Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-25
BANKMANAGEMENT
CONFERENCE ST|RS
CAPITALS INTEREST
Chairman Mckee of Program
Committee Soon to Report
Speakers and Topics.
RIGGS NATIONAL AMONG
LARGEST BANKS IN U. S.
Magazine Lists ITO Institutions
According to Profits, Surplus
and Deposits.
BY EDWARD C. STONE

henry II. Mckee, president of the
National Capital Bank, who is chair
man of the program committee for the
Middle Atlantic States Bank Manage
ment Conference to be held in this city
February rs and 81, will soon announce
the speakers and their subjects for that
important meeting. All committees are
actively engaged in the preparations the
DsCrlct Bankers' Association and the
american Bankers Association SPONSOR
ing the meeting. Regarding a similar
conference held recently in Boston and
the general idea of all of them. the
Bankers Magazine has this to say:
Whlle much attention is being be-
slowed upon the large annual number
OF bank failures, less publicity is given
to the efforts to improve the country's
banking standards, and perhaps for the
reason that these efforts lack the SEN
sational quality supposed to be an eS-
SentlaI ingredient of news. But one who
devotes much study to recent banking
developments cannot fail to be impress
cd by the TACT that in many sessions of
the country resolute and practical at
temptS are being made looking to a de-
cided Improvement in banking stand
ards.
1T is true that some of these attempts
are rather one-sided. They are aimed
more at increasing profits than in in
shilling in the mind of the banker the
desirability Of efficient management all
along the line. Desirable as it may be to
have depositors keep an adequate bal
ance, to make a service charge on I'M
profitable accounts, ETC., the essentials
Of sound bank management are not all
fulfilled when these objects have been
attained.
Vital Topics Discussed.
Recently a New England Bank Man
agement Conference was held at Bos-
ton, and here are the topics discussed:
THE Moral Responsibility of Bank Di-
rectors"; Reports to Directors,s. per
sonnet and Accounting Safeguards, De-
preciation Accounts and Conservation
OF Earnings; Sound Loan Policy for q
Country Bank; Real Estate and Agri-
cultural Loans; Credit Bureaus;
Profit Producing Policies; Bank
Lobby Displays"
There are two notable features in
of the topics dealt directly with the SUBJ
1ect to profit; there was no subject re-
lating to the business depression, the
affairs Of Europe or Of the world in
general The thing that most concerned
these predetermined New England
bankers was how to run their own banks
with safe service to the public and the
incidental profit to be derived from such
service.
Banks are not Just open to criticism
when they seek TO make their accounts
show q profit. People who use the
facilities Of a bank, and themselves
profit by their use, ought to be willing
TO make an adequate return for such
service. But there Is perhaps too much
of disposition on the part Of the banks
to think Of the lack Of profit on ac-
counts with a small balance and to for
get the weightier matters Of manage
ment, which after all have q more i'm
portant bearing on the net earnings ac-
count.
Profit is essential to successful bank
ing, but making service charge on ac-
counts, however justiflable and neces-
sary. is frequently of less importance
than to have the management efficient
at all points. A defective system Of ex-
animation and auditing. for example.
may cost q bank more in a week than
it will lose in year by carrying ac-
counts with inadequate balances" the
magazine concludes.
Nations Largest Banks Listed.
The Riggs National Bank of this city
is the one hundred and sixth bank in
size in the United States, according to
capital, undivided profits and surplus
and total deposits.
The American Banker prints copy
righted table showing the 100 largest
banks In the country. To this list are
added 10 more banks which may some
day get into the 100 class by growth,
mergers or otherwise" as the magazine
puts 1t.
In this appended list the Bank of
America of California, Los Angeles;
Hibernia Bank & Trust, New Orleans;
First National Bank, Birmingham, and
Merchants National Of Boston ;le
placed ahead Of Riggs. Following Riggs
in the list come the First National, Gin
cinnati; Ohio Savings Bank & Trust,
Toledo; Bank of Pittsburgh, N A.,
and the Republic National Bank g.
Trust Co., Dallas, Tex.
1t is interesting to note that the
banks that were 10l and l02 in the
list last year are among the first 100
this year. The Marine Midland Trust
Co. moved from l02 in the list to 81,
and the Exchange National of Tulsa,
which was 10l last year, Is 100 this
year.
Chase National at Top.
AS is generally known, the Chase Ma
tional Bank, New York, Is now the
largest bank In the United States. The
National City comes second, while third
on the list is the Guaranty Trust Co.
The other banks among the first 10
in size are the Bank of America, N. T.
g. S. A., San Francisco; Continental
Illinois Bank g. Trust Co, Chicago;
Central Hanover Bank, New York;
Bankers Trust Co., Irving Trust Co.,
both New York: First National, Boston,
and Security-First National, Los An
geles.
The Chase National, at the head Of
the list, has deposits of $2,073, IT'S, 1913,
capital Of $14S, 900 900 and surplus and
undivided profits OF $l36, 1884, las.
Considering that there are 1000 ma
tional banks and $4,000 banks Of all
types in the United States, it is Of
more than passing interest that Wash
ington has an institution so near the
top of the list. Some years in the
past have found Riggs within the first
100. It is almost amazing how close
together some of the banks are in size
and growth over q period Of several
years.
Cleaned in Financial District.
Directors Of the Norfolk g. Washing
ton Steamboat co. have been informed
that the Raymond Riordon School for
Boys Is having q most interesting adj
venture aboard the steamer Southland,
now anchored OF jamestown, Va. The
management Of the school has pro-