The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1939-04-20
WHAT OUR BANK MEANS
TO OUR COMMUNITY
By HELEN SHREVE

which the financial welfare of our So
ciety depends. There is vital need for
an agency of this kind by means of
which transactions involving money
and credit may be simplifed. Banks
exist for this purpose. They indirectly
help US to satisfy our wants more cas-
lily.
Just as business could not exist
without money, soGit could not make
its extensive use of money if it were
not for our banking system 1t is the
go-between or the clearing house
which offers many services and con-
veniences.
Just what does our bank mean to
our community? Our bank is decidedly
essential to community welfare. Our
modern business structure is so COM
pick that it could not function with
out banks. More than 80 per cent CT
all business in this country is carried
on by payments with checks. Day IN
and day out, week after week, month
after month, and year after year, our
bank renders useful, needed financial
services.
When, having been thrifty, we have
set aside some money, we are faced
with the problem of what to do with 1t.
How are we to take care of it? 1t is
valuable possession. There was time
when there were few banks and when
people would not trust them. 1t was
common to keep ones savings hidden
at home, perhaps in the old stocking OF
which we have all heard. What fool
ish way to look after what one has
struggled to save! Money is always
likely to be stolen, even if it is thought
to be well hidden; it may be burned up
in case of fire, or it may even be eaten
by rats or mice. Furthermore, money
that is kept at home tied up in grand
mothers old handkerchief or in dads
old sock, is lying idle when someone
might be using it and paying for It's
use. The idea | am trying to convey
is that money makes money, and the
money money makes makes more mon
ey." In short, we plant our savings and
they grow,
If money could talk this is what it
would say: "When you put me IN the
bank, you put me into circulation. l
don't stay in a vault. l go out to
finance a home in the suburbs, to help
build an electric power plant, to con-
struct brand new concrete highway,
and while am helping every body by
promoting industry, Pm earning good
interest for you"
The safest, commonest and most
convenient method of investing treas
ured savings is to place them IN the
bank. If l lend money to an Individual,
I run the risk of it's not being repaid,
but if put it in the bank, the money is
lent to people who pay interest for its
use, and the bank assumes all the risk
of returning the money to me when
want it.
Money that is deposited in our bank
goes into active business use. This
greatly aids the general business life
of this community. Our banks are
chartered to do business by the Fed
eral Government and they assume
their responsibilities and perform their
duties in an efficient manner.
A bank is not just a place in which
to store money. 1t strives to serve ev-
eryone by saving for some and lending
TO others. Just as no theatre could hold
all persons if they all decided to attend
movie at the same time, it is impos-
sible for all depositors to withdraw
therefore, is able to serve all deposit
ors on the basis of normal daily with
drawels and deposits.
How can we judge our bank and
know whether or not it is safe, whether
we can get our money when we want
it, whether the return is good, and
whether investments must be
watched? The answer to that question
is this: The honesty and skill of its
management can best be judged by its
good name among the citizens, by the
loans it makes, by the services it rem
ders, and by it's usefulness to the COM
munity. Our bank is examined period
cally by Government officials who
make any suggestions or Recommended
tions that they feel are desirable.
These examiners are an added safe
guard to competent banking.
Our local bank employees have many
important tasks to perform and a
large part of this work is done before
and after Banking hours" Like an in
dustrous student or busy housewife,
there is always something else to be
done. These employees balance their
cash, prove accounts, arrange checks,
go over reports and attend to many
other duties. This is an important part
of their work.
Although our bank likes personal
contact with it's customers, it will &C
cept deposits by mail and notify the
depositor that the money has been re-
ceived. In this way depositors are con-
vicinity served the same as if the
money had been brought in by the
person himself.
This semi-public institution is anx-
ious to make loans, for its livelihood is
derived primarily from this source
But it does not operate for the purpose
of making a profit. Its first considera
ton IS Safety-safety of the deposits
of it's customers.
Banking is a business of human re
lationships. What would our commun
ity do without this helpful institution
1t helps to build up the genuine com
munity progress through its alert
ness, conservativeness, it's foresigh
and experienced judgment Of its bust
ness men and bankers. 1t furnishe
employment to local people and par
ticipates in civic enterprises. Our pres
ent economic system could not endur
were it not for this public service. l
brings together those who wish to LEM
and those who wish to borrow. 1t seek
to encourage savings and bring abou