Evening star., 1925-04-26
BY CHAs. P. sHAEFFER.

The recent call of the controller of
the currency for statement of local
banks condition as Of the close Of
business April found Washington in
stitutions reporting a total gain OF
s147, 800, ,e40.23, or approximately 271
per cent more than on deposit at the
close of business December 81, 1915,
almost 10 years ago.
A statement culled from the finan-
cial columns OF The Star as OF the
above date shows total deposits of
| ss5. $40. 1864, as against a total of
1922, ,677 ,447.17 on the current call. By
classes, national bank deposits in
creased about 302 per cent in the in
terim, trust companies gained 236 per
cent and savings institutions appre-
ciated about 275 per cent.
The thirteen national banks func.
| tioning at that time had on deposit a
total of s40.601. 1870, whereas now
| they have 1922, ,451, 1921 as of April
6. Trust companies then had s32,s55,.
891.92 and now SIT .451, ,s71.23; savings
| institutions then S11,912,877.22, and
| now s32.774,2O673.
Reporting banks have increased only
| to the extent of nine institutions dur
| ing the comparative dates the records
show. National banks number the
| same. although there have been
| changes; savings banks have increased
| by eight, while there has been but one
addition to the ranks of the trust com.
panies.
On the national bank roster Of 1915
| is found the name of the American,
| which is now merged with the Fed.
| eral, operating under the hyphenated
| title OF Federal-American. The Lib.
erty National, a bank of comparative.
~ recent inception, fills the gap left
by the amalgamation.
The greatest change in the local
Ranking fraternity during the period
under comparison occurred I'm the
ranks of the savings banks. OF the *
or this class of institution operatine
on December 81, 1915, but II are in.
cluded In the present array of % say
ingS institutions. These are the Ana.
costa, Bank of Commerce and Saw.
ings, North Capitol, Seventh Street.
Park, Security Savings and CONNER.
| cal, United States, East Washington
potomac, Washington Mechanics and
McLachien Banking Cornorstion
Those that have passed out of tbe ssv'
lngs bank picture in the last 10 years
are the Home Savings. absorbed hv
lne american Security and Trust 90
the Union Savings, Washington South
ern ana Exchange, all of which have
oeen merged with institutions that are
operating today. Newcomers in the
savings bank field include the Bank
u brightWood. Chevy Chase, Citizens,
D;epartmental, Industrial, Interna.
Northeast, Northwest. Prudential
washington Savings and the Wool
ridge-Langdon
Ihe lust company section has been
augmented by the addition of the Mer.
chants Bank and Trust Co. durino 49,
period. ING lhe
Outside Banker Honored
ERECTION of George Rhine Gehr
cashier of the First National Rant
OF Westminster, Md, to head the al =
Hisory committee of bankers of tho,
Sla,e. VINO are working with the Fed :
erai reserve Bank of Richmond in an
noit 10 weld closer cooperation he
."een tne regional institution and its
that bankers of great repute do not
necessarily hail from metronoIitan n
districts. pun I'd II
MT. Gehr, who only recently round :
ed out half hundred wears af,i1i.
ations with his institution. is recog-
nlzed as one of the ablest and hest
informed bankers in MaryIand-and
maryland boasts many bankers of
more tnan passing renown. His
80 VI pdnklng problems is his
lorte' while his judgment of invest
ments is said to be almost ,ncanny
Mr.. Gehr won Statewide recognition
during his successful handling of the
nrst Libtrey loan during the World
war. work which he supervised.
HIS appointment to head the Mary
iand delegation in this important
work, which the Richmond institution
mas mapped out, is well deserved
merit, and is happily received by his
friends who are legion.
Prospective local investors are
warned by Howard M. Cool, director
OF the Better Business Bureau. ia
determine the true market price be-
fore buying the many offerings of
German and Austrian securities
which are being peddled freely in this
city. Much of the solicitation is be-
Ing made by circular mail, offering