Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1935-08-15
PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
RESTORED BY BANKS
American Bankers Association
Describes Its Activities to Gre.
ate Better Understanding
Regarding Banks


a activity through which the Amer
lean Bankers Association is constant
y aiming to promote better public un-
Outstanding and opinion in regard to
banking and the attitude OF bankers
toward legislation are described in de-
tail in q statement made public here
by r. 9. 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.
wide public educational program In
regard to "the business Of banking and
its 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
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 benef-
cial influence on public opinion re-
garding the functions. methods and
-
merated the following activities:
/. The Public Education Commission,
which prepares plain language talks about
banking for use Of bankers and others be-
fore schools, civic clubs and over the radio.
g. The Constructive Customer. Relations
qualify bank employees to promote bet
ter. informed and more sympathetic atti-
tude. among their customers regarding
g. The Publicity Department supplying
city and country daily and weekly news
papers. with articles regarding banking
general press with news and information
regarding the activities of the association.
a. The Advertising Department supply
series of informative newspaper adver-
tisements setting forth in brief, popular
language the methods and policies under
tices for protecting depositors funds. the
services they render and the various ways
In which they cooperate with business in
their own communities in fostering sound
s. The Executive Officers and the Com
mittee on Banking Studies who are ac-
sulting with Administration and Congress
sional leaders in formulating proposals
for banking reform based on broad lines
e. The Agricultural Commission, pro-
noting among bankers in the farm dis
1Sicts the practice Of aiding their farm
tsg financial and operating methods;
& The American Institute of Banking,
Aaving primarily to do with the technical
directing these efforts toward also playing
2 part In improving public relations for
senkins o. g. WHOLE particularly through
The publication of Banking. the
o11clal organ Of the association, clrcu-
business % o Executives, economists law ';
arms, government departments, libraries.
colleges, public schools and other pubica-
- "a esnfnss s vIempon regarding bank
TAs Objective Sought
q commenting on the foregoing pro-
cram. Mr.. Hecht says that 1t is not "the
urinary objective to attract attention
Dasticularly to the American Bankers
Association As such, but rather to TO-
90 attention on and give impetus to
th0ss ideas which it believes are bene-
osial In promoting understanding and
solidarity among banking, business and
The public" He adds:
''Our program for the development
81 satisfactory. public relations for
banking does not consist merely of
newspaper publicity. It is calculated
70 produce continuous and cumula-
tive 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 a sound public opn.
ion regarding banking. But the asso.
citation believes that the most impor.
tant thing ultimately is 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 its
constructive activities will constitute
the best answers to Misrepresentation
aimed at banks and bankers"