Evening star., 1923-03-25
Dl I. A. FLEMING.

Branch banking is q live issue in
banker must settle for himself and
the institution, the policies of which
he may dictate.
Already the upper district is being
dotted with branch banks and more
will contend for a share Of the busi-
ness Of this or that section, If they
can see their way clear to overcome
the handicap Of the orerhead-the
greatest obstacle in the way OF c%-
tended branch banking.
Back years az" the officials Of
Union Savings Bank, which has since
been absorbed by the Continental
Trust Company, conceived the plan
Of opening a branch office adjoining
the government printing office two
days in the month. or rather part OF
two days, for the teller would not go
to the office until about 4 o'clock. Just
in time to receive deposits from the
printers on their way home.
So far as known, none of the banks
that have pre-empted Connecticut
avenue and 18th street from the
Washington Loan and TrnSt Com
pany, branch site, north, has nuch
OF an idea Of doing Il full hdnhiltE
business at its branch, other than t."
take in and pay out deposits.
Some minor business transactions
might be arranged, but big business
will have to go to the main office.
None Of the bookkeeping of the
business of its uptown branch is
taken care Of at the Washington
Loan and Trust Company's branch.
Checks are paid on request. as in
stant communication with the nome
officials is available. so that there Is
no chance of any cleanup by crookS
through branches.
So far the Washington Loan ana
Trust Company, the Franklin National.
Departmental, Lincoln National and
District National banks have made
their selections in and adjacent 10
the places Of business of that great
contingent Of government workers
who are employed in the Potomac
Park region.
After mulling over proposition
for some weeks, George .. watson
has given permission to turn loose
the following, which he surmises Will
not be any more successful in prac-
ticaI use than the local call money
market. now next door TO dead.
The consolidated ticket office for
all railroads. worked eXceedingl!
we'll during the war days.
Why not n consolidated branch
banking Office. with separate cages
for the tellers of each bank desiring
to participate?
This scheme especially for banks
desiring TO accommodate and care for
their present business and not look
ing for 100 per cent increase.
There is the proposition in a nut
shell.
Who would build the building?
Where would it be constructed?
Would II not be dangerous through n
the solicitation OF customers by bank
representatives?
What would be the overhead?
These and Il thousand questions
follow the very first thoughts given
to the proposition. coupled with the
vanced: 1T will not work"
The proposition is something new,
something novel And there are
mighty few new and novel PROPOSE
tions advanced in the banking busi-
ness this year.
promises to serve the purpose and
to turn Il dollar more gross into net
for the banks involved is worthy Of
being considered.
Banking is neither a ticket-selling
business nor yet meat market-two
lines that have demonstrated the use
fulnesS of the consolidated plan OF
doing business.
Suppose five or six banks join to-
gethcr in this scheme. a building
VIII eltner De eFecte0 OF rented near
where the Potomac Park army passes
by. or at least a large part of il.
Cages would be constructed to ac-
commodate the representative or rep
resentatives of each bank that was
party to the scheme. A large vault
back of the cages with compa rtments
sufficient to care for the business Of
each member institution.
A watchman or two engaged in
common to give protection and infor-
nation. Each member bank to ad-
vertise it's membership and readiness
10 do business at the community
tanking Office.
Consider the reduction OF the over
head. with each paying one fifth or
one-sixth of the rent and other
charges, compared with one institu-
tion paying the entire expenses
And bankers have put the overhead
OF branch bank at $4,000 for the
minimum.
Direct communication between
branches and the home office is essen
tial and is quickly available by direct
phone.
Mr.. Watson offers the plan without
apologies, without copyright or re-
served rights.
How does it appeal to you?
Anent the Fay Roll Robbers.
The problems OF handling pay rolls
in transit from bank TO factory has
become one of the serious proposi-
tions which bankers in all large
cities must solve.
Out in Youngstown, Ohio. A. T..
Adams. president Of the First Ma
tional Bank. has given much study
to the proposition and discussed it
with steel men, automobile men, bank
ers and others.
He believes he has solved the prob
lem. An automobile is being prepared
that will carry a 1000 pound cylin-
drical safe, with time locks, set ac-
cording to the time required to go
period before opening of the safe.
The two-ton safe viii be so set in
it's position in the auto, that the
driver or the guard, may with a
touch of a foot, on the slightest sign
Of Interference, blockade building. or
on demand to throw up OF hands,
and the two-ton safe will roll into
tine Street--let them have il. where
the chances are il will be utterly i'm =
possible for the thieves TO handle it.
New York and Chicago bankers
would welcome something like this.
1t might be dangerous if the safe
was released on a steep grade.
Some Price Comparisons.
Just for the information of our
readers the following prevailing quo
tations at the close of business, June
so, 1921, when compared with the
closings of Saturday, March "a, 1923.
are interesting.
Uose June Close March
Stocks. 30 1921. "a. 1923.
Railway common. % bid %
Railway preferred. ..... 60S4 bid 13
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