The Washington times., 1925-02-06
B A n K STOCKS.
INCREASE IN
VALUE.
D. c. Trust Companies Make
:, Excellent Record DUR
ing 1924
Bx RICHARD HATTON.


i washington investors holding
stock in local trust companies have
no fault TO find With the condts
tions of these institutions as shown
by the final. returns Of business Tor
the year 1924. The stocks of most
of the leading trust companies OF
the District of Columbia registered
a decided increase in value last
year. In spite of the fact that
prevailing interest rates were low
in 1924, local financial institutions
maintained excellent earning re.
cords. While bank and trust COM
pany stocks today are higher than
q few years ago, they are not too
high and the prices are amply
justified by the record of earnings.
Together with all large banks and
trust companies throughout the
country, the Washington trust
companies are reflecting the sound
ness Of the financial structure Of
the United States. The opinion
OF local trust company officials
expressed today is that local COM
panies are facing one Of the most
productive periods Of their exist.
ence and win continue to become
stronger in direct proportion to
the progress and prosperity OF the
country in general.
Strong Condition.
In connection with the reports Of
the solid condition Of the; trust
companies OF the District Of Column
bIa 1t must be born In mind that
these institutions have earned the
confidence Of the public through
many years OF successful service
In the handling and investment Of
trust funds.
In this connection it is g. general.
~ accepted fact that q higher de-
gree Of care Is exercised by trust
companies in the investment Of
funds than IL possible through in
yeAtment by the average individual
and a. greater margin Of safety is
possible through expert knowledge
of the investment field on the part
of trust company officials and the
legal safeguards under which they
Operate. The same is true Of Ma
tional banks having trust depart
I1aents, as have number Of Dis
trict Of Columbia banks.
The trust company, In its ca.
pacity Of fiduciary AGENT declared
g prominent trust company official
today, sis more and more replacing
the individual as executor and adj
ministrator OF estates The duties
are being handed over to trust
companies and banks having trust
departments because Of growing
confidence in the business admins
-trative abfiity Of these organiza-
tons. 1t Is a well known face that
only about one man in ten makes
proper provision for handling his
estate and many people seem to
think that an estate is merely a
collection OF stocks and bonds, real
estate and deeds, mortgages mad
other securities. AS a matter of
fact. an estate is a going business
requiring direction. A trust COM
pany Is organized expressly for the
purpose OF managing and admins.
tering estates. It is an incorpo-
rated, capitalized. responsible insti-
tuition maintained for the purpose
Of performing service
It is pointed out that the bank
ing corporation has a distinct adj
vantage over the individual In the
handling Of estates because of fits
financial and legal responsibility.
the. fact that 1t Is not subject to
sickness and death and, by reason
OF an organization which handles
trusts along sympathetic business
lines, 1t Is able to give tar wider
service than is possible with the
individual. The trust company has
been defined as an INCORPORATED
friend for the widow and orphan. -
But, as stated by one trust com.
pany official, although q corpo.
ration, each client has the benefit
or q very personal and interested
individual service"
Offer Services.
The American Security and Trust
Company, the Washington Loan
and Trust Company, the Continen.
tai Trust Company, the Merchants
Bank and Trust Company, the Nun.
sey Trust Company, the Union
Trust Company, the National Saw.
fngs and Trust Company are all
offering the Washington public the
services OF their trust and bankine,
facilities which cover such features
az banking and checking accounts.
savings departments, trust depart.
ments, authorized by law to act in
any fiduciary capacity, as admin.
istrator'. executor or guardian, az
agent, collector or custodian. AZ
AOSiSIdE ana transfer agent: real
estate departments which cover
loans and insurance; foreign cx.
change departments and the usual
safety deposit features.
These institutions Of service in
washington have earned the conf.
dence OF the public to- the extent
that they are each year becomrning
more the confidential fiducisrv
agents OF those who have estates
requiring administration, either he.
Tore or after death. The character
ana capacity Of the officials OF tha
trust companies Of Washington and
the SUCCESSFUL conduct Of their own
affairs has led to an ever increas.
ipg number Of citizens placing their
! business in the hands of exnerts
rather than to trust to inexperi.
enced management with it's conse.
quent possible loss. This IN one
OF the many reasons why the trust
companies Of the District Of
Columbia are, today, in such
prosperous condition and upon such
Q solid financial foundation.