The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-11-07
BANKERS ISSUE
B ULLE I N
MONTHLY
Initial Number, just Dis
tributed, Causes Much
Favorable Comment
By RICHARD HATTON


BY RICHARD HATTON
The initial copy of q monthly
bulletin for the information OF mem
bers Of the District of Columbia
Bankers Association has just beer
issued. This Informative publica
ton Is an innovation introduced
under the administration of Presi
dent Francis G. Addison, jr., and
fills q decidedly important place.
The bulletin deals with the activi
ties OF the association and contains
suggestions of interest and value to
members. Activities of the several
sfanding committees OF the District
OF Columbia Bankers Association are
covered in the bulletin in short,
concise manner with specific refer
ence to matters of Importance and
general interest.
The institution OF the monthly
bulletin as means Of keeping
members OF the association In touch
with problems ana procedures has
caused much favorable comment
samong members Of the banking pro-
fession who realize its value as q
means Of facilitating coordinate
thought and action.
President Addison has appointed
the following members OF the local
bankers association as a commit
tee to cooperate with the Thrift
COMMITTEES Of the District of Column
bia: n. r. Siddons, chairman;
Thomas p. Hickman, Howard
Moran, Victor B. Deyber, w. J..
Waller, Joshua Evans, jr., w. w.
EpRid, Harry ". Haynes and F. q.
Addison. il.
The Nfirst meeting OF the Thrift
Committee win be held at the City
Club. November II.
s.Better financial advertising
says e. H. Kittridge, president Of
the Financial Advertisers Associa.
ton, will help the customers OF
earners, farmers, merchants, manu-
facturers, depositors, investors or
borrowers, to realize that the
banker Is simply q human agency
Tor corre-atfng human relationships.
It viii make the bank user under
stand that he and his fellow bank
users are the bank.
That the bank has no franchise
70 capitalize, no privilege to exploit.
no enclosed space to lord it over,
no stock in trade whatsoever, but
human service to human needs. 1t
win help banking by making 1t
what it should be, as popular and
universal an article OF consu1np-
tion as telephone service or street,
car service.
In line with this policy Of bet
tering bank advertising many
Washington financial institutions
now have in their staff a specialist
In this important modern element
IN banking success.
The value Of the Christmas saw
ings account as the first step to-
wards a permanent bank account
is indicated by the statement made
IN one Washington bank today that
about % per cent of those who
open Christmas savings accounts
eventually become regular deposit
tors carrying stable savings ac-
counts. Between four and five mil
lion dollars will soon be paid out
by Washington banks on account
Of Christmas savings and it is esti.
mated that quite a large proportion
of this money will find its way
back into the banks in the shape
or regular savings account reposits.
Bankers who have been ques-
toned regarding the value Of the
Christmas savings account to the
Individual and to the community
declare 1t to be one of the most en-.
eouragtng stimulants to thrift and
ultimate financial independence.
The rapid growth in the number of
these accounts carried in local
banks indicates that the public is
In full accord with the bankers in
regard to the good results obtained.
In connection with the nation
wide efforts now being made by
banks to eliminate the unbusiness-
like Improbable account to the end
that the depositor and the institu-
ton in which he places his funds
may both benefit, some instances
Of - the unreasonable conditions
forced upon banks by their deposi.
tors have been stated by an Off
cial Of Washington bank
This official indicated the case Of
one depositor who had an average
balance Of but ST, against which
he drew twenty-five checks in one
month, overdrawing his account
four times. Another bank customer
with a balance below SIS drew
dfty-six checks, overdrawing the ac-
last case may be taken as an ex-
ample OF what the banks have to
contend with In the small account
business. Each transaction because
Of the activity Of the customers
account cost the bank cents. In
other words, 1t cost the bank 1886
in one month to handle this account
which averaged less than SIS and
could in no possible manner be con-
sidered an asset to the bank Still
another local account with an av-
erage balance of $11 caused the
bank in which it was kept TO
handle fifteen transactions in one
month. These are the sort Of &C
counts which, according to general
banking opinion, must be put upon
q different basis.
Deposits In the Bank Of Com.
merce and Savings are reported TO
be larger at the present time than
at any period in the history of the
institution. The assets OF the bark
also have increased materially and
are at the present time well in
excess of 50 100000.
There is a growing sentiment
throughout the financial profession
of the country, which is finding Its
reflection in washington, against
women employees of banks continu
ing their employment after mar
riage. Arguments against the prac
ttce OF keeping women In bank posi-
tons after marriage are that thu
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