Nogales international., 1935-10-12
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
RESTORED BY BANKS
American Bankers Association
Describes Its Activities to
Aid Better Understanding

Alu 0etlGT UNDERSTANDING
NEW YORK. - Eight different
lines of activity through which the
American Bankers Association is
constantly aiming to promote better
public understanding and opinion
in regard to banking and the atti
tude of bankers toward legislation
are described in detail in a. state
ment made public here by R. S
Hecht, president of the association
The aim, he says. is ito strengthen
the real basis for good opinion in
regard to the banks" through fos q
tering informative bank advertisine
in the newspapers and in other ways
The statement was issued in reply tc
suggestions received urging a ma
tionwide public educational program
in regard to "the. business of banking
and its place in the economic life of
our country" - =
Mr.. Hecht declares that I'VE have
tried very hard, to convince the pub,
lie 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 viewpoint. of public welfare
and isprepared to carry its full share
of the, btrrdeniin connection with all
efforts tosrestore sound prosperity
in this country"
= The Means Employed
Z. In describing the various meas.
ures of the association "to exert a
beneficial influence on public opinion
regarding the functions. methods
and operations of banks" Mr.. Hecht
enumerated the following activities.
|. The Public Education Commission,
which preparest plain language talks
about banking for use of bankers and
others before schools, civic clubs and
over the radio.
- 2. The Constructive Customer Reia-
tions program, Installed in many banks
to help qualify. bank employees to pro-
mote better informed and more SYM
ers regarding banking.
8. The Publicity Department, sup
plying city and country daily and
weekly newspapers with articles re-
and furnishing the general press with
news and information regarding the
activities of the association.
4. The Advertising Department, sup
plying members of the association
with series of Informative newspa-
nc odU icnF
brief, popular language the methods
and policies underl which banks. oper
ate, their effective practices for pro-
tecting depositors funds, the services
they render and the various ways in
which they cooperate with business in
their own communities in fostering
sound recovery and progress. -, j;
5. The Executive officers and the
. Committee on Banking Studies, who
are active, particularly at Washing
ton, in consulting with Administration
and Congressional leaders in formulat-
ing proposals for banking reform based
on broad lines of public welfare.
6. The Agricultural Commission, pro-
noting among bankers in the farm
districts the practice Of aiding their
farms better financial and operating
methods.
Z. The American Institute Of Bank
ing, having primarily to do with the
technical education Of the younger
banker, but now directing these efforts
toward also playing part in improv-
ing public relations for banking as a
whole, particularly through stressing
the public responsibilities and the eth
ica1 aspects of practical banking.
8. The publication Of Banking" the
official organ Of the association, cir,
culating among bankers. bank direc-
tors, business executives. economists,
law firms. government departments.
libraries. college, public schools and
other publications. presenting articles
regarding banking and banking view
points.
The Objective Sought
In commenting on the foregoing
program. Mr.. Hecht says that it is
not "the primary objective to attract
attention particularly to the Ameri-
can Bankers Association as such
but rather to focus attention on and
give impetus to those ideas which
it believes are beneficial in promot-
ing understanding and solidarity
pmong banking. business and the
public" He adds:
"Our program for the development
Of satisfactory public relations for
banking does not consist merely Of
newspaper publicity. 1t is calculated
to produce continuous and cumu-
lative effect by varied efforts which
are aimed to work day in and day
out to strengthen che real basis for
good opinion in regard to the banks.
ITO have favorable things said
about the banking business in the
newspapers and over the radio is.
the association recognizes. very
helpful toward creating sound pub
lie opinion regarding banking. But
the association believes that the
most important thing ultimately is
to foster throughout the banking
profession the doing sincerely of
those things that reflect favorably
the sound, helpful practit es of the
business OF banking. and that then
the true news of it's constructive
activities will constitute the best
answers to attacks and misrepre-
sentations of banks and bankers"
Predicts Farm Loan Expansion