his customers
and gain prestige In providing new
quarters for the bank will fail to reap
the maximum results of this important
step II he does not give adequate space
and thought to the part that women
play In modern banking, says Mr.. I'm
derwood.
The so-called stocking room," which
was the first concession of our bankers
TO the interests OF their women depos-
itors. called forth much humorous COM
nent Conservative bankers, fearing
ridicule, were reluctant to add this
room OF mystery to their institution
and the very women whose need for such
service called for this department hesi-
tated to avail themselves of It's facilities
for privacy.
But the real need for a department Of
service for women was greater than
the temporary attention called to this
innovation and gradually the movement
spread until to-day the bank which
does not provide special facilities of
some kind for It's women customers
should hesitate to apply the term mod
ern' to its service.
The crude Stocking ROOM" often no
more than a curtained space in one
corner of the bank lobby, has grown
into a well furnished room. sometimes
suite, many times with a maid and
a woman with the title of assistant
cashier assigned to the duties of advis-
ing women on banking affairs Tele-
phones, desks. tasteful stationery and
writing materials are provided Easy
chairs and charming draperies form a
part of the furnishings. So instead Of
hesitating to become conspicuous in a
busy bank, the modern woman finds
that these facilities dignity her and
form an expression of the recognition
of her growing Importance in banking
In the modern bank building Mr.
Underwood maintains that considera-
ton of the woman should enter even
before plans are drawn. Not only In
the space set aside for her particular
use, for the special window in the
counter screen at which she may de-
post or withdraw her funds, or the
rest room, but in the entire bank proper
should there be a blending of the femi-
nine atmosphere with what for CEN
turtles has been regarded as strictly a
masculine institution.
Beauty in architecture makes a con-
scious appeal to women. To men the
appeal is more unconscious, more in the
atmosphere that is created than In the
thing itself. A man enters a room and
~ room either appeals TO him or not ;
he seldom stops to analyze why It APP
meals and what particular objects attract
him. To him the room is a whole and
stands or falls an entirety. To women
the appeal is a conscious one. She no.
tees each arrangement, each corner. the
alls, even the floors, and judges each