Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-10-10
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
RESTORED BY BANKS
American Bankers Association
Describes Its Activities to Cre>
ate Better Understanding
Regarding Banks

lean Bankers Association Is constant
y aiming to promote better public un.
derstanding and opinion In regard to
banking and the attitude OF bankers
toward legislation are described in de-
tail In Q statement made public hers
BY R. 8. Hecht, president OF the asso-
citation.
The aim. he says. is ito strengthen
the real basis for good opinion in re.
gard to the banks" through fostering
Informative bank advertising in the
newspapers and in other ways. The
statement was issued in reply to sug.
gestions received urging a nation.
vide public educational program in
regard to "the business Of banking and
rs place In the life of our country"
Mr.. Hecht declares that I'VE have
tried very hard to convince the public
that the banking fraternity has truly
profited BY the lessons of the past. is
determined to approach all questions
Of banking policy from the broad view.
point Of public welfare and Is prepared
to carry Its full share of the burden In
connection with all efforts to restore
sound prosperity in this country"
The Means Employed
In describing the various measures
OF the association ito exert . bench.
cial influence on public opinion re-
garding the functions, methods and
operations Of banks" Mr.. Hecht emu.
nerated the following activities:
|. The Public Education Commission,
which prepares plain language talks about
fore sehools civic clubs and over the radio.
:. Tho Constructive Customer Relations
program. installed in many banks to help
qualify bank employees to promote . bet
ter informed and more sympathetic atti-
tude among their customers regarding
!. The Publicity Department, supplying
papers with articles regarding banking
and allied subjects and furnishing the
general press with news and information
4. The Advertising Department, supply
ing members of the association with a
series of informative newspaper adver-
language the methods and policies under
which banks operate, their effective prac-
tees for protecting depositors' funds. the
services they render and the various ways
their own communities In fostering sound
recovery and progress.
5. The Executive Officers and the Com
tive, particularly at Washington, in con-
sulting with Administration and Congress
sional leaders in formulating proposals
for banking reform based on broad lines
& The Agricultural Commission, pro-
noting among bankers In the farm dis
wscts the practise c, Of aiding their farm arm
~ financial and operating methods.
The American Institute Of Banking,
A4ying primarily TO do with the technical
Erecting these efforts toward also playing
2 Dart In improving public relations for
eanklns ~ . whole, particularly through
= me publication OF Banking" the
oAcial oegan q the association, circu-
ssins .mons bankers bank directors;
0Ls, government departments. libraries.
colleges, public schools and other publica-
t1gao, presenting articles regarding bank
NJ ~ banking viewpoints.
Ths Objective Sought
q commenting on the foregoing pro-
OIaa. Xr. Hecht says that 1t is not 1.-The
0g1mary objective to attract attention
pasticularly - the American Bankers
Association % such, but rather to TO.
90 attention on and give impetus to
tA0oo ideas which 1t believes are bene.
1siAl In promoting understanding and
solidarity among banking, business and
~ Dublic." He adds:
'NOur program for the development
g satisfactory public relations for
banking does not consist merely Of
newspaper publicity. It 10 calculated
. produce . continuous and cumula-
i've effect by varied efforts which are
aimed to work day In and day out to
strengthen the real basis for good opin-
Ion In regard to the banks.
TO have favorable things said
about the banking business In the
newspapers and over the radio Is. the
association recognizes. very helpful
toward creating sound public opin.
Ion regarding banking. But the asso.
citation believes that the most impor.
tant thing ultimately ID to foster
throughout the banking profession
the doing sincerely Of those things
that reflect favorably the sound. help.
ful practices Of the business Of bank.
ing, and that then the true news Of It's
constructive activities will constitute
the best answers to Misrepresentation
aSy, al ~ ha nfYa and h~0kora~