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COPY THE AMERICAN BANKERS ASSOCIATION 5 Nassau St., New York, N.Y. X-3U11 May 16th, 1922. Mr. John R. Mitchell, Member, Federal Reserve Board, Washington, D. C. My dear Mr. Mitchell; Mr. James Ringold of Denver and Vice President of the Clearing House Section of the American Bankers Association, asked me to write you relative to the conversation he had with you on Saturday regarding the practicability of having district designations and "branch designations for the Federal Reserve Lanks and their members, combined in somQ manner with the American Bankers Association numerical number. He suggested that I write you regarding this matter and tell you of the action taken by the members of the Executive Committee of the Section at the Spring meeting at White Sulphur Springs, last week. ~ Governor Harding has been in communication with Mr. McAdams, President of the American Bankers Association, who referred this matter to Mr. Washburn, President of the Clearing House Section, under whose direction the Numerical System is operating. The suggestion was made at our meeting held last week that we recommend to the Committee on the Numerical System and they in turn recommend to the Federal Reserve Board if it meets with their approval, a plan to be worked out whereby the twelve Federal Reserve Banks be listed alphabetically, for instance, Boston - A, New York - B, Philadelphia - C, Cleveland - D, and so forth, and the branch designations carry an abbreviation of the city in which it is located, for instance, in the Fourth Federal Reserve District, it would carry D-Cleve, for Cleveland, D-Pitts for Pittsburgh, D-Cinn, for Ciny cinnati. This alphabetical designation to be placed immediately under the numerical number appearing on all checks. By using the alphabetical key for the Federal Reserve designations, there will be no chance whatsoever of the clerks in the transit departments listing the checks incorrectly, as would be the case as suggested by the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, which bank submitted to Governor Harding an idea whereby their head office would be listed as 11-21 28-4 for Spokane and 19-3 for Seattle. Under 12-S,FiX2 -Sp. 12-Se. our suggestion, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco and the branches would be listed as follows: 11-21 Spokane 2g-U Seattle 19-5 L-S.F. L-Sp. L-Se. The members of the Clearing House Committee also feel X-34II that the placing of the Federal Reserve Bank designations as suggested, on checks and drafts, if agreeable to the Committee on the Numerical System, can be accomplished more readily through Federal Reserve agencies than through the American Bankers Association, as each "branch of the Federal Reserve Bank would merely have to take up the matter with banks in its own district. However, the American Bankers Association will lend its untiring support to the Federal Reserve Board and the Federal Reserve Banks in helping to bring this about. We feel that the Committee on the Numerical System will concur with the action taken by the members of the Executive Committee of the Clearing House Section and I will be glad to let you know of the action of this Committee after they have held a meeting regarding this matter. Will be pleased to have you let me know just what you think of the proposition that we suggest. Hoping to hear from you regarding this matter and with kindest regards, I remain Yours very truly, (Signed) D. A. Mullen Secretary. M/R
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