Evening star., 1944-12-28
D. {. Banks 10 Hold
Annual Meetings
On January 9
By EDWARD C. STONE.

All the naClOnal banks In the Dis
trict and several others will hold
annual meetings of the stockholders
a week from Tuesday. January 9,
elect directors for 1945, hear the an
nual reports and in some instances
choose their officers. Notices are
being sent to all stockholders, proxies
being requested in cases where the
shareholders do not expect to attend
the meetings in person.
Many bank officials said today
that they looked for no marked
changes in the present boards. The
banks have lost few directors this
year and will not have many vacan-
cies to fill, although some direct
crates may be enlarged. Contrary
to general opinions, bankers say
capable directors are not easy to
find.
The place held by the late H. H.
Mckee as chairman of the board of
the National Capital Bank will be
left vacant and the position as trust
officer of the National Metropolitan,
held by the late Stanley D. Willis,
already has been filed
During the present year several
banks voted an unusually large
number OF promotions This may
limit advancements right after the
annual meetings. Many of the city's
leading building and loan associa-
tlons also will hold their annual
elections early in January, some ex-
pectlng to add one or more new di-
rectors, officials said today.
Fire Insurance at New Peak.
Fire insurance in force in. this
country now stands at a new peak
of S90000,000, 600, greatest volume of
such protection ever pledged to the
public and twice the amount in force
at the end of the First World War,
the New York Trust Co. states. Since
1921, the survey adds, the average
cost of fire insurance has declined
about 40 per cent.
Members of the Insurance Club
of Washington commenting on the
report, declare that insurance is the
only service in which the cost to the
public has been lowered during the
present war.
Interest in Loans Growing.
Building and loan associations here
report that interest among returned
war veterans in GI loans is steadily
increasing. No rush is expected for
some time. but more inquiries are
coming in every day The Govern
ment has already certified quite a
good many Of these loans in the Dis
trict and nearby territory.
The United States Savings and
Lean League announces that build
ing and loan associations will seek
more loans during 1945 for home
improvement, home equipment and
property Improvement, III an effort
to find additional investment out
lets. Home mortgage lending will
still be the big field, however.
Financial District Comment.
Brokers in New York Stock Elx-
change offices report very little SELL
ing of securities here for tax losses.
One reason is that the market mas
had such long advance that a great
many people have no losses to take
Yesterday was the last day of tax
selling except in cases of rush sales
for cash
Capital Transit officials are con-
tinuing discussions with the SEC on
the S12,500,000 per cent bond issue
which the commission held up on
grounds of the price and spread. =
Officials were optimistic today on
some kind Of an early adjustment.
The AID annual meeting of the
American Institute of Banking will
be held in Cleveland. June ST.