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421.11 (1) - Committee on Branch Group &
Chain Banking
FRBank Boston

TRANSFER

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A . YOU N G. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT. CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

FREDERIC H. CURTISS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CARL B PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

September 27, 1932
Dr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Dr. Goldenweiser:
At the time of your recent inquiry in regard to the summaries of changes in State
laws relating to banks and trust companies from 1914 to 1932, I communicated with
the Bank Commissioners of Massachusetts and New Hampshire. I have not heard anything from New Hampshire yet, but I have just received the following letter from
the Massachusetts State Banking Departments
"Some time ago you transmitted to this department from the Federal Reserve Committee
on Branch, Group and Chain Banking, a request for certain facts in regard to changes
made since January 1, 1914 in the Massachusetts statutes relating to banks and trust
companies.
"This request arrived during the vacation period, and for that reason and because of
the heavy and constant pressure of business in the department, any attempt at comconcluded.
pliance with it Was necessarily deferred until after the vacations mere
"Several days ago an attempt was made to prepare the information but it became
apparent at once that, because of the numerous amendments which have been made to
our trust company statutes since January, 1914, the task was of such proportions and
so complicated that it is impossible, in the absence of a legal department, to attempt
it at this time.
every possible
"There has always been in this department an earnest desire to co-operate in
way with the Federal Reserve Bank and we regret that we cannot assist you in this particular matter.
"We are enclosing the forms which accompanied your request."
The banking laws of Massachusetts are published in pamphlet form and are brought up to
date from time to time. It has been the practice of the bank commissioner's office to
retain the latest revision and destroy the previous one, and they found that they are
unable to trace the laws back by comparing the various revisions.
is
The Legislature meets every year and enacts a large volume of legislation which
commissioner's
bank
of
the
A
employee
blue
books.
of
published annually in the form
department spent considerable time going back over these blue books endeavoring to
dropped
pick out the banking legislation, but found it such a task that he eventually
it on account of lack of time.

Se

•
—2
Dr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,

September 27, 1932

The bank commissioners in this district are greatly overburdened with work at the
present time, and while they are willing to cooperate, it is very difficult to
secure any information from them.
Yours truly,

D.

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

I.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H

CURTISS
CHAIRMAN

jeteziber 14, 1932

Dr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group & Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.

Dear Dr. Goldenweiser:
I am in receipt of your letter of the 12th\regarding the questionnaire
which was enclosed in your letter of July 9th in connection with the
Upon receipt
changes in State banking laws in this district.
of your 7,Qtter of July 9tWre sent out the questionnaire to the
Bank Commissioner of each of the several States of this district.
Thus far, we have not received any answer from either New Hampshire
or Massachusetts, and we are today following those States up.
I am enclosing herewith answers received from the other four New
England States and will endeavor to procure the other two as
soon as possible.
I am sorry that you did not have the opportunity to stop over
and see us on your way back to Washington. I heard from Mr.
Homer Clark that you had been in Brewster again, and I had b,
looking forward to seeing you.
With kindest regards, I am
Sincerely yours,

Federal Reserve Agent.
&nclosures.

k

MAINE
BANKING DEPART/ENT
AUGUSTA

July 13, 1932

William D. McRae, Manager,
Department of Examination,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Mass.
Dear Mr. McRae:
I am returning herewith the questionnaires received
with your letter of July 12. The only changes in our
laws which seem to apply are noted on pages 4 and 8. As
you no doubt recall, in this state trust companies are
banks and there are no other state chartered commercial
banks and no stock savings banks.
Yours very truly,

Sanger N. Annis,
Bank Comissioner.

SNA/N

(

••

•

COPY

STATE 0 F VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE
MONT PELIER
July .20, 1532

Mr. William D. McRae, Manager
Department of Examination
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston
Boston, Mass.
Dear Mr. McRae:
There is enclosed herewith the figures called for in regard to
changes in our State laws relating to Banks and Trust Companies,
requested by you in your letter of July 12, which we trust will be
found helpful to the Committee.
In this State there is no distinction between commercial banks
and stock savings banks, and trust companies.

For this reason, where

we have given the gist of changes in laws relating to commercial banks
and stock savings banks, we have indicated that the same provisions
apply to trust companies.
Our law gives trust companies authority to transact a general
banking business and consequently they are the commercial banks of
our State system.
Trusting that I will have the pleasure of seeing you at Philadelphia
next week, I am,
Yours truly,
P. C. Clark,
Commissioner of Banking
and Insurance.

Encl.

COPY
gam&

STATE

Om"

•ww•

oF5511gliauz--

STATE CAPITOL
HARTFORD

July 19, 1932

Mr. WM. D. McRae
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. McRae:
Complying with your recent request, 17e enclose herewith the
various sheets you sent Is for notation as to the former and present
provisions of the Connecticut statutes relating to banks.
Inas;:luch as you say not to include changes which apply only to
mutual savings banks we have said nothing relative to the savings
departments of trust companies which are subject to the same laws as
the savings banks. In this state, however, the deposits of such
departments are segregated and not mingled with the funds of the
commercial department, so such department is in effect a separate
institution as far as the laws governing the investment of such
funds is concerned.
In order that you may have a more complete schedule of the laws
relating to banks at present in force, we are also sending you under
separate cover a copy of the booklet giving the laws of this state
relating to state banks and trust companies.
If we can be of any further assistance to you, please advise us.
Very truly yours,

William P. Landon,
Manager, Bond Department
WPL:ERM
Encl.

Beptember 12, 1932

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Tieserve ;.gent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Derir lir. Curtiss:
On July 9tIv we sent ,“ra a Questionnaire regsrding the
changes in tate ban1iing laws, and requested that you scours for
us, if possible, this information for the 6tates in your district.
We realize that it is not easy to secure information of this naturs from the overworked jtate banking departments. Hovever, we
are now trying to finish this report and abould appreciate it
very much if you could expedite the preparation of this meterial
for those jtates which have not yet uplied it.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldenweiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

S•

*tate of El!obt islanb an tiroothr

lonles

Vault Tutunti.sMnurriB @flirt
*lair iqoutir, Ilrnnibrurr
LATIMER W. BALLOU
COM M ISSIONER

EDWARD J. LITTLEFIELD

July 14, 1932.

DEPUTY COMMISSIONER

To Federal Reserve Committee on
Branch, Group and Chain Banking:-

The Rhode Island Banking Laws governing the
subjects covered by this questionnaire have not been
changed in effect during the period named.

In many

cases there is no statute covering these questions.
At the present time the only banks doing a commercial
banking business under State charter in Rhode Island
'

are Trust Companies.

BANK COMMISSIONER.

4111100."-

July 9 0 1.932

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve gent
Federal Reserve Bank
BoLten, Massachusetts
near cr. Curtiss:
The Federal Reserve Committee on Branch, Group and Chain
Banking is very anxious to obtain a summary of the important changes
in 6tate legislation regarding banks and trust companies since the
inauguration of the Federal eserve 4stem. This is for use in a
study of the effects upon our banking structure of competition betgeen various classes of bnnking institutions.
For some phnses of banking legislation (e.g., reserve requirements and the operation of branches) our information is already
fairly complete. In other respects, however, it is inadequate, and
we would like to ask your assistance in filling in these deficiencief,..
The enclosed mimeograahed forms Dutline six-:oifiwilly the
information desired. ...could .c)u ne able to obtain for U6 tnis information from the banking departments of the .Aates whose capitals lie
!- :ithin your district, or from your legal department? It is not necessnry tivt we have all the details of every law bearing upon the points
enumerated. ,e want to know what changes have ocourrc-d since 1914
which h ve a significant bearing upon the operrtions of banking institutions and upon the types of assets held by banks.
Very truly yours,

E. I.. Coldenweiser
Chairman, Comaittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking,

Eno.

WM.

Jw

1, 1932

Miss Marian Eaton
Librarian
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Miss Eaton:
de have just returned to you within tne past few days tne
volume of the Massachusetts Bank Commissioners Reports which you
very kindly borrowed from the Massachusetts State Library and sent
to us recently. I find that we returned it a little too soon for
there are still two quotations that we should like to verify. I
think, however, you can probably make the verification for us.
de quote on page 41 of tne report for 1853 as follows:
"No loan or discount shall be made, nor shall any
bill or rote be issu,q1 by such bank, or by any person
on its account, in any other place than at its banking
hmse."
4e also use a sentence in which there is a quotation from
the same page. Our sentence with its quotation reads as follows:
"It also required that every bank 'be kept in the town
in which it is a:tablished, and in such part of such
town as is ?rescribed by its charter:0
Will you please compare oar quotations with the original
in the report indicated and inform us if they eve correct?
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary. Committee on Brancn,
Group and Chain Banking

June 10, 1K2

Mr. Frederic
'.;urtiss
Fec:eral Reserve 4',..ent
Fe.ierul Reserve 3ank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear 1.1r. Curtiss:
The Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking
77isheE to know the basis of the classification, in the reports of the Comptroller of the Oarrency, of
ate banking
inotitutions into State (commercial) banks on the one hand
and loan and trust companies on the other. The office of
the Comptroller informs us that this classification is made
by tho rosprmitive banking departments when the figures are
reportd to him.
Could. you, therefore, find out from the banking
departments of the following States, the basis for the aistinction between
I
commercial banks and loan and trust companics?
Maine
Kew Hampshire
Vermont
Massachusetts
Connecticut
Rhode Island
Very truly yours,

A. Colaenweiser
Chairman, Canuittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

June 4, 193;4

Mr. Frederic TT. Curtis3
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
In recent years there have been many changes
among banking institutions from national charter to State charter
and vice versa. These changes have occurred through both conversions and consolidations. The Committee on Branch, Group and Chain
Banking, in connection with its study of the dual banking system,
is desirous of obtaining accurate information as to the motives
for these cklanges.
We are enclosing herewith a selected list of these
conversions and consolidations in your district, and should appreciate it if you will address an inquiry to each institution asking
for a statement of the reasons or considerAions which prompted then;
to convert from one charter to the other, or, in the case of consolidations, why one charter was chosen in 1reference to the other for
the continuing institution. If we can secure from these institutions
frank and adequate replies to this question, it will doubtless shed
much light on the competitive factors between the two banking systems.
While we exiect to tabulate and com:„ent on the general results of the
replies received, the answers of the individual banks will be hell in
strictest confidence and, of course, no banks will be mentioned in our
report, or designated in such manner as to be recognised.
We are submitting this question to nearly one hundred
banks in the various districts in order to secure a fair sample for
the country as a whole.
Very truly yours,

'nc

F. A. Goldenweiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

•

District No. 1

Conversions from atate to National Charters

Conversions from Nation-1 to itate Charters
Portland, ile. 1929
Chapin' National Bank - Chapman Bank and Trust Co.
Casco Mercantile fruit 0**)
(Later

Consolidations ,wherc

3,
ioniolL mg3

1_arter was Adots

Boston, Kass. 1923
Camommialth Trost Co. (30).
Fourth Atlantio National Bank (37)

) Fourth Atlantic litimml Deft
) (Later - Atlantic Ist/ONAI Mit)

Consolidations where 3tate Charter was Adopted
Hartford, Conn. 1926
Pheonix National Bank (14)
3tate Bank Trust Co. (8)

Phoenix 3tate Bank and Trust Co.

* Numbers in par, ntheses indicate aproximate loans and investments in
millions of dollars.

June 2, 1932.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
In reviewing material on early examples of
branch banking in this country we find references to reports of
the bank commissioners of certain New 'England States which are
not available in Washington, and we should be obliged if you
could help us procure the information we lesire.
On pages 141-142 of Professor Davis R. Dewey's
State Banking.Before the Civil 3a, it is said that banks in
Connecticut and Rhode Island established agencies at other than
their regular place of business, and reference is made to the Reports of the Bank Commissioners of Connecticut, 1537, 1838, regarding the practice. In Rhode Island in 1836 a law was passed
forbidding the same thing, and in Massachusetts also, apparently
about the same time, it was likewise forbidden.
It is also said that the Massachusetts Bank Commissioners had difficulty in 1852 and 1853 in restraining country
banks from establishing Agencies in State Street, Boston, and transacting business tiere; and reference is made to the Second Report
of Bank Commissioners of Massachusetts, 1852, page 8, and to the
Bankers Magazine, 1853.
It does not appear that the banks established
numerous permanent branches, nor that it as a lane of city banks
extending their activities into the snAller towns, but rather of
country banks going into the larger centers to pick up Wetness.
We have the Bankers Magazine of 1853, and the laws

•

June 2, 1932.

Mr. Curtiss,
rage 2.

of Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut, but the Commissioners Reports (Massachusetts 1852 and 1853, Rhode Island
1836, Connecticut 1837, 1638) we do not have.
Would it be possible, without too great trouble
or delay, for you either to make copies of the pertinent passages
from these reports for us, or preferably to arrange for the
reports to be sent us for brief examination? We assume that the
Massachusetts reports, at least, are in the Boston Public Library.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Gollenweiser,
Chairman, Cmr.Attee on Branch,
Group and Chain Ranking.

•

do*

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H.CURTISS

ROY A.YOU NG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

,1%
Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Comnittee on Branch, Group
and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
77ashington, D. C.
Dear :dr. Goldenweiser:—
I am enclosing, herewith, the three tables \
called for in your letter of ..arch 12, 1932;
these tables being made up on the forms
accompanying your letter and classified in
groups according to the instructions contained
therein.
Very trrly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, :janager
Financial Statistics Division

HAB/s

c' .

(
1T4
-crro

L.
•
0

March 12, 1932

Mr. Frederic H. Cirtiss
Federal Feserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
?or the purpose of assembling certain requested information in connection with proposals for guaranteeing bank
deposits, we have prepared the attached tables calling for three
items to be taken from the "Analysis of Bank Iarnings" schedules
which you prepared for the Committee last year. You still hold
these schedules in your files and the items desired are J., K.
and A. on page two. You will note that the tables call for aggregate dollar amounts for all national banks in each size group.
This nntails arranging the analysis blanks fcr each year by size
of loans and investments, if they are not already so arranged,
and then tabulating the figures for each year for each size
iroup. In the cabe of each item a separate table should be
prepared for each state or fraction of state in your district.
In view of the purpose for which these data are
needed it will be apprnciated if you can expedite the compilations.
Very truly yours,

E. A. COldenweiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.
Eno.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H.CURTISS

ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

January 20, 1932

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
In accordance with your letter of January 5, 1932i I
enclose reports on five suspended banks in this district.
Banks numbered 1 to 4 are the banks listed in your letter
under those numbers and bank No. 5 is the Middlesex
National Bank of Lowell, Massachusetts.
The information contained is in three parts corresponding
with the paragraphs numbered First, Third and Fourth in
your letter. In regard to the Second paragraph of your
letter would say that all of the banks concerned were
national banks and, therefore, under the supervision of
the Chief National Bank Examiner. The officers of this
bank had many conferences with the Chief National Bank
Examiner in regard to the condition of the banks, but
all corrective measures were taken by him so that there
has been no direct correspondence with the banks in this
respect.
Yours truly,
4/
1
4
4.4v
D.
Enclosures ijit

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

•

January 5, 1932

l'ar. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear ;:.r. Curtiss:
In the early part of this year the Committee initiated a study
into the causes of bank failures which consisted in compiling the case
histories of 120 bombs for several years prior to suspension. These 120
banks were selected From suspensions during 1921-1930 and the material
is now being analyzed.
In view of the large number of suspensions during 1931, however, as well as the differences in location and faotors involved, it
is felt thlt no study of suspensions would be ade:uate unless it covered
that year. Therefore, 100 banks suspending in 1931 have been selected
in a manner which should make them representatire of this year's fatalities. Those selected from your district are given on the attached list,
and we should appreciate it if you would give us the recent histories of
these banks in a000rdance with the instructions. The information desired consists of four parts.
First, the comments of the national or dtate bank examiners,
as the case f.ny be, from the beginning of 1920 till suspension. The
form in which these comments should be drawn up is explained in the enclosed mimeographed instructions to which is attached Exhibit 1, an
illustration. As an aid to interpretation these comments are interspersed with certain figures showing in a general way the oondition
of the bank at the time of each examination. Artain other data are
also called for, such as population figurea and earnings. These are
covered in the mimeographed instructions.
second, the coaments of Federal reserve examiners regarding
these banks during the sa-ce period, together with any correspondence,
memoranda or other material in the files of the Federal reserve bank
calich will aid in understanding the condition and operation of these
banks prior to failure. No special farm has been drawn up for compiling this material, but in so far 88 feasible it Should be listed

January 5, 1932

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss, 42

chronologically as in the case of the comments of the national and .State
bank examiners.
Third, a photostat copy of each bank's bond and other security
holdings on three different dates; (1) at or :ust prior to suspension;
(2) approximately one year prior to suspension; and (3) approximately
two years prior to suspension.
Fourth, detailed statistical data taken from the examiners'
reports and recorded on "Form F" from 1920 to the date of suspension.
copy of this form and oomments regarding its preparation are enclosed,
and a supply of th forms is being forwarded to you unuer separate cover.
In case the hizAory of any bank in the list is not available
Inrie of some other typical susfor any reaaon a substitution should be ,
pended bank in your distriot.
In view of the urwrit necessity of completing this report at
an early date we hope you will have this material compiled and forwarded
to us as soon as possible. Perhaps you can let us have it by the 20th
of this month.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldmweiser
Chairman, Committee an Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Eno.

Suspended Banks

elected for Case, Studies

Boston District
1. ?ederal National Bank
2. Boston Continental Nat'l Bk.
3, State National Dank
4. Comectiout River Nat'l Bk.
tr. *Inman Trust Company
ro.k

•

Boston, :lass.
Boston, Mass.
Lynn, Maes.
Charle5tovn, E. H.
Cmnb-rldgef mass.
,

This is a l'Aate bank and if its history is not suffioiently complete for our purposes, please substitute a
national bank. We suggest the tliddlesex National Bank,
Lowell, i.assachusetts.

410 41116IDZTIAL

BANK SUSPZSIONS IN TH:] BOSTON DISTHICT
DURING D.IC_LIBER 1931

Name of bank and location

Date

Dec. 17
15
15
15
15
19
15
18
17
23
23
24
18
16
21
15
17
26
17
15
16
15
15
14
24
23

**Deposits
(In thousanCsj

Boston Continental rational Bank, Boston, Mass
,
Federal National Bank, Boston, Mass. 1,,"
Mass.$*'
Gloucester,
Bank,
Gloucester rational
Lowell,
mass.
Middlesex National Bank,
V
State National Bank, Lynn, Mass.
Charlestown,
H. H.
Bank,
National
Cornecticut River
*Inman Trust Company, Cambridge, Mass.Aef
Danielson Trust Company, -)anielson, Conn.
Hamtien Bank & Trust Co., Hamden, Conn.
Broadway Bank & Trust Co., New Haven, Conn.
Merchants Trust Co., .aterbary, Conn.
West Haven Bank & Trust Co., .est Usven, Conn.
Windsor Locks Trust & Safe Deposit Co., :indsor
Locks, Conn.
International Trust & ,ankin Co., Calais, 71aine
Charlestown Trust Co., Boston, Mass.
Brockton Trust Co., Brockton,
Plymouth County Trust Co., Brockton, Mass.
Haverhill Trust Co., Haverhill, Mass.
Arlington Trust Co., Lawrence, Mass.
.
0"
Lawrenoe Trust Co., Lawrence, Mass.440
Lowell Trust Co., Lowell, :ass.
Salem rJrast Co., Salem, Mass.
Bancroft Trust Co., -,7orcester,---Mass./....
guaranty Trust :o„ Berlin, N. F.
4Kazemekas Sc Co., Inc., Thterbary, Conn.
Traurig Co., ':;aterbury, Conn.
4Sanditz

* State bank member
# Private banks
"Latest bankers directory

6 366
28,959,1,732
4,671
2,3211/-402
7,760
2,893
1,924
2,948
6,894Pr
2,7-66
1,197
1,511
3,495
1,384
3,813
2,894
A,851
9,701
7,784
:2,160
6,112
775
700
200

/
FEDERAL RESERVE BAN K
OF BOSTON

ROY A.YOUNG
GOVERNOR

December 7, 19;:a

Chester K.
Federal neserve 3oard,
Washington, D. C.

Secretr

Dear
FLtLe_r
:
This will acknowledge receipt of_,y2IEJ
TaT
prepa
data
1
•
n
.q. co
. . 2 enclosing cepa
of_Des9DINL
and
Chain
ro
h,
bY the Federal Reserve Committee on Branc
d found it
I read the report in detail Sunday
Banking.
all extremely interesting.
Permit me to thank you for send

the info

to me.
Yours ve

u y,

Governor.

ation

December 2, 1931.

nr.

R.
ielung, Governor,
Federal -erve Bank,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear

(2-(;T:_;_ir

Young:

During the meetinc today with the Governors' Conference of the Federal Reserve Committee on Branch, Group and
Chain Banking a request was made that each Governor be furnished with a copy of the confidential data submitted
recently to the Sub-committee of the Committee on Banking
and Currency

or the United States Senate which is enzaged in

a survey of the operation of the National and Federal Reserve
banking systems.
A copy of this data is enclosed herewith and it is
requested that you also regard it as confidential.
Very truly yours,
iSigned) Chester Marti!
Chester Eorrill„
Secretary.

ri

November 4, 1931

Lir. Charles F. Gettemy
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Gettemy:
Thank you for your letter of Nove:aer 2nd in
which you enclosed copies of the inveEtment lists of
fifty selected national banks in the Boston dlstrict
with available ratings assigned to individual items.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

-14

Os

O•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS

ROY A.YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Federal Reserve Board,
Washington,
D. C.
Gentlemen:

Attention - Mr.
Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,

We have your letter of October 31, 1931
quality index -OP- investment accounts of
banks in this district.
In accordance
we are enclosing the lists of the fifty

in regard to the
fifty selected
with your request,
banks.

We are also enclosing a list of the dates as of which the
examinations were made and the total loans and investments
and total capital, surplus, profits and reserves of these
banks.
The numbers in the left hand column of this list correspond with the numbers in the upper right hand corners of
the bond lists.
Yours truly,

WDM:D
Enclosures

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

October 31, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Kr. Curtiss:
We are glad to learn from your letter of October
29th that the work of assigning ratings, where available
from published sources, to the securities of fifty selected
national banks in your district has been accomplished.
To facilitate the construction
your district on a comparable basis with
been prepared elsewhere, we suggest that
us the copies of the investment lists on
ratings have been set against individual
we may complete the project.

of the indexes of
those which have
you forward to
which available
items so that

Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banxing.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS

ROY A.YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K.CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

October 29, 1931

Mr. J. F. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
I have your letter of October 23, 1931 in regard to
the quality index of investment accounts of fifty
selected national banks in this district.
We have completed the work of putting the ratings
against each individual item in every case where
ratings were available.
We enclose a list of the securities for which we
could find no rating, and I understand that you are
going to supply us with ratings for use in connection with these securities.
On receipt of these
ratings it will only be necessary for us to compute
the index figures in order to complete the work.
Yours truly,
4/1/

D.
Enclosure, 'r

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

October 23, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear J1r. Curtiss!
In our letter of July 16th we requested that
you prepare a quality index of the invest:nent accounts
of fifty selected national banzzs in your district. ;;ci
are now working on this ph“se of the Coilmittee's study
and ahould appreciate your infor:aing uz of the progress
you have made on this project.
7ery truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group ary! Chain Banking.

October 9, 1.931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal liaserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
Thank you for your letter of October 7th
enclosing inforovition regarding building and loan
associations in the New England states.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

September 22, 1961
Mr. Frederic R. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
As you doubtless know, the Federal Reserve Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking expects to include in its report a chapter on the
oompetitiod encountered by banks on the part of non-banking institutions,
notably building and loan associatIons, saving' and loan associations,
and similar societies conductod on the mutual or cooperative principle.
Several of the Federal reserve banks have beeh good enough to compile and
transmit to us Ranh valuable information. which in the main will be sufficient for our purposes. h are anxious, however, to make sure that the
report shall not fall to take account of any new developments of importunee
which may have oesurred in .ecent months, particularly with respect to the
manner in which bwildint; and loan associations have met the conditions
arising out of banking crises in various localities.
Since ae hope to complete this part of the report in a few weeks,
manifestly there will not be time for an extended inquiry; but we Shall be
glad to have any infermation you can furnish, without too much trouble, as
to oonditions in your district. We should like to know, for example, to
what extent the assets of building and loan associations are "frozen,"
whether more or less seriously than the real estate loans of the bake;
whether in general the associations have been Obliged to invoke the full
extent of their privileges under the law in the matter of requiring notice
for payment of the withdrawal value of their shares, or of their deposits,
as the case may be, and whether there has been in the pat t:elve montL
any considerable increase in buildinE and loan failures, as compar.ni 1141
the years 1928 and 1929.
We shall greatly appr (date a reply along the lines indicted
at your earliest convenience.
Very truly yours,

Goldenweiser
Chairman. Committee on Br:Inch,
Group and Chain Banking
C.C. to Dr. Goldenweiser

Augast 1%, 1931

Ur. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Ilassachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
"Ve are returning under separate cover the lists of
securities held by each of fifty selected national banks in
your district which you prepared in accordance with our letter of June 25th. The Committee requests that you indicate
the rating assigned by you to each security for which you
could find no published rating and that you identify each
security classified as "not rated" or "not listed." If
adequate information concerning a particular security is
lacking and you have assigned an arbitrary rating, the rating
should be noted as being arbitrary.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldenweiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

July 27, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal 116serve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of July
24th with the corrected records regaraing affiliations.
We have not yet had an opportunity to examine these records,
but if any question should arise later we shall communicate
with you at that time.
very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

,„

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK

r

OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS

ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLtN HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G H ULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

July 24, 1931

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
Please refer to your letter of July 6, 1931 in regard to bank affiliations
in New England.
We have gone over your forms very carefully and have
made corrections and additions insofar as we have information available.
Most of the information in regard to Fairfield County, Connecticut, is
probably contained in the reports of the national bank examiners which
are held by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
We have not attempted
to check the forms for this county, but are returning them herewith.
It is often difficult to determine definitely what relationship exists
between a commercial bank and a mutual savings bank.
The fact that there
are several common directors does not necessarily prove that they have the
same management.
There is at least one case in this district where they
occupy the same rooms and still it is claimed that each is independent.
There were a number of cases of non-member banks about which we have no
information in regard to stock control, but we do know that they have the
same management.
In these cases we have filled in "Same management" as
that was the only definite information we had.
In the Connecticut forms we have eliminated several sheets on which were
listed a bank and a security company.
Ten of these security companies,
most or all of which were affiliated with banks, were recently consolidated
into the Connecticut Investment Management Corporation.
The stock of this
company was distributed in proportion to the contribution of each of the
old companies, and so far as we know, the now company is not dominated by
any single bank.
Yours truly,

4
N.A.11

D.
Enclosures
•NIMINONIMMAIM.11.1••••••......•••••

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

Any 23. 1931

Mr. Prederic I. Curtiss
Bederal Baserve Agent
Moral 'Verve Balk
Boston. Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
In regard to the bond index to which you refer in
your letter of July 18. we have felt that an analysis
of sample banks throughout the country will give us some
estimate of the wisdom with which bond accounts have
been handled by the banks. and the degree to which their
leak of liquidity may be attributable to their investment
policy. I an not sure that we will obtain the desired results, but the effort appeared to be worth making.
I expect to be in Boston some time in the course of
the suLser. probably in connection with the Committee on
Reserves. My family is now in Brewster. and I expect to
join them there some ttme in August, to stay until after
Labor Day. OR the Ay there or back I an sere I will stop
at the bank. mad hope to see you thea. It was very kind
of you to invite us to stop at your house, and I am sure
that we will be very kappy to do so if we have a &lance.
Sincerely yours.

I. A. Goldeaweiser.

"••
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H

CURTISS
CHAIRMAN

July 18, 1931

Dr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Director,
Division of Research & Statistics,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Dr. Goldenweiser:
I am in receipt of your favor of the 16th enclosing
description of an index which has been devised for the purpose
of measuring the quality of the security holdings of banks
and asking us to prepare such an index, using the list of the
fifty banks which 71.1 spnt us on June 25th.;',
Te shall start on this at once and will send you the result
of our work as soon as possible.
Of course you must realize
that there is considerable work involved in preparingan index
along the lines that you suggest.
I cannot help but wonder
what possible use this will be after you get it. At the
present time the bond market is so unsettled that I doubt
very much whether the ratings which we Kill find in the
different volumes will amount to very much.
Apart from
this fact, there is so much dependant on the particular policy of
each bank in reference to the turn—over of securities
and their method of buying that I cannot help but feel that the
results wi:- tell but very little.
I appreciate fully the
importance of the bond account of our member banks and have been
giving this subject considerable study during the last year or so.
In fact, I have tried certain experiments with some of our member
banks in reference q.„the selection of bonds, and am frank to
say that I think we/some fair success in this district getting
our member banks not only to have a definite policy in reference
to their bond accounts but also to make a greater study in
reference to the selection and diversification of securities bought.
The New England Council this Fall intends to have a meeting at which
bank management is to be the principal subject discussed, and at
this meeting a paper is going to be read by one of the country
bankers in this district who has been working with me endeavoring
to outline a bond policy for his own bank.
We also expect to
have this subject discussed and papers read at our stockholders'
meeting which comes in November.
I sincerely trust that you are going to visit us this summer
in order that I may have the opportunity of seeing you. Mrs.
Curtiss and I shall be very glad to have you and Mrs. Goldenweiser
stop over with us at our house on your way to Brewster, if you
find it convenient to do so.

Dr. E. A. Goldenweiser,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D.C.

0

July 18, 1931

With kindest regards, I am

Very sincerely yours,

Federal Reserve Agent.
FHC/D

July 16, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. lurtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal 3eserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Cairtiss:
are sending you a description of an index whioh has been
devised for tbe purpose of measuring the quality of the security holdings of banks. The oonstruotion is staple and is rally explained in
the attached memorandum. The Committee desires to have this index
computed for a representative list of banks scattered throu7hout the
country in order to determine something of their investaent policies.
On June 25th we sent you the names of 50 banks in your
district lith the re,-uest that you Lend us a list of the securities
held by each at the time of the last examination in order that ve
might make an analysis of these securities. ?or each of these 50
lists of securities we should like to have you pre-)are an index in
accordance with the enolosed example and the accompanying instructions. If you Peel that the 50 banks will not be maffialently
repreaentative of your district, you might enlarge the list.
We are sending you under separate cover a supply of forme
for use in camputing the Index.
Iery truly yours,

E. A. Goldenweiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Eno.

July 6, 1931
Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
We are encl sing for your examination certain material on bank
affiliations in New England which we h-ve compiled on a special form (?orm
O) for use with the iederal Reserve Board's rroords on the subject. It
covers securities oompanies and other non-banking affiliates as Nell as
affiliations between two banks. The Board's existing rPcords on chains
and groups, which are based on reports furnished by the qeserve Banks in
compliance with the Board's letter, St. 6386, November 18, 1929, do not
include information on these two items.
Specifically, this compilation has been prepared to include the
following kinds of affiliates of banks:
(1) All um-banking affiliates of state and
natioml banks, includin7 securities companies,
mortgage companies, investment trusts, insurance
companies, holding coin-Antes, foreign banking companies and ssfe de *sit companies. In each case
the name of the bank and the names of its subsidiaries or affiliates are given.
(2) All affiliations between two banks only.
This affiliation may exist either through common
stockholding interest, trusteed stook, direct ownership, or other means. The clnmonest examples of this
are the affiliation of a trust companr with a nationra
bank and of a savings bank with a comparcial bank.
The compilation has been made principally from three general sources-Moody's Manual of Banks, the directory of Security Dealers of North America,
and Hand McNally's Bankers' Directory. Our re:nest is that you check our oompilation, make the necessary corrections and additions indicated by your credit
files, examiners' reports, and other sources of information, inoluding reference where advisable to the organizations themselves, and return the revised
material to us as soon as possible.

July 6, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss, #2

A memorandum is encloscd which explains the terms used in the compilation, and gives such other information as is necessary to interpret and
correct it properly.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldenweiser
Chairman, Cannittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Foderal Reservy Committee un
Branch, Group and Chain Banking

July 6, 1931

AFFILIATIONS
Explanation of Information compiled on Fora C

Perm C has been prepared for the purpose of oompiling information regarding the fellowing types of affiliates of banks:
(1) All non-banking affiliates of state and national banks, including securities oompanies, mortgage oompanios, investment trusts, insurance comm.
ponies, holding companies, foreign banking companies
and safe deposit oozapanies. In each ease the name
of the bank and the names of its subsidiaries or
affiliates are given.
(2) All affiliations between two banks oily.
This affiliation may exist either through common
stockholding interest, trusteed stook, direct
ownership, or other means. The commonest examples
of this are the affiliation of a trust oompanj
Ath a national bank and of a savings bank with
a commercial bank.
The information described is intended to supplement the existing
records of the Federal Reserve Board on the subject of Chain and group affiliations, mid& at present include only affiliations comps/sing three or
more banks. It is desired that the material compiled on Form C
examined
by the Reserve Dank, checked for accuracy and completeness with its records,
and returned to the Committee. It is assumed that the Reserve Banks already
have records of this information in some form for their own use, but if not,
perhape a check may be made by referenoe to credit files and examiners' reports, or, where advisabte, by direct reference to the organizations which
are listed.
The compilation has been made as of current date in so far as
possible. Changes and oorrections in the information may be made directly
on the face of the Perm itself if desired. A supply of blank forms is also
enclosed for recording affiliations that need to be added.
Perhaps the most important single item of information is the mode
of control of affiliates, ehich is set domn in the second column of Form C.
In the majoeity of affiliations there is one bank or corporation which is
dominant over the other affiliates, and whioh is controlled not by any
other bank or corporation, but by its own gmmeral stockholders. Acoordingly wherever the name of the dominant meeiber of an affiliation appears,

apa.

the words "General stockholders" have been used in the column headed "Bow
oontrollod." It nakes no differense whether the stook is cloaely held or.
not. Thus, for exempla, the First National Bank of New York is oontrollod
by its general stockholders, so far se this study is oonoerned. The First
Securities Company, however, is controlled by the First National through
trusteeship of Cie securities company's stook. Aecordingly, in the proper
column the words "General stockholders" are used to deeoribo the °control
of the bank itself, which is dominant, and the words "Stook trusteed for
First National" are used to describe the oontrol of its affiliate.
In summary, the neans or i:lanner of control uill oome under the
following five heads:

11

I Ownership of controllin6 stook:by general stookholdere.
This applies to the dominant monitor of the affiliation.
II

Trusteeship of the stock of one member of the affilia..
tion for the stockholders of another member of the af6
filiation.

I/I Ownership of controlling stook of one
of the atfiliation by another meMber, the stookmember•
being a direct
asset of the latter member.
IV Ownership of the controlling stook of the different memp
berg of the affiliation by an individual or group of in.
dividuals.
1r

Control of one member of the affiliation by another memp
ber, not through ownership of control of stock, but through
the fact that the offioers of the dominant member are also
officers of the oontrelled mother. This applies in the
ease of mnfm*1 savings banks.

In the oase of II, III, and IV the per oemt of a subsidiary's
stock that is ownod should be given where it is bosun. even though the
compilation as it stands sham only "majority" orIalmorite interosto
In oases where the per oent of stook owned is not knew. the terms,
*minority interewt" or "imajority interest" should be um044,
IMemples of denignations if the five different forms of control
I T shown in the compilation follow:
I "General stockholders"; as in the ease of the Chase National
Bank, indieating that it is the dominant meMber of the Chase
affiliation.

"Stock trusteed for Chase National"; indicating how the
Chase Securities Company Is controlled.
III 'Majority interest owned by Irving Trust"; as in the case
of Irving Investors Management Company.
IT !Majority interest owned by same stookholders"; as in the
case of the Putnam County National and the Mahopac Nation..
ml, the names of the neMbers of the affiliation being
bracketed.
V

"Same Management"; an in the case of Bath National Bank,
and Bath Savings Institution (a mutual savings bank) of
Bath, Maine.

In the absence of definite knowledge it is often difficult to tell
whether a given interest should be called an investment or an affiliation,
nffiliation implies participation in nanagementn whereas investment, as a
rule does not. If as mush as 25 per cent of the stock of a bank or corporation is owned, thirster., the presumption is strong that there is participation in managements and that the interest may be called an affiliation. But if there is less than 25 per cent control there is much more
question whether to call the interest one of affiliation or simply invest..
ment. In any given ease Aare the facts are known as to the extent of
participation in management the interest should be classed accordingly,
regardless of the per esst of control; but in the absence e knowledge
of /such facts, the interest should be considered an investment if the
control is less than 25 per cent. It is not the purpose, of course, to
include investments in the compilation.
It will be apparent from the foregoing paragraphs that certain
terms are used in a special and perhaps novel NOW* The term affiliation, which is often used in a general sense implying the fact of a connection, is hero used in a particular sense as designating the group or
eystem itself which is made up of the affiliates. Thus the "National
City affilintion" consists of the National City Bank, the National City
Company, the City Bank Farmers Trust Company, International Banking Cor..
poration, etc., all of these corporations being %sabers of the affi7.iam.
tion." The National City Bank is the "dominant member of the affilintion,"
end the others, directly or indirectly, are "controlled or subsidiary members." The term affiliation as used therefore will apply to the case of
two institutions linked together as well as to egroup" or "chain" of
any number of institutions.
The function of the concerns listed has been indicated as "bank"
hich means also a trust company engaged in commercial banking, "securities,"
"holding," "insurance," "mortgage: etc.
The information regarding the state issuing the charter and the
date of the charter is desired for non-banking affiliates only and is not
necessary in the ease of banks.

1.411*

It is desired that the figures for capital stock and leans and
investment be supplied by the Federal Reserve Bank. In the ease of banks
the figures should be taken from the March call report, if practieable.
In the case of affiliates, for whiah capital stook alone is to be given,
the figures should be taken from the date nearest the March call report.
It should be mode dear in all cases whether it is tne 6ank or
a nonpbanking affiliate that holds control, It is also necessary to inp
diaate all intermediate means of control, as in oases where a conoern that
has a subeidiary is in turn the subsidiary of another.

Jnly 3, 1931

Mr. Frederic E, Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
we acknowledge with thanks receipt of your
letter of July 211d enclosing photostatic copies of the
investment lists of the fifty selected banks in your
district.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Coamittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.
1.44,

•

•
•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H.CURTISS

ROY A. YOU N G. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K.CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

CARL B. PITMAN
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

July 2, 1931

Mr. F. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Coldenweiser:
Referring to your letter of June 25, 1931, I am
enclosing photostat copies of the lists of bonds,
securities, etc. held by the fifty banks selected
by you, at the time of the most recent examination.
I have had noted on each one the amount of the
total loans and the total investments on the date
of the examination.
Yours truly,

D.
Enclosures

Frederic H. Curtiss, -"
Federal Reserve Agent.

June 25, 1931

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Nassaehusetts
Dear Mr. Curtism
We are enclosing herewith the name* of 50 banks in
your district and would aobreciate it it you could send us a
list of the bons, securities, etc., held by etch of them at
the time of the lait examination. The Committo is undertaking to make an analysis of the investment holdings of a representative group of banks throughout the country in order to
determine their investment policies. These Danko have been
selected at random in order that they may be representative.
Perhaps the investment list in each case, which usually appears on page 7 of the National bank eAmmineres report, can
be photostated at a minimum of time and cost.
Is rebaraiag these lists, it would be of mush assistance if you eould give the total loans and investments of each
bank in order that me may group them according to size. The
items included in total loans and investments are set forth
in articles 1 to 4 inclusive of the Boarcts Form 105a.
Very tr- ly yours,

alnc

S. A. Coldoneeiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chair BaAin

Fifty Selected National Banks
in 1Cdera1 Reserve District No. 1

1. N. B. of New England
20 First N. B.
3. Naugatuek N. B.
4. New Haven N. B. A.
50 Plantsvilli N. B.
6, Thomaston N. B.
7, Hurlbut N. B.
8, Bath H. B.
9, Camden N. B.
100 Peoples N. Bo
110 Neter Fulls S. B.
12, Pi', afield N. B.
13, Rumford E. B.
14. Thomaston N. B.
15. Greylock N. B.
16, First N. B.
170 Boston-Continental N. B.
180 Brockton N. B.
19, Conmgy N. B.
200 Everett N. B.
21. Franklin N. B.
22, First N. B.
260 Hudden N.. B.
24, Merchants N. B.
25, State N. B.
26. Puoples N. B.
27, !Zonson N. B.
za. Merchants N. B.
290 Northborough N. B.
50, Agricultural N. B.
31. First N. B.
320 Produce N. B.
33, Toansend N. B.
34. Webster N. B.
35, imitaintsunI. B.
36. N. B. of Wrentham
37, Peo lea L. B.
38, Derry N. be
39, White .:,lountain N. B.
30. Luconiu N. B.
41. :woskaag N. B.
42. First H. B
43. New Hampshire N. B.
44. Wolfeboro N. B.
C). N. B. of Commerce
46. First N. B.
47. First N. B.
48. First N. S.
49. Montpelier N. B.
W. Randolph N. B.
40

East Haddam,
Meriden,
Naugatuck,
New Haven,
Plantsville,
Thomaston,
Winsted,
Bath,
Camden,
Farmington,
Kezar Falls,
Pittsfield,
Rumford,
ThomiLiton,
Adams,
Attleboro,
Boston,
Brockton,
Coni.ay,
Everett,
Franklin,
Haverhill,
Madsen,
Leominster,

Connecticut
Ii

Ii

Massachusett
It

4Ynns
Marlborough,
Monson,
Neeburyport,
Northborough
Pittsfield
Revere,
South Deerfield,
Townsend,
Nebster,

•

Wrentham,
New Hampshire
Claremont,
Derry,
•
Gorham,
Laoonia,
Manchester,
Newport,
Portsmouth,
•
Wolfeboro,
Providence,
Rhode Island
Bennington,
Vornont
Bristol,
Snosburg Falls,
Montpelier,

Lay 26. 1931

:7;har1es F. aettemy
Assistaalt Fc,uar:al 'Asecve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Llassachusetts
Dear

r. Getter:
,(3 acknowledge with thanks your lettr of

Lay 25th with its enclosure of bank changes in Massa,chusetts for the year 1930 on Forns A-2 and A-3.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Caasittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM
KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

WILLETT, CASHIER
K CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Mr. C. B. Hammond, for the
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
\
Referring to our letter of May 15, 1931 we enclose
a report of bank ohnnges in Massachusetts for the
year 1930 on Forms A2 and A3.
Yours truly,

WUM:D
Enclosure

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

Any 18, 1931

Mr. Charles F. Gettemy
Assistant Federal eserve Agent
'Federal eserve Bank
Boston, L:azsachusetts.
Dear Mr. Getty:
This will ackno-fledge with thanks your letter of
May 15th enclosing reports of bank changes in New Hampshire
and Vermont on forms A-2 and A-3.
f3 note that there a2-e no ohanges to be reported
for Rhode Island in 1930 and that the figures for 7;:assachusetts -.wive not yet been received.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Com.littoe on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.
CBH:CAH

0•

•
•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
WILLIAM

W

WILLIAM

PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WI L LETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

H

FREDERIC

ROY A YOUNG, GOVERNOR

CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L WALLACE SWEETSER

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Mr. C. B. Hammond for the Committee on
Brarch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to your _letter_of_April 14, 1931‘in regard to
reports of bank changes on Forms A2 and A3, we enclose
figures for the year 1930 for Verloont, and for the entire
There were no changes in 1930
period for New Hampshire.
for Rhode Island.
We have asked the bank commissioner for the information
for the State of Massachusetts but have not received it
as yet. äe are calling the matter to his attention today
and will forward the information as soon as we receive it.
Yours truly,

grimeadO
'WDM:D
Enclosure (4r#
gt6,

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

Llay 14, 1931.

Mr. Henry R. Bowser, Manager
Pinancial Statistics Division
Federal neserve Bank
6oston, iiiassachusetts
Dear kr. Bowser:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of ;ay
12th enclosing Tables I-e, II-e,

IV-e and V-e,

showing the classifications, the averages and the group
aggregates o: national bank earnings for the ;/ear 1930.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, colnlittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

:A

••

••

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A.YOUNG.GovERNOP
WILLIAM
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

HOLLIS

ALLEN

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAV
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

May 12, 1931

Mr. J. E. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch, Group
and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear 1 r. Riddle:Pursuant to the request conained in your letter
of January 14, 1931 we are enclosing, herewith,
the tables of national bank earnings on your forms
IV-e and V-e, showing the
I-e, II-e,
classifications, the averages and the group aggregates.
Very truly yours,

henry R. Bowser, Manager
Financial Statistics Division

iiRB/s

May 4, 1931

Mr. H. R. Bowser, Iianager
Financial Statistics nivision
Federal 'leserve 3ank
Boston, Massachus,
.tts
Dear Mr. Bowser:
Receipt is

cknowledged of your letter of May 1st

with the enclosed tabulations showing for the ratios in
Tables I7-e and V-e the avera7e deviations frail the average.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Biddle
Seoretary, Comaittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRIC KEL

K

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HUL1
L. WAL LAC

H.CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ET

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ETSER

May 1, 1931

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary
Committee on Branch, Group & Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mt. Riddle:Pursuant to the instructions contained in your
memorandum,under date of November 12, 1930,
relative to the study of Deviations to be made
on your tables IV-e and V-e we are enclosing .
herewith the required tabulations.
Each of these
forms is in three sections showing for the Federal
Reserve District as a whole (1) Average Doviation,
(2) Average Division and (3) Group Aggregates.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, Manager
Financial Statistics Division

HRB/S

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

FREDEMC

PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILL ETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY
W

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

April 22, 1931

Mr. C. B. Hammond,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
We have your letter of April 14, 1931in regard to
the report of bank changes on Forms A2 and A3. We
have taken these matters up with the bank commissioners
in the various states and hope to have the information
for you at an early date.
Yours truly,

'udDIJ:D

Charles P. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

April 14, 131

Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Federal Reserve Bank
Boston, Massac.husetta
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
In chccking over our returns fron various states
on bank chagss, 0,Ach we mired to have filled put on /Orme
Ln our letter of November lb, 1930„'we find
A-2 and
of
the states in your district have not yeft been
that some
heard from in full.
Thc figures for the ye-r 1930 have not yet been
reported to us from Massachusetts, Ahode Island and Vermont,
and no report at all of the hank changes since 1920 appears to have been received from New Hampshire. In order
that we may lay out plans for the completion of this part
of the study we should like to have you inform us how soon
the records for the states we have mentioned may be expected.
Very truly yours,

C. b. Hammond
Fo the Committee on jranch,
Group and Chain Banking
CBH:h

itiarch 13, 1;31.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss
Federal Reserve Agent
Fede?*al Reserve Bank
Boston, Kassachusetts
DeaiIn reviewing and ana/yzing the material on hAld relative to group banking preparatory to completine: thnt section of
the Committee's rnport, 7?e. notice that you nsported with respect
to the Federal National Investment Trust in your letter of Septemher 1:ith that, "owing to unusual circumstances the Federal
National Investment 7rust is un. blo to file a renort at this

time."
If the situation has chnged so that a report could
be securd frmn them row, Te would very much likr to have it,
would appreciate aaytin7 70U may be )1(1 to do towards
that end.
If there have be,n any rleneral developments in the
field of group banking in your district in recont months that
you think would be helpful for as to know, we would anoreciate
your writing us concerning them.
7ery truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary. Committee on ?,ranch.
Group and Chain 3anking.

February 213, .1.9.1
qr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Fedoral. Aooerve
1;A.lk of Boston,
.)ear
dr. Curtiss;
sonneotiol; altL the eamings project of this
Comoittee,
f,re anxious to be infornad
to the existence of statistics concorning the income acunts of st.
baAls. Cur host infertion vt prenent Is tLnt tose -!'
'aankinc, dapartments that hf:,v7; oollocte! s%atistios
Vise .1come azeounts of sto banks arc very exceptional.
One iaportant exception of
ge know is thLt of the Kansas department, the reports of vihich 'ave cortnined dat annually for the thirty yer_Lre of the century Ln which we are
interested. Por the state barks of lcncae, information is
Awn/shod 4hich will allow for the com2uttic-n of the annual rate of gross and net earnings on invested capital,
:- he rate of exper.diturls fcc
dsporqt,l,
ard WZOS, other expenses, and losses. In other words,
thSavailable over a low; period of time a rnth)r fUll
consolidtltad annual income aelornt ,-)f 01
Itato brkFl
of Kitnsas.
should be glad if you will maks t ohack of all
capitals lie within your district n:rd dethe stater;
scribe to us what material, if any, exists in eaoh with respect to itcce of consolidated income ac(vunts for all or
part of
stte banks. Please tell us at the aama time
in whct sources such material may be found.
Very truly yours&

14

J. H. Riddle
Secretary. Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDEMC

ROY A YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM
KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

WILLETT, CASHIER
K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Mr. J. F. Piddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Rid3le:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of 7ebruary 19, .
We sent you a
1931 ir regard to bank suspensions.
slhedule for the Terrimack River avings Bank of
Tanchester, N. H. with our letter of September 18, 1930.
In regard to the West Rutland Trust Company of West Rutland,
Vermont, we are informed by the bank commissioner that a
receiver was appointed on August 17, 1930 and that matters
have not progressed to the point where it is possible to
determine whether there will be any loss to depositors.
Yours truly,

P4.
MD

Charles F. Getteny,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

February 19, 1931.

Mr. H. R. Bowser, Manager,
?irnricial Statistics Division,
?ederal Reserve Bank of Bo:iton,
BoLton, Masslichusetts.
Tlear 1.1r. Bowser:
Receipt is alknowledi of yr letter of
7ebrunry 17th.e -clo2ing duplicate cuAes or the analy
sis or bank earnings bIanks for the First National
Bank
of -,ou1tne7, Vermpnt, 7:D-r:rin:_-7 the ooriod 1926-1929.
7ery truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Pebruar7 19, 1931.

Mr. Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal eserve Agent,
Federal ',eserve Bank of Soston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Kr. Gettemy:
i;s1 adknowledge with thimksiRgrjettar-ert-Pebruary
enclosing
schedules on state bank susrensions in loode
12th
lilend for he entire period 1921-130 inclusive. According
to our records, this leaves only one :fire :uspenelon to be
reportea from your district, that of the g.errLnack liver
Savings $8.111): of Yanchester, New Haupshire, which W6 understand closed on June 9, 1930.
The schedle vhi,h (pti sent to us several months
ago ooverine the suspension of the 7:est Rutland Trust Co.,
West Thitl.md, Vemilont, repo.7ted thtt e receiver had not jet
been appointed for the bank and that plans 'e re being forarilated to ovoid rceivership if possible. Te sholAd appreciate knowing what develornients hnve ocourred in this
case. If the bank hc been reopened or taken over by
anoter bank, can you tell 1.15 whether any loss, wLs suffered
by depositors?
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on erench,
Group and Chain 3anking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A.YOUNG.GovERmuR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL r4

K . CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
E LLIS G HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

February 17, 1931

J. H. Riddle, Secretary
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Bard,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Lr. Riddle:Reference is made to your ietter of Eebruary 16.\
The First National Bank of Poultney, Vt. is the
only national bank which suspended payments in this
district during 1930.
We are enclosing, herewith,
duplicate copies of the anolysis of bank earnings
blanks for that bank covering the period 1926-1929
as requested by you.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, Manager
Financial Statistics Division

EIRB/S

YAuIITdlENT

HOLLIS

February 16, 1931.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Ourtissl
We have in mind making some analysis of the
earnings' experience of nailed banks prior to the data
of suspension. In connection with this project, please
forward us the Analysis of Bank Earnings blanks for each
of the years 1926-1929 for each of the national banks in
your district, which suspended payments during the year
1930. It may be that you will wish to retain the originals for your files, sending us copies. Our plan comprehends working out here various groupings of the banks involved, some 160 for all tr;lve districts together.
Very truly yours,

.7. H. Riddle
Secretary, Committee on Branoh,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G

HULT

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

L.. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Co-iraittee on Branch, Group Prd rlhain Benking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to my letter of February 10, 1931, ,I enclose
schedules in connection with -bank suspension S in Rhode
Tsland since January 1, 1921.
There were only two small suspensions in this state,
and there Was no loss to depositors in either case.
Yours truly,

Charlos 7. Gettemy,
Assist:Int Federal Reserve
Fnolosures

rzent.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT. CASHIER
KRICKEL

K

FREOEMC

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY
HOLLIS

ALLEN

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

February 10, 1931

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:

4_1931

We have your letter of_Efhruary
in regard to
suspended banks in this district which have reopened.
The depositors of the Millbury Savings Bank, Millbury,
Mass, and the West Springfield Trust Company of West
Snri.ngfield, Mass., suffered no loss on account of the
temporary closing of t'oe barks.
Following receipt of your letter of January 13, 1931,
we again took up 71th the bank commissioner of Rhode
Island the matter of filling in the schedules covering
bank suspensions, and on February 2, we sent him a
supply of blank forms.
We told him that if he did
not feel that he could supply the full information, we
should appreciate it if he would supply as much information as he could.
The schedules have not yet been
returned to us but we are hopeful of ratting at least
part of the information.
Yours truly,

TOXI:D

Charles F. Gettemy,
Asristant Federal Reserve Agent.

February 9, 1931.

Mr. Charles Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Iteserve 1,gent,
?ederal lieserve Bank of 3oston,
Boston, nassachusetts.
Dear 2,1r. Gettemy:
enclosing ached-ales on
Tour letter of February
Reserve District
loirst
Federal
ban:cs -7hroh :125Pen5ód in the
7;e note
received.
duly
durin - the latter half of 1930 was
Massachuthat both the Millbury Savings Bank of Millbury,
setts, and the West Springfield Trust Co. of West Sspringfield, Llasesehusette, have been reopened, out the schedules do not indicate whether agp loss wss suffered by depositors. Will you kindly advise us regarding this matter?
':;() shoula aopreciate ,_nowing also hether there
trIve been any further developments regarding the possibilit:7 of securing schedules covering suspensions in Rhode
Island.
Very truly yours,

J. g. Riddle
Secretary, Co=ittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK , DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILL ETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

FREDERIC

H.

cuRTIss

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. RuLT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L WALLACE SWEETSER

CFIARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

February 6, 1931

Li'. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Comattee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Li.. Riddle:
Receipt is acknowledged of your 19tter of February 3
addressed to Yr. Curtiss, ylth regard to using the
new census figures for 1930 in connection with Table
II-e which will have our proper attention.
Very truly yours,

C.

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

•

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR

WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER
K CARRICK, SECRETARY

KRICKEL

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

E LLIS G. HULT

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

February 6, 1931

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
Referring to your letter of DecemDff 194, 193Q. we enclose
schedules of bank suspensions in this district during the
second half of 1930, as follows:
West Springfield Trust Co., West Springfield,
Millbury,
Millbury Savings Bank,
New Britain,
Commercial Trust Co.,
Pallotti Andretta & Co.Inc.,Hartford,
Pallotti Andretta & Co.Inc.,New Haven,
Hartford,
Riverside Trust Company,
Citizens Bank & Trust Co., New Haven,

Mass.
Mass.
Conn.
Conn.
Conn.
Conn..
Conn.

Yours truly,

WDM.D
Enclosures

Charles F. Gette-17
.J
Assistant Federal Reserve Art.

l•

February 3, 1931.

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal 7eserve Agent,
Federal ;:ieserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, aEsachusetts.
Dear

Curtiss:
you extend
In our letter of January 14th le requested that

:7orking out Tables I-e,
the earnings project to include the year 1930
II-e,

each of the
I7-e, and 7-e for th.lt year as was done for

nrevious four years.

In grouping banks nor Table II-e according to

aggested in our
the size of the coanunity in which located we had ...
each of the four
letter of October 20th that you use with re..;pect to
January 1928 ediyers 19-6-1929 the population figures gi/en in the
tion of 'A,nd ::.c/ially's Bankers Directory.

In connection with n,:ble

it desirable to ti:,e4 the
II-e for the year 1930, however, we believe
understtaid are
new census figures of 2opulation for 1930 which we
now available.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
ecretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

January 29, 1931.
•

.jir. H. R. Bowser, Manager,
Financial Statistics :ivision,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
7)ear nr. Bowser:
We are ir reseipt nf

lelter of Jrimilarj 2Fth

enclosinp coamleted forme 17-1 are 7-0 to7theY. -rith the
pork sheets shcrvIng the group a7gregnt ,,
for the states i

or thr-se fors

7,Tor eictrit for the year 1929.
Very truly yours,

Ii. aiddIA
Secretary, Cxx,imittee on 3ranch,
•Group and Chain Banking.
j.

V.

o•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

January 28, 1931

r. J. H. Riddle, Secretary
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:I am enclosing the completed schedules on
your forms IV-e and V-e, together with the
work sheets showing the group aggregates on
these same forms covering the calendar year
1929.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, Manager
Financial Statistics Division

ERB/s

January 21, 1931.

:r. Henry P. Bolfser, rancger,
Financial Statistics 7_,ivision,
Federal T?eserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
7,ear Mr. Bowser:
Ir accordance with the request contained in your
letter of Janwry 19th to Dr. Goldenweiser se are enclosing
for your use the following:
350 copies of Analysis of Bank Earnings
20 copies each of Tbles I-e
II-e
III-e
30 conies each of Tables .17-e
7-e

Very truly yours,

J. H. Riadle
Hecretary, Callaittee on 3ranch,
Group and Chain Banking.

January 20, 1931.

Ur. Oharles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve 2„gent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,.
Boston, 1assachusetts,
Dear Mr. Gettenly:
This will acknowledge with thankL your letter
of the 16th enclosing data on the changes In the nunber
of banks since 1920 in tie state of :;onnecticut.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Conmittee on Branch,
Group and 3hain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WI L LETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

K

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

ELLIS G

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

HULT

GETTEMY

1

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESE

tZTk.
‘24? d4I
40
,

January 19, 1931

'

piT,kt.

l's714.1tt
Mr. E. A. Soldenweiser, Chairman
Committee on Branch, Group and
Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Referring to your letter of Jan ary 14 regarding
the computation of bank earnings for 1930, will
you kindly send us, a supply of the necessary
forms for this work as follows:-

"Analysis of Banking Earnings" (4-Page Leaflet)..
Table I-e
II-e
It
III-e
IV-e
it
V-e

Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bow3er, Manager
Financial Statistics Division

liRB/s

Copies
350
20
20
20
30
30

January 19, 1931.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal aeserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, L%ssachusetts.
Dear NI'. Curtiss:
We acknowledge with thanks your letter of
January.lath regardinp the statutory priority of deposits in the several states of your district.
In reviewing the present status of our records
covering ir,nk suspensions in the various Federal reserve
districts, we find t;:rA
ilve not yet eceived any
should appreciate know—
schedules from Rhode Island.
ing whether there have been any Purther developments,
beyond those reported in Mr. Cettemy's letter of 6eptem..
ber 18th, regarding the ossibility of securing data on
suspensions in that state.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Cwmittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

FREDERIC

H. CuRTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

January 16, 1931

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to your letter of November 15, 1930' in regard
to the changes in the number of banks since 1920, we
enclose a report which has just been received from the
Bank Commissioner of Connecticut.
Yours truly,

Charles F. Gettem ,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

January 16, 1931.

Mr. H. R. Bowser, Lanager,
Financial 5tat1stics Division,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, I4assachusetts.
Dear 1r, Bowser:
Thank yo.a for your letter of January 14th enclosing cowplated forms IV-e and 7-e together with the
work sheets

howing the aggregates on these forms for

the year 1928.

Very truly yours,

J. H. 2iddle
Secretary, 3ommittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A YOUNG.GOvErmoR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WI L LETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

K

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

ELLIS G

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

January 15, 1931
Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to your letter of December 11, 1930 in regard to the statutory priority
or lien of deposits reported on the schedules of suspended banks, the only states
in which the claims were classified as secured, preferred or general were
Connecticut and Massachusetts.
I submitted your questions to the bank commissioners
of those states and quote from their replies as follows:
Bank Commissioner of Connecticut:
"As the type of banks which were reported on these schedules were private
bankers, the general statutes state that the receiver shall distribute
the proceeds of the liquidation of the business as follows:
1.
2.
3.

To all expenses of settling the affairs of such private banker;
To the payment of deposits of such private banker, and the money
intrusted to such private banker for transmission;
To the payment of all other liabilities of such private banker.

"The amounts reported on your schedule as:
A. (secured) would be bills payable secured by collateral;
B. (preferred) would represent salaries due employees, and
C. (general) would represent deposits, both time and demand."
Bank Commissioner of Massachusetts:
"General Laws, Chapter 172, section 31 is the only statute regulating
secured deposits. The savings department and the Christmas Club deposits
are classed as preferred, and all other deposits and claims are classified
as general."
As you probably know, in all of the New England States certain assets are
segregated for the benefit of the savings depositors of state banks and trust
companies, and the savings depositors have first claim on the segregated assets.
Yours truly,
Ak
4/41V:ar0.

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

Janut,r:i 14, 1931.

kr. Frederic N. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agpnt,
7ederal Reserve 3ank of Boston,
3oston, Massachusetts.
Dear

Curtiss:
In connection with the earnings project of this

Committee upon which you are working, it has been decided
to renuest the T- eserve banks to su ,ply us for the year 1930
With the tabulations herotofore reluestea for the yenrs 1926,
1927, 1928 and 1929.

Accordingly Tables i-e, 1I-e, I1I-e,

I7-e and 7-e should be compiled in the sb.ne way for 1930 as
was done for each of the other fonr years.

As our original

renuest with respect to deviations required that work for
one ',rear only, the present neguest entails nothing additional
on deviations.
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

a•

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A.YOUNG,GOVERNOR
WILLIAM
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

HULT
ERNEST M LEAVITT
L WALLACE SWEETSER

E LLIS G

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Janoary 14, 1931

Mr. J. n. Riddle, Secretary
Committee on Branch, Group
and Chain Banking,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:I am enclosing herewith the completed
schedules on your forms IV-e and V-e,
together with the work sheets showing the
group aggregates on these same forms
covering the calendar year 1928.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, Manager
financial Statistics Division

11RB/S

vim

Januar7 F, 1(2!71.

Mr. Charles i. Gettamy,
Assistant :Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, KassachuEetts.
7ear

Gettemy:
In accordance vith the request contained in

uour letter of January 7th we are sending you herewith
twelve additional copies of the schedule on bank suspensions.
7ery truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secret-Lry, CoAmittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Enc.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG, GOVERNOR

FREDERIC

WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

January 7, 1931

•

Mr. E. A. 9:o1denweiser, Chairman,
Committee ontranch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Rese0Re Board,
Washington,
Dear Mr. leldenweiser:
Referring to your letter of December 19, 1930, will you
kindly send us about one dozen copies of the forms for
reporting bank suspensions since January 1, 1921?
Yours truly,

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

January 6, 1:

r. Charles F Gettomy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal I'Leserve Bonk of Boston
Boston, Massachusetts
Deer Mr. Gettemy:

f1Ijf.L I1L4

We are in receipt of your letter of January
with its enclosure of Fors A-4 oT(1 A=r covering &a
in he num:ber of private banks in the state of Conrectiout.
In view of your explanation that the so-called
privito btInkers in Massachusetts are merely persons operating under a license to receive monk! for safe-keeping and
transmission abroad, we concur with your opinion that those
she id llot be reportd.
We also note that in the other four st-tes in
the fl.rst district there al-e- no private banks and that
your enclosures consequently complete this portion of the
study for your district. We thank you very much for your
careful attention in this matter.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Ric_dle
Seoretar,y, Committee on Branch,
Grou-,... and Chain 3arking
CB11:11

.

MBIA

*
e 0

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4
414.* 4
/1e
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/
4
10

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON

t.5,;p;
g.
An
‘
tet;
7
4
.

FREDERIC H. CURTISS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ROY A YOUNG, GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS
ELLIS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

G. HULT

January 5, 1931

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
Referring to your letter of November 18, 193O in regard to the changes in
the number of private banks, we enclose a report covering the changes in
Private banks in
Connecticut for the period January 1, 1924 to date.
under
the
supervision
of
the bank commissioner in 1924,
Connecticut were put
and as his annual reports contain a fairly complete record of the changes,
We did not communicate with
we have made up the figures from his reports.
the bank commissioner because he has been very busy with a number of bank
failures in his state and he has not furnished us with the information
requested in your letter of November 15 in regard to the changes in the
number of state banks since 1920.
In Massachusetts the so-called private bankers do business under a license
to receive money for safekeeping and transmission abroad or under a license
They are under the supervision of the bank
for transmission only.
commissioner but he does not consider that they are banks. There are some
figures in the annual reports of the bank commissioner, but they are very
confusing for the reason that some individuals have licenses to receive
money for safekeeping and transmission, and if they give up one part of
the business it shows as a reduction in the total figures although the same
individual may still be in business. Under the provisions of an act passed
in 1929 those persons licensed to receive deposits of money for safekeeping
are required to liquidate that part of their business not later than July 1,
In compliance with the requirements of the act, the issuance of
1932.
licenses to engage in business of this nature has been permanently disconAs of October 1, 1929 the latest date available, six persons were
tinued.
business
under licenses to receive money for safekeeping and transdoing
mission and eight persons under licenses for transmission only.
Under the
circumstances we have not attempted to make up any schedules of changes in
Massachusetts.
In regard to the other four states in this district, we have been unable
to find any record of private banks in the reports of the bank commissioners
or in the bankers' directories.
Yours tru

NDM:D

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

December 31, 1930,

Mr. H. 74 Bowser, Ilanager,
Financial ,:tatistics Dept.,
?ederal :Ieserve Bank of Boston,
Bosto1.1, MassachusettS.
)ear Mr. WW1':
Thank you for your *Letter of December 30th
euolosing the completed schedules on tables LI-e and
V—e Lcr:ether with the

or

,Aeets showing the grow?

afrro;ates on these forms for 1927.
Very tray yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Comaittee on .Branch,
Group and Chain Banking,

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A . YO U N G . GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W

WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER
K CARRICK, SECRETARY

KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ELLIS G. HULT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

DeceMber 3us 1930.

L.r. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Comnittee on branch, croup and
Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Ir. Riddle:
I am enclosing herewith the completed schedules
on your forms 1V-e and V-e together with the work
sheets showing the group aggregates on these same
forms jot /9.Z7
Yours very truly,

iomf-A,„
H. R. Bowser, 1..anager,
Financial Statistics Dept.

-vosaber 29, 1930,

1:42%, H. R. Bowser, Lanagor,
Financial ".;tatistios
Federal oserve Bare: of 30Stor,
Boston, Z.assaahusetts,
Dear Ilre
ilmeint is acknowledged of

our lottor of

Deoamber 26th ,,ddreased to Dr. Goldenneisor eholosing
the ooupletod forma 11-3, 3.4 and 3.8 relatinc to active
stat• bank'.
Vim truly yours,

.7„ N. aiddle
Oecretary, Couuittoe on.Branah,
Group and Main Banking,

•
•
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A.YOUNG.Govsnrion
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT,CASHIER
KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

CHARLES

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE sWEETSER

December 26,

hr. E. A. Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Committee on branch, Group
and Chain Banking,
Board,
eserve
Federal i-Washington, D. C.
Dear sir. Goldenweiser:In accordance with the instructions contained
in your letters of Novelaber 11\and November 19
I am enclosing, herewith, the completed forms
04weri state
B-3, 8-4 and B-8 relating to im44,
-oanks.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, Manager
Financial Sta .Astics Division

-ARB/s

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGE NT

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FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON

tP4

d's .;, tit‘
ce;
1'1
'4 V0'0
cf'

FREDERIC

ROY A.YOUNG.GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WI L LETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CUIRTItS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ELLIS G HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L.wALLACE sWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

December 24, 1930

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to your letter of November 15, 1930 in regard
to the changes in the number of banks since 1920, we
enclose reports from the bank commissioners of Rhode
Island, Massachusetts, Maine and Vermont. These are the
only reports we have 1.1 -1.ved to date.
Yours truly,

WDM:D
Enclosure

Charles F. GettemY,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

IIP
4

C

‘
*‘J,

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HULT

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

December 23, 1930.

Federal Reserve 13oard,
Li. E. A. Goldenueiser,
Chairman, Connittee on Branch,
Group & Chain Banking,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Li. Goldenweiser:
Referring to your letter of December 18 addressed
to Ir. Curtiss regarding the expense of the ingairy
on branch, group and chain banking, I have to say
With respect to the last paragraph that no expense
has been incurred or is contemplated for this work
for outside assistance, such as you state weuld be
borne by your committee.
Yours very truly,

C.

Charles F. Getteny,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

December 19, 1930.

Lr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, 7:assachusetts.
Dear :Ir. Curtiss:
In our letter of July 25, 1930, submitting the
schedule on suspensions you were re:niested to ask the state
banking departments to prepare a schedule for each suspena recent
sion from January 1, 1921, to June 30, 1930.
meeting of our Committee it was decided that the period
should be extended to the end of 1930 in order to bring
the information up to date and round out the full ten
year period. Therefore, we Should like for you to 11,_Ive
schedules prepared for the failures during the second
half of 1930, in addition to those which have been prepared or are being prepared in the states whose capitals
are located in your district.
Your bank or the various state banking departments will doubtless have on hand a sufficient supnly of
forms to cover the additional suspensions. If not, we
can make arrangements to supply them,
Very truly yours,

E. A. Goldenxeiser
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Pow`

Deoembrr 17• 1931.

Li*. Henry R. Bowser, btatirrAoal Dept..
77eserve Ban1 of Dorton,
3oston, Lanaachneetts.
:Toar 1:;r. '30-asert
In accordance with a telenhona oonversationiith
youf o i'floe LOW, we are eenitng yew herewith 30 additional
oopieL, of blank tables IV-. and 71044
Very truly yours,

J. H. 71iddle
;Aoretar:!„ Committee on.prahdh,
Group rnd Chain limrking.

j.,..1111•

Wow

1

Deoeiber 16, 1930,

Llr, Hour,- a. Bowser, "A"A'Anager,
2133Ano/el L'It atist les Division,
.i3,ieral Reserve Bank of Boston,
ston, seeable.ttse
Dear :.•,•r. Bowser*
7100eint 1&

a3,
:abtroied(md of :four letter of

December 17th with the enclosed completed tables
1`7.-o end 7.e together Ivith their work sheets for
tho z,,ear 1926.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Secretary, Oemattee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

•si
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF bOSTON
F REDERIC

ROY A, YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Dece her 17, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:I am enclosing herewith the completed tables,
IV-e, showing the typical operating rates
I am also
and also the group aggregates.
enclosing Tables V-e, together with the tables
of aggregates for that Schedule.
Very truly yours,

/04Se.
Henry R. Bowser, kanager
Financial Statistics Division

ERB/S

December 11, 1930.

Er. Frederic H. Mutts's,
Federal ROSIMVO Agent,
J.4deral Reserve Bank of Boston,
30ston, Massaohusettse
Dear lir. Curtiss:
In tabulating the data reported on the suspension sohedUlee by the varioas states it is apparent
that in the ease of certain items the material reported
is not unifeno far all states, and that for purposes of
comparison an explanation of What is included is needed.
This is true of sections 7, 8, 9 and 10. Would it be
possible to secure the following infOrmation for each
state in your district which has prepared or is prenaring suepension sohedulesi
(1) The statutory priority of lien of the
various types of deposits in each state
(2) Precisely what type or types of deposits
are rePorted on the suspension schedules
as (a) secured, (b) preferred and
(c) general
The sohedules ask for reports on deposit claims
only, but in case other claims love been included by any
state this fact should be stated, and the information requested above Mhould likewise be farnish(d for these
other
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
Seoretary, CouLlittee on Brandh,
Group and Chain Banking.

Desember 11* 1930.

lir. H. R. Boner, Basager,
Financial 3tatistios Division,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Haseadbusetts.
Dear

Browser:

Receipt is aehmeeledged of your letter of
December 11th enol sing revised copies of your tables
to, 11-e and 111-e for the years 1926, 1927, and 1928
and also the originals of these tables for the year
1929*
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle
6ecretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

a•

••

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER

FREDERIC

KRICKEL. K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F

3,Y- k .CS

I-e,

ia

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGE NT

19L6, for

I

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ad

i

lallc

ay.• lysis on
year 1,:.

Clso

Gr-P.1y

:o)..1-s•

lienry R. i3aw3er, :LInaer
iinricial ;Statistics lAiision

December 5, 1930,

Mrs It. 7, Bowser, Manager,
rinanoia1 Statistic's Division,
Pederal rieservo Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear ::r, Bowser:
In aostordanoe with the telepiione convorsction
with :your offioe we *re sen -inc ;an herewith 12 additi'ma1

eaoh of tnblee 1-e, II-e and
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
3eoretar7, Committee on Branch,
Group an:LL Main Banking

&lc

Decomber 3, 1350.

kir. H. R. Bowser, Wurp,er,
Financial 3tatistics
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Esseachasetts,
Dear Air. Bcrvsers
.leoeipt is adimowledged of your lei:ter of Mereseher 26th raising
the question as to what institut -Lons s3lou1d be included as 2rivnto baaizS
for the pur_uses of the studies outlinod in our letters of ROvember 11th
and November 19th.
Private banks, for purnoses of our wttutr are nnincor?ornted Anus,
partnerships, or individuals engnged primaray in the receipt of demand deposits and the making of collinercial loans. Suoh activities pit thea in the
same field as state and national banks. This definition excludes investment
houses 1ie J. P. Uorgen, and Brown Bros., and brokerage houses like E. A.
Piero*, the assumption be!rig that thoegh they ney accept deposits and make
etion to to sc.
eammeroial loans it is not their prtmary
Praotteelly speaking, it may be necessary in the absence of .inforhnation whicheould enable As to base our clabsifieation on the above definition to *wept as private bnmks those concerns that are so re:sorted by the
comnissioner of banks and/Or by :Land IlaNalbres Bankers* Directory. In some
states, of course, the oommissioner cnr be of no help, sinco he ta:ms no
cognisance of private banks. The Hankers, Directory, therefore, is probably
the best general souroe,
e for branches of forein bank, it is our opinion that they
should be included as state banks only her they are engaged in the typical
banking functions of receiving local depolAts and wiling local commercial
loans.
Liorris Plan and cooperative banks, as Indicated in the second paragraph (State Bank!) of oar memol-andum of November 5th entitled Sauk Changes-Definition of Terms, are not to be included in our state bank statistics. 7A
plan to consider them as a distinct type of institution.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branoh,
Group and Chain Banking.

/
Office Correspondence
FOPEre416.7-T81

TO

Mr. Fammond

From _

Yr. vorbett

FEDERAL RESERVE
BOARD

to•
Date_ December 1, 1930

Subject:Definition of "private banks" etc.

•

2-849:

Under the "Definition of Terms" given in the Committee's memorandum of
November 5, we are practically committed to the same definition for every state,
regardless of the fact that the banking departments in the several states may or
may not consider a given institution as a "bank" -- either private or state.
Bowever, there would be some advantage to haling the banking department report.
changes in all those classes of banks that are regularly included in the state
1.1MOIMmliosslii•••••r•

um••••••••••••.110

banking department abstrac5. In other words if the abstract covering private
]
ban'gm issued by the Bank Commissioner of Connecticut regularly includes so-called
i

-*/01.0.11••••11•1.

"Italian banks" any changes that have taken nlace in the list of such barks
^orhars ought to be reported.

Such changes would not necessarily have to be

used in the Committee's final compilation, but it would make it possible to more
readily reconcile with the state banking department abstracts.
The same thing &Polies, of course, to Morris Plan banks, cooperative banks,
American branches of foreign bank5and institutions such as Brown Brothers and
J. P. Morgan and Company.

In some states Morris Plan banks are nothing more or

less than cooperative loan institutionsbut in some other states, for example in
Virginia, where I believe the Morris Plan originated, they have a wider field of
ooeration.
it...tracticable to do so,I think the best thing to do would be to have
bhe bank commissioner report separately co these "peculiar" classes of banks.
This ittd- enable us in the final analysis to either exclude them or include them,
and in the meantime it would assist in the reconcilement of the reported data.
The number of these snecial cases is probab

very small and it will make

little practical differenceiv

4

et-

,/,//

.06.--OLe /t..."...".•-•1

,..-e_ i-ek.e--if et.t.....--)„
•

-`"-lnctions rernilarly e:-.ercised

t:h.,7"`"

recci.:-/t o.

and

of coIrnercial loans, diau. are exaLlined

by the banking commissiof,er.

e)etA.it.

ea
'
t
orris Plan lx.:3,;.6
-

oc,rative ban7kL, credit unio :3, etc., are

not to be counted -rith state banks, since their function is not commercial ba.nking.:.
:Ae the second -oarar:Ta?-)11, ( -tate Ba ::s, etc.) of the -Join. memo of irovember 5, 19•,,O,
entitled"Bank Chanes

:)c-finitiof, of c2erras."

;..rc

riv..:te

0

Tr°

°hart r,
in lir LA:.,..ite

i

ic,L it LI

i. o.,

rtioa1

sc

:n1117 of ooi:Lic=r-.;itl
.
:Mon .ec

tri

L'ierce, tiouji the::
fun.3 ',: ion to
-.7h0 SO

--).C:i..,1f.-i,rsyr

i,1::.7' ''',c;ceT)t

171/T1C :1 21.0-21 1._

, t
Ell:

e

1.0'11: ,11. i- :.',o,. ..cir - ).'Lli:-;:_r7r
of
Igit
t ,
so e:.o,1 u. e . :o :- .::i .-,:.• L )ezli_:.,_ - •
N

(e)oL.1t3 Hnd .,.%,-,-:

do so. ?Tr;(e fi -11 it ion

i

1)?-1_

December le 1930.

Lr. lharlos F. Oettspy,
Assistant Federal Reserim ATento
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Maseachaeette.
lear 11r. Oettenys
rn rearense to your letter of Horamber 28th
wo are sending you herewith 40 additional oopies of
foss Ap-3 fOr the USO of the Bank Coaraisaionor of rains.
Very truly yours,

Secretary. ouguittes on , Brundh.
Group and Chain Banking.

Boso.

November 29, 1900

Li'. Charles IN Gettemy,
Asst, Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Behkof Boston,
Boston, Llassadhuebtts.
Dear 111r. Gettemy:
In accords:me with your letter of rovember 25, we are
sending you herewith 12 'additional copies of Foam A4.

Very truly yours,

Ems.

.71 HI Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Gram And abain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

FREDERIC

WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HULT

ERNEST M

HOLUS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGEN1

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on T3rAnch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Illashini;ton, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
In connection mith your study regardin,s tne cllanges
in the number of banks since 1920, the Bank Commissioner
of Maine has asked us to send him about fortv adAttionel
copies of Form A3.
Will you kindly send us forty of these forms so that we
may comply with his request.
Yours truly,

Charles F. Gettei,
Assistant Federn1 Reserve Agent.

01•

6•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A.YOUNG.GovERNoR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOF2
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

FREDERIC

H. CuRTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL [RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

aoldenwciser,
_r. L.
Chairan, Co:aiittee
'Group and Chain 'ankiL,...;,
.-e 77!ord,
Federal 1- e.:;er.shington, 1- C.
Derr

. Goldenweiser:-

.c,:ference to the tel(;2!
your office yesterday we are writing to outline the
questions raised in order that you may rule as to what
banks shall be included as private banks for the
purposes of the studies outlinld in yLy_Lietter of
November Wand of Noyamber 19.N
In i'liasachusetts the 73ank Com(1) Italian Banks:.
.Hlssioner does not include Italian banks, .11 ,/ing listed them
as "Institutions for safe-keeping of savinLs deposits and for
On the other hand, the Bank Comtheir transmission abroadl
rlissoner of Connecticut does include Italian banks suaong
ii.re they to be included in your study?
private banks.
The Massa(2) American Branches of Foreign Bankss
chusetts Bank Co,r7.7i.ssionor includes the local branch of the
Bank of Nova Scotia as a state bank. Do you wiI!.! us to get figures of the Bank of Nova Scotia for your pur2ase/
Shall these be
(3) 1.1orris Plan and Co-operative Banks:
For your information cooperative
included in your study?
banks in Massachusetts are of a different charater from those
in any other state of which I know, being more nearly comparable
Massachusetts
to the usual building and loan associetioh.
cooperative banks do not receive deposits, their liabilities
being in the form of shares owned by custorers rather than deposits.
We trust that you can let us know as soon as possible
V:lat, if any, of these banks you gish included in these
studies.
Very truly yours,

Henry h. Bowser, Lanager
Financial Statistics Division
HRB/S

a•

4.

FEDERAL RESERVE

BANK

OF BOSTON
FRE:DERIC

ROY A YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WI L LETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

WILLIAM

ALLEN

HULT

CURTISS

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G

H

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

L WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

f. E. A. Gol.7;ommittee on
Tederal Reser-;
. :ashington, D.
.
DrIr Sir:
Referrins to your
17.irld1y send us a fe.::
summary of chances
since 1920.

C?

-

.;e, received only four copies oi,7 this form wi.th your ?ethnr
- nd there are six states in this
- 1 -.
Yours truly,

Charles F. GetteH,
Assistant Federal T).eserve AL:ent.

•

6•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR \
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

November 22, 1930.

Federal Reserve Board,
Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Connittee on Branch Banking,
Washington, D. C.
Dear 1LT. Goldemveiser:
Receipt is acknowledge of your letter of November 18,
with enclosed forms relating to changes in the number
of active private banks since 1920. This matter will
have our prompt attention.
Very truly yours,

C.

Charles F. Gettemy„
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

•

•
•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W

WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CAPRICE, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

November 21, 1930.

Federal Reserve Board,
Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Er. Goldenweiser:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of november 19,
addressed to Er. Curtiss, enclosing supplementary forms
for use in classifying banks in connection with your
investigation. This will have our proper attention.
Very truly yours,

C.

Charles F. Getteny,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A.YOUNG.GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL

FREDERIC

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

November 19,

Mr. J. h. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Bra eh,
Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Deer Sir:I am writing you for r. Baw.:r,
,
requesting
you to send me at least 66 more copies each
of"Tables IV e and V e of Earnings Project'!
As but 18 copies were enclosed in your letter
of November 12,N the number sent was insufficient.
Thanking you in advance, I wra
Very truly yours,

Harold 1. Pearson
Financial Statistics Division

rederio H. Curtiss,
dra1es re Agent,
Federal BOOSITI Bank Of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts,
-)ear ,r, Jartles:
Iv. our letter of Noveuber 11th we outlined a proposal
ter elaself0mg the banks of the eountry aceording to wise of
leens end ineeetmeets end according to else of *spite' stock.
in older to oompasmost that data it emcee desirable to *MO en
additional classification, that is, according to the site of
the tones or cities in which the banks aro lotted. Awar6.
ingRy we have prqpared ftnd are enclosing two additional forme,
B-89 MI 2Af, for classifying state and private banks awarding
to topelation ea three differont dates; June 30., 1920# Nob
30, 192d; emd Jame 30, 1930. In woordanee with previous
preetlee yea are requeeted to compile this infornation ter
the banks in those states those capitals lie within yonr
district,
?or 1920 end 1930 the omens fiares of ),yrIlation
Should be used. The detailed 1930 norm for about half of
tile states have A1rea4y been eloopistod, sod it is lurtersoold
that by the end of December the figures for all etato6 mAo4141
be
bp nvaillble. or 1925 the Bunkers Direotory will have to
relied'upon.
Very truly yours.

E. A. Goldenweleer,
Ohairolan, Comittee on Branch,
Group and Jhain Banking.

)

MOmember 18, 1930,

Mr. Frederio R. Owasso
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve 3ank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear lotro, Onzatiaas
in our letter of Noveaber 15th!we made a raw:meet for info
tien to be r)rocared frma the stet, banking comaissioners on ohan7;es it
the =saber of state hanks sine. 1920. in order to eappiement that data
avid maks the study More somplete, it seems desireble to 4et sixties jrfoiatt an ahanges in the number of private banks. It may be neoeRsary, however, /to the Reserve !tank itself to compile the greater v.
of these data for the Ammo that in rammy states the eonaissionerv haw
no ampt3r7so7•1. Wier' prirnto banks at all, and in others they
partial uvorionik The unsatisfactory nature of available f
on private bents IA., be indicated by the fast that the Omptro:
the Currency reports $91 as of June 29, 1929, vier/see the Rankers.
Dirootolv for Zaumm??,- 19no shoes GU. nom in states where the eon.
missiwIer has eapirtLsien, the number of private banks reportrd is &LA
times only half the =Ober Chown in the Blemben* Direstory. in spite of
soh disorepeneies, however, it is appereat from a cursory eawaimition
of the available SoarmOS that private banks are almost always small in6;;.t.ttione, and that they hems been deedieing very rapidly in nuaiber and
in relative importune.
The asemdtte0 believes that statisties of this destine should
be aseerabled, and is maim the request that seek Federal Reserve bank
omplio, or have emeenede the flemres for theme States ehose-espitals
lie within its dietriet ter the pertod frma 1910 throe. 1930. Isms
A-4 and MI5 medal if Al& are @inland, have lees prepared for this
pu...7001; Amid to Ober the enanagr of chomps, and Amd to give the supporttag data for soft look moktogaohaoso. tidies there is better
1117ornIntion in year files or readily procurable free the state cam*
MIRSiclillw145, the Deleherel Dtmoor7? 04v be alai as the basis of '
.1!. understand, of
'4)01 Inman:, eases all the 1
mat ion called for on 7Ois A.N6mill not be ay-Inane, lose law,
should like to
wise
at least the nnno or names of the llamas
involved in the change.
The Definition of Tones aent rou with our lottrr of November 15th, 1930, in oo!neoticm with the Yc.1.4 of state bank chews
mA7 be folluwed in principle for private ban;cs, The term goonsolii.
dation" will apply to the absorptioh 02 a private bnnk by a state

• .4.1.

111.

1

=-

Frio If,.Ourtiee

sit

liorember 18, 19#0.

or national bank, as -min as to the =ion of one private brtn% itth anOthinn
and
-.1-terc a 'private batf.: 1c
rifl
6.-.14. the tor;
•,•qthout uiion vrith another bank oontimee its business trador stets or
I;ationtl o141-;rtor.
7ery truly yours,

no

A. GO1C-OnWeiler.

1.rerro and ,7hain 31011-171

X-Ene•

Ilre Henry 71. Bowser,
?inPnoial :tatistios
Reserve
Boston, UassaohusettL„.
Dear lir. Bowser;
We have reoeived your letter Of November 17th
lith tbe enclosed tables I-e,

and III-e el:tiering

the year 1928 for the ste.VF or parts of states 7lithin
your district.
Very traly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Seoretary, Committee on•Brenoh.
group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR

FREDERIC

W

WILLIAM

PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

WILLIAM

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

I,ovember

1:Ir. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch
Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Air. Riddle:Pursuant to the instructions contained in your
letL:er of October 10.1 take pleasure in enclosing
another instalment of our tables of analysis
This group of tables covers
of bank earnings.
the calendar year 1928.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, iAanager
Financial Statistics Division

BRB/S

re rreerio kl.Uurtiss.

Federal Reserve •%gent,
?scleral Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, nassaohusetts.
Dear Lire Ciu•ties:
Me are seeding; yon herewith an outline of a ctr
resorting the obemaos In the =ober of banks since 1920
ableh the 1orialttee on Braneh, Group and Chain Banktnc hrs
prepared as a part of its investigation of honking 'omentration in the United _tates, The figures reo.rdir
in national banks have already been compiled as silo_
attached forms and it is the desire of the Committee to
'Diet° this study by getting corresponding summaries of c
s
The enclDsed material is
in the number n
u...ttti. t you for.Tird it to the Bank—
explanatory, an:,.
ing Commissioners of the states whose cadita.ls are in your
district and ask than to give us the infonnation indicated,
The forms for their use in compiling this information are
being sent to you under separate cover„
The period covered by
year 1930, but it is our desire
-'o !--.
e'-•
-n,
:e..:
Hie
•
,*()
.
1:
t
.- 7ithout
added as soon aL .)oL;sible

the inquiry includes the
that the m'Iterial for nrior
soon as .os:,-L110
to 1:
";)e lattc,r
11rPs.
0 t -c 770 r.
t

42-v12

/du

a•
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT'

17

November 14, 1930.

Mr, J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Cannittee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of November 12, 1930,
addressed to Mr. Curtiss, together with a supply of forms for
use in tabulating information in connection with earnings.
Please be assured
attention.

that this matter will receive our prompt

Very truly yours,

Xdp,f/f,
Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

e•

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

H. CURTISS
CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L . WALLACE SWEETSER

November 14, 1930.

Mr. E. A. Goldenweiser, Chairman,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Goldenweiser:
Receipt is acknowledged of your letter of November 11, 1930,
addressed to Mr. Curtiss, with reference to certain information
desired in connection with the investigation of branch, group
and chain banking, together with copies of forms for use in this
connection.
I assure you that this matter will have our prompt attention.
Very truly yours,

g

ikkeal*://Y144K

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

November

1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agmnt„
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts,
Dear Mr, Curtiss:
We are sending you herewith a supply of Tables
IV-. and V-e which are to be used in further tabulating
informatioL camoiled in connection with the earnings
project outlined to you in our letter of August 11th.
There is also enclosed a memorandum on the method of
filling ant these tables.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Manatee on Branch,
Group and Muds Healleg,

latGu
4.-„/

November 11, 1930,
la*, Frederic
Curtiss,
Federal Deserve Agent,
Federal Neserve Bank of Boston,
Deetens Nassachasetts,
Dear lir. CurtisOf
In oomneetien with its various investigations the Conmittee an
Bnaadh, Croup amd Chain Neaktag finds it essential to have the banks of
the oountry olassified Seeerding to else of loans and investaento and
according to size of capital stook4 This information is neoesmary in
the study of banking coaseatration, as well as for oomparison* in the study
of failures and in the development of branch banking, Accordingly a set of
blank tables has been prepared for making theme elaseifications of state and
private banks on three different date*, June 30, 1920, June 30, 1925, and
Jens 80, 1230. Copies of these forms, which are labelled
3-4, B.6,
and
are enel,sed herewith and the Committee would like for you.,to have
this information oompiled for thobe etatee whose capitals lie within your
distriot, A suppl of these form is beilw forwarded to you under eeparate
°over.
In classifying the state banAs you oan probably use the reports
of the state banking deparbeents or oven *sear* direetly the aesistanne
of these departments, If, however, it beoomes neeessary in aPY 0a90 tO
use the Bombers Direatory for this material, you ean doubtless first get
from the beuedng department a list of all the homes it the state an the
speeitied dates in oilier that your totals msy agree with the offieial
rewords, As to the private banks, the information may be moaewhat more
difficult to compile exempt where they are under the supervieion of the
state eousissoner of banking, in other states, of course, the Bankers
Directory will have to be relied uoon.
inin determining what itmas shoald be inoltsied in loan:,
articles
in
follow
the
given
you
instructions
vestnents we saggest that
- enclosed,
1 to 4 inetastve of the Board's Form 105a, a copy of which 16
various
throe
the
treatment
at
the
dates
in
This will insure unite=
states,
Very truly yours,

Goldenweiser,
Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain BanAftng„
lt,'no.
`61
-4f-

/4_1.0

Kovejlo:

Li., aeries F. Gette4y.
Aktiaistant ?ederal .2eborrn
bat,
o,llostaa,
Pedoral _20;:orhro
Boson, i411:41.r.43111VS0 t a.
Dear Mr„ Gotteuys
Wo reeolved your leTter of November 3rd with
the one/sod answers to tbe questionmaire on brunet
banking from tbs followiugs
Zadeetr113. Trust Company, Provilonce,
Augusta Trost Co., Augusta, mail,s
Fidelity Trust Oa., Portland, Atlas
Tory truly goers,

J. Rip Biddle,
leoretsry, Gement*, on'Brach,
Group and naln 3ankin3.

••

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch,Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to Mr. Curtiss' letter of October 2Aand
your reply of October 22,\ I enclose answers to the
questionnaire on branch banking by the following banks:
Industrial Trust Co., Providence, R. I.
Augusta Trust Co., Augusta, Maine
Fidelity Trust Co., Portland, Me.
We have sent a second set of forms to the Merrill Trust
Company of Bangor, Maine, and we have hopes of receiving
a reply from them.
Yours truly,

WDM:D
Enclosures

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Age

Ootooer 31, 193C.

Mommy R. Bowser, ;,lanaser,
Financial Aatistios Dirision,
Federal Reserve Ban% of Boston,
Boston, v.assachntetts.
Dear air. lower*
19s reoeilred your letter of or
the emolosed tAbliws I-e. II0411 and II1-e oontaining
data on bank earnings for the years MU and 1927.
Very truly yours.

J. 141 R$44144

eloretegrY. Osanittee on tram'
Groap and akin Sinking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
ROY A.YOUNG.GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K CARRICK, SECRETARY

FREDERIC

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

E LLIS G HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

October 29, 1930

1,.r. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
GroUp & Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear kr. Riddle:Pursuant to the request contained in
the second paragraph in your letter under
date of October 10\I al:1 enclosing, herewith,
the tables covering our analysis of bank
earnings for the years 1926 and 1927. The
tables covering 1928 and 1929 will be sent
to you as soon as the work on those two
years is completed.
Very truly yours,

Henry R. Bowser, ,c,ianuger
Financial Statistics Division

_

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,74 II ldinn,
;Alorota.ry, Uomilltec On Branoh,
(.7,-roup tut; Muth, Ilart3err.

t•

010

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS
CHAIR MAN

October 20, 1930

Mr. J. H. Biddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Gr,)up and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D.C.

Dear Mr. Riddle:
I have your favor of the 11th asking for a report of the
progress that is being made on the questionnaires sent out
at the request of your committee.
As yet, we have had only one
questionnaire returned on branch banking; group banking and suspensions
have been concluded, and we expect to have the schedule on earnings
about December 15.
I have hesitated to follow up the question—
naire which we sent out to the banks in this district having branches
as the three banks that have not reported are not members of the
reserve system.
If you think it advisable for me to follow
up these non member banks, I shall be glad to do so.
Yours very truly,

%/4
4

Federal Reserve Agent.
FHC/D

4

Ootober 20, 1930.

Mr. Frederio H. Curtiss,
Federal a/1MM Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Lassechusetts,
Dear Mr. Curti ass
In Oonneotion with "2..b1e II-e which was submitted
to you with

CArs- tettOr

of October 10th., the question has

been raised as to what poper.tion figures shou1d be used
in olassiAying the Gomnunitles in w7riich banks are located.
We feel that tbr our purpose the polulation figures fo.
year will be suffioiont to .11alas the olassifications for
of the faux years. *:,Te siAmist, therefore, that you

USG

the

population 214-;ares given in the Janu:11Ty 1928 edition of

IIand MoNallyos Brankersi Director,.
Very truly yours.

J. H. Riddle,
Seoretary„ Goussittee on•Bra),(-Group and Chain Banking.

October 11* 1930.

air.Frederic as Onrtise,
Federal Reserve Agent*
- 06ton*
3
Federal Reserve Bari-,:
kaseachnsetts.
Boston*
Dear Mr. eagles*
At the reeemt Conference of Governors amd Agents
it was suggested that the Committee on Brought Group and
Chaim Banking mane an estimate of the tine whim its report will be smihnitted. To do this it is meesseary to
hive reports from the Federal reserve banks as to the
status of infemestion whieh they are empiting or having
compiled for the Committee amd an estimate as to the time
Amen **may expect this infinmation. Will you be good
snaps% therefore, to *hookup en the work in your distrlet and give no an estimate as to whoa the materiel
being prep/trod or collected on the foilautag subjects
will be completed:
Vim" WOW (quest i mire)
Group baskhig
Susponsiame
Earnings.
Very truly yours,

J. H. RIAU,
Secretary* Coamittee cii
Group and Chain Banking.

October 10, 1930,
Mr. Borbett
Mr.Hammond

On the basis of infonnation you gave us after oheokr.
ing over the original list of SuiponSions schedules for the
Boston Distriet, we asked the latter about the following:
George 2, Anastoo--Boston
li!ttore 2orts

Suspended 2A1/21
7/1
1 1/21
"
7/7P1
7/1S/21

With reepeot to these the Boston sank reports as follower
"The Maseachmidts Bank Ca.;taissionerts office advises us
that the concerns listed are not considered. to be private
hanks, The; are simply individuals 77ho are licensed to
receive rilnev 7''or safe keeoiniT and tranailission abroA..9
With respect to the Shelton 3ank and Trust Corvam, Shalt.
Connootilut, cuspended Jarr 1, 1q71, P F1,11111a711 ,1 11, 11P'
77)1-Dne 1. 77
r-cJilyned to
Y:th rospec!:, to
H-vn_
3o -s,
1922, no Boston 3ank inform
q2ile an 00Ami lone r aavises us that Ax.701
of New Hpven wetro private bankers and thrit at
the suspension private banks were rot under the snperv
of his department, and th,..t 4e is umblO to fa'7.n1.7,
Jan°

.
47n rDr: i011 i-!1 l'egaru_

"

October 10, 1930,

ir Frederis U. Curtiss,
Federal Buena Amid,
?ederal Beseree Balked' Beaton,
Boston, lisseeskeeette,
Dear 14r, Ourtisas
Enclosed please find °ogee of three table!i Ie, /1st
and Ines for use in gesuping lailemeatian cenpiled on the "analrale of Bank Wangs" blanks sent you With our letter of August
11th. A supply of thees tables 18 beteg feenesdiel to you uuder
separate eo7,1 -41, A eopy of ea* taide Ahmed be prepared for
each state or fraction of a state Lajmnedistolot for soak
of the four years. These tables eall for. prima plepli4
Of _banks acoording to the rate of net profits on invested
capital and then regroupings aseoritag to the stabs.
It is re•Nebted that you semi tolls theme tables for
*salt pow se you finish thee Atheist yenta for the ocuplitien
Of the 'Melo project as this will enable is to begin rtrriewing
the materlal. The srowbog of the Mao as the boils of net
loss or net pleat to torootst solit4 shoild be bept In that
form for a thee, if possible, aim Shall sued you presontly
•toblf, fora far presenting the hrpieel operating ratios of
teaks marding to this grouping, The ovilioal forms on which
yo• here worked out the reties der the iritiritanl banks tholld,
ofemorse, be rotolood at your tanks
Intay testy years,

J. E. MP%
Soemstesy, esmoittoo on Drualk,
Mop out Moto Butalog,
A-11no,

•

(0

Catcher 9* 1950,

Kr. Oharies P. aettesw*
Assistant Federal Reserve Amato
•
Poisral Reserve Beak of hoefea,
Bastes* Ilitessehmsetts.
Dear Kr* Cettoirt
This ie to asioselake with Waft jeer lat,
ter of October ith:smelesiwit tat gasilletten adwege
Midi out for the theltam leak awl Twist Osersmr, Shelton*
Oesommotiost. ma to eekeewledal year aglismstion that the
other soepeastosmo set reported at axe these Of privet,
souserms for which the commissioner has so data,

Texv truly yours.

J. Bo Addle*
lieerstaxy, Committee as Bramoh,
Grew mod Mamba Nokia&

Ootobor 9, 1930.

IMA.r1;.-s
7,-ettelt::,
,.1-,s1stant Peder,31 .41serve A e
- nt,
7.1sorye 3Ar•.,-. of 3oston,
.umsL;r., :::assachusetts.
,3411 t e"TT

t 17^
aind6 out r07.
Iornor.j_
()the r
(n71,
:e'vrnis _!'or

to '
,,,,kowelod:e ;Tith thafksyciar_1::4 enelosinG the suspension sehe..1Hair;--;;Ilolton 3an,c. and. ..riut ja4paw,
t nelcnowled.ge yytr explannt
11.0 t reported cm aro those of
IN? conissIonor has no :lata.

7,rfrt," ond

r3ocrlittee
Bftatid.ng,

;
,v3

•
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR

WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER
K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

KRICKEL

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

October 6, 1930

Mr. C. B. Hammond,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Referring to y_21.1y letter_el eptember 22, 1930 in regard to
suspended banks, we encloses form which has been filled out
by the bank commissioner of Connec cut for the Shelton Bank
and Trust Company, Shelton, Connect cut.
'-dkrt Ad'," de
The bank commissioner advises us that Angelo Porto and Sons
of New Haven were private bankers and that at the time of the
suspension private bankers were not under the supervision of
his department and that he is unable to furnish any information
in regard to this firm.
You also inquired about four individuals in Boston.
The
Massachusetts bank conmissioner's office advises us that the
concerns listed are not considered to be private banks. They
are simply individuals who are licensed to receive money for
safekeeping and transmission abroad.
Yours truly,

WDTI:D

r

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

September 25, 1930,

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
ftderal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Laaeaohnsette,
Dear Mr. (Partials
In Sommeetioa, with the earnings project of
the Committee as imemeh, group and Chain RanIring trans.
anted to yea with oar letter of August 11th, one of
the reserve hefts has made seas suggestions with reference to the beetling Of megativ• items, stitch are in
aceord with idiot we dams to he sealed practice in this
respest, and we are asseadially passing them along to
you for 3rour inibraittien sot gaidanee.
Vagy truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Coomittee on Branch,
Gregg end Chain Making.

September 22, 1930,

Mr. Oharles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, lYiassachusetts.
"ly dear :,1r. Gettemy:
This is to acknowledge your letter Of the ejalttegnith.---•
with its enclosure oC reports on—iaspended banks from all of
the states in your district except .thode Island.
de have checked over the list of suspended banks
maintained by the Division of Bank Operations and find the
following7 sispensions of private banks recorded by them for
which no reports were sent in by the Commissioner:
George "?. Anastos--Boston
It
Ettore Forte
Pantalione Mercurio It
It
K. S1')bodkin, Inc.

Suspended 2/21/21
7/5/21
tt
7/7 21
it
7/1S/21

We find that the Division of Bank Operations also
has the names of the following banks in Connecicut for which
no report was received:
Shelton Bank & Trust Co.—Shelton
Anc;elo :Porto & Sons—New Haven

Sus-)ended 1/3k1
6/.2/22

We should be obliged if you would check this up with
respectively and inform us of the outcome of
Commissioners
the
your inquiry.
Very truly yours,

Hammond,
For the Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

*•
.73-'01\ 1. 1:Z. Pia,TS ER.

S1:1-

r,1 <-7

r'7

ber

1

c,..forrinr to r. oldenweiseris letter of September 17th4rerarding pro-Tress of the study of oarninrs of member barjcs in connection -7-ith the
federal Reserve Cornittee on Branch Group and Chain Banking.
hope to
are progressinr with that study as reri-11- as possible.
'ave it com-leted during the latter part of 'ovember and in order to achave borro'red a temporary clerk from the Transit Donartomplish t
eon at work with us for about u month. In adZition, we
,ent, who ha
have taL-en on one full time, nermanont, additional employee in the demert-ent, in order to make ossible the handlinr of thgse freQuest requests
'rom the Federal Reserve Board.
Asregards the instructions accompanying tr. aoldenweiscr', letter, we
have been following the same method as outlined therein. An additional
instance where we have eliminated banks, was in the case of several bpi-Ors
where we have found that on account of a reorganization or the obtainin:
of a new charter, the earninrs reports cover only a fractional period.
For example, - a couple of cases recently care to light -there a bank filcC,
a complete report covering the first six months, but obtained a new charter during the latter port of the second half year. Consequently, the
earnings report for the second half year covered only the few weeks intervening between the 1-antinr of the new charter and the end of the year,
thus eliminating in each case several months between July 1st and the date
of the new charter.

Approved

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR

WILLIAM

W

WILLIAM

WILLETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K

CARRICK, SECRETARY

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G
L

HULT

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGE NT

September 13, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch, Group
and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to your letter of July 25, 1930Am regard to
the analysis of bank suspensions since the beginning
of 1921, we enclose reports received from the bank
commissioners of all of the states in this district
except Rhode Island.
There have been one or two suspensions in Rhode Island
but the bank commissioner has had some doubt as to his
authority to give out the details.
He has promised
to write us a letter, however, but we have not yet
received it.
Yours truly,

AdAvil
idr
WDM:D

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

41)

•

COPY

THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
.
4.m.....011.11.slisorii••••••••••
01 1110

OFFICE OF THE
COMMISSIONER OF BANKS
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON

September 16, 1930

Mr. William D. McRae, Manager
Department of Examination
Federal Reserve Bank
30 Pearl Street,
Boston, Massachusetts
Dear Mr. McRae:
I have had completed, questionnaires regarding
bank suspensions which you sent me in your letter of
September 12.
There are only two bank suspensions since the
beginning of 1921.
I trust you will find them in order and please
accept the apology of the department for having misplaced
the sheets previously sent to us.
If we can be of further service to you do not
hesitate to call upon us.
Very truly yours,

Arthur Guy
Deputy Commissioner of Banks

COPY

4111

STATE OF CONNECTICUT.
BANK COMMISSIONER

August 20, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtfcs,
Chairman, Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Mass.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
We enclose herewith data concerning bank suspensions
in this state since 1921. You will note that our suspensions have been
confined to private bankers, and , while the information we have given
is not in all cases complete, we trust that it will be sufficient to
serve you

purpose.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) L. E. Shippee,
Commissioner.

BANKING DEPARTIEUT

OF AUGUSTA

AUGUSTA,MAINE
•••••i••••••••1
0

August 1, 1930

Frederic H.Curtiss, Chairman,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
We have your letter of July 29 and enclose data on
banks which have failed in this State since Januaryl, 1921. Under
the Maine statute liquidation of banks is handled entirely by the
Courts, so that detailed information would have to be compiled from
records in the Court. However, I trust that data which we are sending
will be sufficient for your purposes.
In regard to the cause of failure would say that in
the case of the Lincoln County Trust Company control of tIds bank was
acquired by Burgess Lang, and Company of Boston, and this company proceeded to cause the funas of the institution to be invested in unsound
loans and securities. Failure of the Waldo Trust Company was caused in
a similar manner after control of the bank had been acquired by Norman
H. White.
Yours very truly,
(Signed) Sanger N. Annis,
Bank Commissioner.

SNiVN

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE
BANK COMMISSIONER

August 1, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss, Chairman,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Massachusetts.

Dear Mr. Curtiss:
I am forwarding you, in reply
to your letter of July 29th, a statement of the two
suspensions since Jan. 1, 1921, in New Hampshire; and
I trust the information contained therein will supply
the information desired.

Yours very truly,
(Signed) Arthur E. Cole
Bank Commissioner.

411

COPY
STATE OF VERMONT
DEPARTMENT OF BANKING AND INSURANCE
MONTPELIER.

July 31, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss, Chairman,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Sir:We are enclosing herewith report on closed
banks as requested in your letter of the 29th instant.
Trusting that this will furnish you with the
desired information, I am,
Yours truly,
(Signed) R. C. Clark,
Commissioner.

•
•

•
•

FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD
WASH I NGTON
ADDRESS OFFICIAL CORRESPONDENCE TO
THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD

September 17, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
In connection with the earnings project of the
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking we have been
asked to rule on certain points with respect to the elimination of banks from a particular year's compilation because
of suspension, consolidation, or the like. We are enclosing for your information and guidance a mimeograph of the
points raised and our replies thereto.
We trust that the project is moving smoothly at
your bank and Shall be glad to be advised of its progress.
Very truly yours,

04
0'
0
A. G4 denweiser, Chairman
Commit so on Branch, Group
and Chain Banking.

Enc.

:•)

Federal Reserve Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking
September 17

1930

In connection with the earnings project outlined to the Federal Reserve
Agents in the letter of August 11th, this Committee has been asked to rule on the
following points:
"Shall we attempt to make an analysis for periods of less than one year, as
for example (a)

Where one or more call reports for the year are missing, or where
one earnings and expense report is missing, because of organization,
suspension, consolidation, etc., within the year.

(b)

Where all condition and earnings reports are in our files, but
where the bank was organized between January 1 and the first call
date.

"In the case of consolidations between national banks, will it be advisable
to make up our figures for the consolidated bank for the year in which the consolidation occurred by combining the reports submitted by the bank after consolidation with the reports of both banks prior to consolidation."
To the above the Committee replied as follows:
"In cases of organization or suspension of a national bank where a twelve
months' earnings record is not available, the bank in question should be excluded
from the particalar year's compilation. However, in cases where a bank is suspended for a short period only, and you deem its earnings figures representative
of a year's activity, the bank cauldbe retained. Moreover, when a national bank
is absorbed by a state bank, it will also be necessary to omit it for that year,
since a twelve months' earningsrecord is unavailable. On the other hand, When a
national bank absorbs other banks during the year, it is hoped than an effort will
be made to aggregate the figures, both the condition and earnings, for all the
banks in the consolidation for the year, so that the bank may be retained. We may
illustrate what we mean by assuming that National Bank A absorbs National Bank B
and Trust Company C in August. The autumn and December call reports and the
December 31 earnings report will obviously include the figures for all three
banks. It is hoped in a case such as this that the separate figures for each of
the three banks for the June 30 earnings report and the String and June 30 call
reports will be combined to comDlete the year's tabulation.
"It seems clear that in cases where the early reports of the year cannot be
put on a basis comparable with those of the latter art of the year the bank in
question will have to be omitted for that year. However, a general policy of
excluding any bank that presents problems without an attem)t to :et comArable
figures for the twelve months would unquestionably eliminate much useful data,
and, therefore, it has seemed best to us to suggest that all practicable efforts
be made to retain them Along the lines indicated."

September 164, 1930.

iiir• William D. TieRas,
Sating Assistant Peden& itisargro Agent,
Federal Morn Mak of Boston,
Boston, Massaehasette.
lity dolor

21cRae:

Xr,, RiddlOsehsenoe I (Weirs to soknovolift
edge your lotter of tho thirteenth'Tith its ondloscre
of reports on the folloring group banking vetoes,
First National ‘enk of Doston, Maesschasette.
Shsannt Asmoolation„ Boston, hisassehesstte.
Nam.
st
WOroestor (Musty National Dank, Worceer,
Hartford Gonnoctient 00., Hartford, Connecticut.
the failure of ras Financial
tIth regard
Institutions, Ine„ to respond to ;our requeet, we
the =atter to ;i1n2r
can only.lears the handling
judgment. Ile Moult: Me, of coarse, to have S5 °ono.
plate infoxmation as possible* but If yo,.1 feel that
farther oorrospondsmoo with UM meld be moelees,
ChM should settle the natter.
Wry truly years,

limmoni,
OS
Goessittoo om arenoh,
For
aid
Oman Imaings
amp

•

•

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM

W. PADDOCK. DEPUTY GOVERNOR

WILLIAM

WILL ETT, CASHIER

KRICKEL

K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

CHAIRMAN OF THE
AND FEDE

ALLEN
0-

E LLIS G

61P

P
E*RVE AGENT

44k
N‘
;
'I
k
41'k

ERNEST M. LEAVITT

.4ll•
P

L. WALLACE SWEETSER

HOLLIS
THE BOARD

DEPUTY CHAIR

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

HULT

\-\\
C)
s

H. CURTISS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

0

ASSISTANT FEDERAL

'PI

RVE AGENT

September 13, 1930
' oN

Mr. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch, Group and
Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to your letter of July 18, 1930 in regard to the
operations of group banking systems, we enclose reports we
have received from the following banks and companies:
First National Bank of Boston, Mass.
Shawmut Association, Boston, Mass.
Worcester County National Bank, Worcester, Mass.
Hartford Connecticut Co., Hartford, Conn.
We also sent forms to the Federal National Investment Trust
of Boston and to the Financial Institutions, Inc., Augusta,
Maine. Owing to unusual circumstances the Federal National
Investment Trust is unable to file a report at this time.
The Financial Institutions, Inc. is controlled by a group
of men connected with nonmember banks. They have not
acknowledged receipt of our letter or forms. Do you desire
us to follow this up any further.
Yours truly,

D.
Enclosures

William D. McRae,
Acting Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

Septlilber 13, 1930,

Ikr. William D. NORse,
Acting Assistant 14eaeral Restrve &gent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
-7AsswAnsatta,
diear

Maass:
in response to ; oar req-,“-Ist of September llth,

we are eualosing three conies of the sohedule of inforination on hanks operating branches outside the city of
the heed office.
Yery tral7 yours,

0. B. Hammond,
Fertile Ommlittee or Branch,
Greup end Ohain Banking,

tI

Septmaber 12, 1930,

Mr, Fre:leric H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, L:assaohusetts,
My dear Mr. Curtiss:
How that actual York on the SuspeLcions Schoiules, submitted to you wi0 our letter of July 25th, J.:, under waT, ,lestians
are arising in certain states which reflect the different niethods of
beeping records and the difficulties in repo:ting exactly 'a:net is
asked for, It is manifestly impossible to expect that an:: one schedule oodld be found equally well adapted to all states and to the Oa
troller's office, and it is, therefore, unavoidable that in some stew:,
it will be much more difficult to fill out the Schedules than it is ir
others. To insure as much unifonaity as possible, however, and V *
$ure sic:curacy in interpret in; the reports, it seems desirable to
size the following points:
1. Sections V and 10 of the sohed110, as well as
sections 7 and 0, call lor data on alai:isb defcsitors
only, but where the records are such that depositors,
claims osunot bo wregated frma other (slates, that is,
bills pqrble and net.. evidencing borrowed mow, then
total claims should be reported and a notationneds to
that effect,
2, Secured claims should include only those elaIwo
secured tir collateral or by collateral and suety bond
both, but not elaims secured by ourety bonds alone„ The
latter Should be listed among general olairas.
3, It is apparently the practice in MOO states not
to list as claims those deposits Which are *soured by collrlerel, booms* they are assumed to be self-liquidating,
For purposes of this sithedule, however, all oath de!osits
should be listed as secured claims allowed and the amounts
realized by the depositors on the collateral should be
shown as payments on these claims. The amounts realized on the
collateral should also be shown under collections,

MY'. Frederic 1. Curtiss #2

SeAseher 12, 1530,

4. In many oases it is difficult to shew a figure
for Secured Claims that does not Lucinda items whioh in
part are present also as General Claims. The reason ter
this is thnt Seeured Cleame are assumed to be se1talquide6ing end, therefore, are not part of the revolver's direst
responsibility, which *over, only claims allowed for divides&
porpoises. Any portion of a Beograd Olalm not liquidatai
the oollateral segregated to it may, however, be allowed as
a General Claim and, therefore, imereese the olatus allowed.
fer dividend purposes. Men this's...us amid a correspond..
log Ohmage is mot nods insist nes originally reported es
seemred °talus, it results in dapileetion. where it is
possible within a reasonable tins to get aosarate figures
or Boomed Mains that are net aad to not imetude amounts
also included as General 01a1las, it is denim& thAt the* be
so moiled. If this is not possible, however, and ties only
available fires of Beograd Olatas inelmie amounts &leo
present in Unmoral ashes, it should be eleariy 'vacated
on the aohedule that this is the 04A64,
15. Under ovation 10 the immeate Mosta as *offsets to
elates* should not be included ilitterimilercellectiels or
ander elates allowed.
6. If records are in vmdb shape that tbe_flgares can
not be eapplied in exactly the tans called for in the shove
sections or wir other sections of the schedule, then the
best figares erailable Should be given and a notation natio
aa to exactly it they represent. This is essential as
a vide in tabulating this material in order that we map
not compare wholly =Ube adores fraa different states.
very trail yaare,

C. 3. BaAalal,
For the Oomaittee an Sra44h,
Group and Chain Banking.

4
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

ROY A. YOUNG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILLETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H

CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
ELLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

September 11, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch, Group and Chain
Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Sir:
Will you kindly send us two or three copies of the
schedule of information on banks operating branches
outside of the city of the head officel
Yours truly,

D.

William D. McRae,
Acting Assistant Federal Reserve Agent.

11, 1930.

gr. Frederic 7. 3urtiss,
Federal aeserve Agent,
?ederal :7rserve Bank of Boston,
3oston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
The Committee on Branch, Croup and Chain Banking hat. outlined
a nrogram for analyzin t7le earnjngs of national banks over a neriod
of four years. At the heart of the discussion with respect to the
changing nature of our banking structure is the matter of wholesale
bank suspensions, repeatedly cited as evidence of the failure of the
unit system in oertlin -uarters. BacK of the nsilurs is, of course,
the question of profits and losses. The motivating force of banks
as of other businesr enterprises is profits and their success or
failure is measured by their ability or lack of ability to show
satisfactory earnings. This Is especially significant with respect
to banks, for a banker who Is not showing a fair rate of earnings
is under the constvnt temptttion to take :1-.otcr and reater risks,
thereby jeopardizing the safety of his depositors' money.
It is very importPnt, therefore, to know what type of banks are
not justiling their economic, existr-nce, where they ure 1GesteC, and
why the:' are in this position. The yroblem is to approaoh those
questi,,ns statistically for a period of years. Data shoule: be available in such Dorm that t'ley oan be clasFified in various ways in order
to shov any significant trends ir earnings. auch material could be
clas_ified by states to indicate tendencies of success or failure in
the different sections of the country taxi in the various typr,,,
, of industrial and agricultural communities, and cross classified to see if
a degree of profitableness is associated with size, either of the bank
or of the community in which it is located. Having determind the
classifications of beaks not showinf7: reasonable profits, tt is desirable to know the operating* cenditions that are associated with such
a situation. This requires a more detailed analysis of earnings,
expenses, losses, composition of deposits and capital funds.
Zlany of the Federal Reserve Banks have devoted considerable time
and effort to analyzing the earnings of banks in their districts. It
Is unfortunate, however, that there exists no body of statistical
data
on earnings covering the whole country for a period of years that would

ANAMPP.-Altrt
•

Frederic H. Curtiss #2

August 11, 1930.

permit groaping banks in a variety of ways or that is
strictly comparable in the various districts.
The present program has been worked out it oonsultation
with
several of the Federal reserve banks which nave already ben
maline
investigations in this field. It consists in working out
various
operating ratios for each netionel eenk for earth of the years
1926,
1927, 1928 and 1929, and each eederal reserve bank is
requested to
compile the data for its district. A special Pera has been prepare
d
and printed nor transcribing the earnings data and recordi
ng the Tarions reties. The enclosed copy of this form has been filled
out as
a specimen and seems to be self explanatory.
Page 2 givee the primary items which are to be oelpiled from
the
reports of condition nnd reports of earnings, expensea, and dividen
ds,
On page 4 template instrentiens are given as to the oomposition of
these Items end the reeonciliations from call to cell.
The eirnings
and expense figures will, of course, be Lhe am of
the fires on the
two semi-annual reports of earnings, expenses, and dividends for
the
year in euestion. eeport of condition figures will be the result
of
avereging the respective fieurns on the four reports of conditi
on (Spring,
June, Autamn, and December). In the year 1926 there were only
three calls.
On page 3 of the form provision is made for reooreing the desired operatin
ratios computed from combinations of flpetres set down oe pege 2.
I am sending you a eapply of these forms equal approximately
to
four times the nembre of natienal b.:aka in your district. et are
aware
that there will doubtless be various nuestions arising when the
work
gets under - ty
ont which you !nee wish to confer. There may be cases
where a change in the status of a bank through merger or
oteerwise so
affects the condition 01' earnings figures in n given year that it should
be omitted from the compilations of that rear. It is hoped, however,
that ir e-ch of these cases a speciel effort eill be made to perfect
a reascnnb/y good eet of the necessary ineome and balance sheet
figures
for the year in question. A too generous program of elimination
of
banks would obviously •:.anse the loss of much valunble informn
tion.
7,0 are working out pinns for erouping ana enalesine the various
operating ratios after they have been computed. These plans will be
sent you as soon as they are eampleted. It is se-le:goatee, teerefore,
thet the b1tnkz which are now being forwarded to you sheuld not be
returned to iftehington when completed, but should be held tor the
puepose oe making the 4erious t?bulations desired.
For the time oeing this aneeeeis of earnings is limited to national
banks only, in the interest of time and economy. It is somewhat doubtful whether the inclusion of state member banks woeld add materially to
the ellee of the study.

The Committee is open to suggestions on this

1

Mr.

Frederic Re Curtiss #3

August 13, 1930.

point, however, ard it wrmld be a si:LiAc a4atter to aôx t
rber state
banks to the study at a leter date if it di-uuld be deemed advisable,
fery trttly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
7eoretary, Coxmittee on Branch.
Group and Chain Banking.

11, 15'30.

Mr. Charles R. Gettaav,
Assistant I.Peeral aeserve Agent,
Fedora' :1oLerve Bank of Boston,
Boston, massaohneetts.
De -r Mr. (RAtesgir:
In reve.)nso tc yovr roauebt 01 August eth for
ofelve am re

30pi.:. S

Vie

6:4 apensicns echedule n,

are enolosing horrnvitn th,,) nadoer you devirs.
'Teri

ru.ly ourh,

C. B. 1161,3210nd,
For the i3o:LiAttee on Branoh,
Gra zip and Chain I3an1c1ng.
OBE:13
Enc.

••

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON

August 8, 1930

Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Gentlemen:On_July 25\we received from kr. James li. Riddle,
Secretary, Cummittee on branch, group and chain
banking,a letter enclosing schedules to be filled
out by various bank commissioners on bank suspensions
We would appreciate it if
since January 1, 1921.
twelve inure of these
us
forward
you will kindly
schedules.
Very truly yours,

Charles F. Gettemy,
Assistant Federal Reserve Agent

July 25, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
The Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking decided some
weeks ago that an essential part of its work should be a detailed
analysis of bank suspensions since the beginning of 1921. The rapid
growth in recent years in group and branch banking is regarded by
many as an outgrowth of the large number of bank suspensions which
have taken place during the past decade. Whether or not this is
true, it is obvious that before the Committee can determine the
full significance of this mortality among banking institutions and
its relation to the new trends in banking it will be necessary to
M8139 a more complete analysis of failures than the data compiled
at present will permit.
The program proposed is a substantial undertaking, and to be
successful it is necessar to have the full cooperation of the
various state banking departments, as well as the various Federal
reserve banks. This program will entail considerable effort and
expense on some of the state banking departments, but in view of
the wide spread suffering caused by bank suspensions it is hoped
that the state superintendents will give the System every possible
assistance in this study. In each of sixteen states of the union
over twenty per cent of the banks in existence in 1920 have failed
since that time, and in seven of these over forty per cent of the
banks have failed. These failures are continuing at a high rate,
more banks having suspended so far this year than in any similar
period since 1924. This is one of the most important problems
facing many states and certainly one of the major problems of the
whole country, and many states are doubtless already struggling
to devise mays and means for bringing about greater stability
and security among the banks of their state. Mader the circumstances it is anticipated that the states will welcome the opportunity to cooperate with the Committee in this work.
It is appreciated, of course, that many states are operating
on very limited budgets and may find it somewhat difficult to

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss f2

I
1

July 25, 1930.

un ertake this extra work, but it is hoped that in no ease will the
difficulties prove insuperable. It may be advisable in certain oases
for the Reserve Bank to offer its 'entices in devising Aays and means
for collecting the data, and this cooperation, if necessary, might
actually improve the quality of the information secured.
A tentative schedule for collecting information on bank suspensions was submitted for suggestions to the banking departments of
some twelve or fifteen states in which suspensions have been unusually heavy. The response from these states wid the apparent willingness to cooperate in compiling the data were very gratifying. At
the same time a number of suggestions were maAe as to revisions of
the schedule. Therever possible these suggestions have been inoorporated in whole or in part. In some oases, however, the suggestions
could not be completely sdopted because of the differences in termin
ology and reoords in the various states. It hrls been necessary
to
draw up the schedule in terms which would fit as nearly as possib
le
the records of the various banking departments. The Comptroller
of
the Currency has given his full cooperation to the Committee and
has expressed his villingness to furnish the information regard
ing
national banks.
schedule as finally adopted has been printed and a few
copies are enclosed herewith. A supply is being forwarded to
you
under separate cover. The Committee would like you to presen
t these
schedules to the banking departments of those states idioms capita
ls
are located within your district with the request that
they fill
out a schedule for each beak which suspended between Januar
y 1, 1921,
and Jume 30, 1930. It is hoped that the information will be suppli
ed
as fully and as carefully as possible and not in a nerfen
otoxy manrThe importance of the subj, at and the value to each state of the r.e.
stilts of the investigation would seem to warrant special care
in fhe
preparation of the schedules.
As these schedules are completed and returned to you, yet may
wish to review them and supplement them with any special information
which you may have. Your views as to the ceases of the
failures in
your district would be especially valuable to the Committee.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.
A-Bno.

July 18, 1930.

Mr. Frederic 4. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachneetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
The Coamittee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking has prepared a schedule for collecting information rearing the oporation of group banking systems nd would like to have it submitted to the more important groups of the country.
It is the desire of the Committee to secure as muci infor
maltion as 'possible as to the actual operations of group banking
systems and such information as is available regarding their
merits as oompared with other fanas of banking organizations.
In the collection of this information the cooperation of the
controlling agencies of the groups is solicited. This is purely a request, however, and in no sense a requirement. The punpose of the schedule is to indioate the specific information
which is desired and to insure the collection of oomparabie
data in some systematic form from the various institutions.
In view of the universal interest in this 'abject and the
importance given to the development of group banking systems,
those rc-sponsible for their operations will doubtless meloome
the opportunity to state their views and to give the Committee
the benefit of their experience.
Following its usual procedure the Committee would like
you to 'resent the schedule to the group systems in your district. The letnod of submission is a matter of your own discretion. In most oases it aay be sufficient to send the schedule
by mail, but in soae cases better results might be secured by a
personal visit from some representative of the Federal Reserve
Bank to the head of the group system. When these schedules are
ociapleted and returned to you, perhaps you may wish to look them
over and sapplemont them 7•ith any special information or views
which you may have.

,

go

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss #2

July 18, 1930.

A number of copies of the schedule are enclosed, and if
additional copies are desirsd taey can be readily sapplied.
I suggest it be submitted to the institutions in your district
listed below or to any others which you think would be nroduotive of results. As a rule the names on the list are
holding companies, but in a few oases the names of banks
which control other banks directly were included.
Financial Institutions, Inc., Augusta, Maine.
First National Old Colony Corp., Boston, Mass.
Federal National Investment Trost, Boston, Mass.
ahawmat Association, Boston, Massachusetts.
.
7 70roester County National Bank, Worcester, kasti.
Rartford Conneltiout Co.-, Hartford, Conn.

Very truly yours,

J. H. Riddle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

-A-E120.

jdi
,4 AA.10

1

r714-tL-

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS
CHAIRMAN

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve F:oard,
7;ashington, L. C.

Dear Mr. Riddle:
I am in receipt of your favor o2 the14th\enclosing copies of Schedule
of Information on Ranks operating branches outside of the city of the
head office. I am sending these out today to the banks referred
to in your letter.
Very truly yours,

9;•••46.•04
1Wde
1/4
4
"4/0•

Chairl)an

/
4
4111
‘
.4. 4/did

July le, 1930.

erederic 4. eurtise,
;Federal Reserve Aeent,
Pederal Reserve egne of elstee,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Deer Mr. eurtiss:
Tem Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Bantle
preeared a sehelule for co/lectine informetion reeer
the operutien of branches located outside of the city of
the head oefile end woeld
kE t2
it l' ,Wft^r'; tr
the .nors imeortant brance banking eestees of the oreentee.
It is the desire of the Cosmittee to secere as muCh
Informatinn as possible as to the neterl oeeretIcre of
braneh banking eysteme and eneh intormetien s ir nreelable
reeereing tee merits of arch institntinne esIth
oteee forms of aeking oreenizations. In the oollectien of
teiE Atformation the 000perstier of the eeeke leerelJeg
brachea, is solicited. Tele le nerele e "'i'0 :t, Nreev- r,
are ir no sense 1 eeeeirement. The eureose or the scheelle
is to indioate tile type of Inforeetion veioh is desired and
to Insure tØeelleele ee lemeerrele ei- e.F. le EOMC sesteeatic form from the vorimis 71stitutionS.
In view of toe aniversal interest in te1e. aubeect and
the imnortanoe riven to ten development of branch banking
systemu, ',:eoee responsible for their operations will doubtless eelcome the opportunity to state te-er vie' v !auf to
give Lee eomeittee the benefit of their experience.
iollowing it LIEllt,J procedure tee Ccee7ttee *meld lit*
you to oresent the schedele to the branch .-stems in ecnr
district. The method or suhmiesion is a matter of your
own discretion. In most cases it may be seeeicient to
send tne schedAle by men, but In some cases better rnselts
might be secured by a erreoral visit from came representative of the ?edema Reserve eenk to the head of the branch
system.

Ur. Frederic R. Curtiss 4i2

July ',A, 1.

A number of copies of the schedule are enclosed, and
if additional copies are 4esired they can be readily supplied. I suggest !t he :ohmitted to the following institutions in your district or to any other selected list which
you thirk would be nricOuct7„:: c,r better rerats.
Augustn Trust Ocer,any, fugnsta, XLine.
Merrill Trust Company, Mager, Maim.
rndustrial Trust CoT71ny, Drovic:?nce,
I.
Fidelity Trust Comoaay, Portland, Maine.

7eiy tray yourt,

J. 1.
3.eer ,
. thry, committee on Brunch,
t.nd CuaiLi

st-.72„

July 11, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Feueral Reserve Agent,
Federal Nseerve Bank Of 1308011,
Boston, Sassaohursetts,
Dear Mr. Custiss:
.'eceipt is aoknowledged of your letter of
July 10 with the enolosed reports frma the tank
Commissioners of Maine, Massachusetts, Rhode
Mond and Vermont on branch banks in operation
In 1900, 1905, 1910 and 1915.
Very truly yours,

J. H. Riudle,
Secretary, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

W. P. G. HARD! NG. GOVERNOR
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILLIAM WILL ETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
E LLIS G. HULT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

July 10, 1930.

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and
Chain Banking, Federal Reserve Board,
Tiashington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
Referring to Er. Goldenueiser's letter of June 4, 1930,
in regard to the development of branches as far back
as 1900, I enclose reports received from the Bank Commissioners of Maine, Masschusetts, Rhode Island and
Vermont.
The Bank Commissioners of Connecticut and New Hampshire
advise me that branch banking is not now permitted in
their States, nor has it been at any time back as far as
1900. In Vermont no legal recognition of the right of
State Banks to operate branches appeared on the statute
books until 1929, but a few banks operated so-called
agencies for a period of years prior to that time.

vour2 vr7, truly,
44

•
w/
S7
.

16•11,•••••=.410 1""4"46,3

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

July 3, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal. 7eserve Agent,
?sclera,. leserve 3ank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
pear Mr. flurtiss
Thshk you tor your letter of June 30, with
its various comments snd suggestions regnrding
the Committee's prorosed study of bank earnings.
These suggestions will be taken into consideration in working out our definitive program.
Very truly yours,

J. 4.
Secretary, Conmittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

••

•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
W P G
WiL LIAM

FREDERIC

W PADDOCK, oERury GOVERNOR
WILLETT,cAsmiER
KRICKEL K
(11 SECRETARY
ifCARRICK,
ALLEN

HOLUS

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT

ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETsER

H. CURTiSS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

WILLIAM

DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

CHARLES

F. GETTEMY

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

June 30, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary
Committee on Branch, Group & Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:Referring to your letter of June 25 and to the memorandums and
statistical exhibits which accompanied it we shall be pleased
to do whatever we Call to cooperate with you in making your
statistical research of branch group and chain banking. I am
answering the various questions listed on Pages 6 and 7 of your
memorandum using the same numbers which you used.
(1) .In general
should prefer Compromise Plan
but the
are so minute that in several instances the banks
falling into a given cIiiiification, in this district at any rate,
would number not more than 4 or 5 individual banks. For such a
I
small group the median method is not practicable.
(2)
The period of time covered should not exceed the fivy_ysars,
1925-1920. The member banks in 1921-1924 were readjusting their
position from the abnormalities of the War and post-War strains.
Their position in those four years, 1921-1924, offers nothing typical
upon wtich to base conclusions and, therefore, only tends to befog
the pi tura when completed. As pre-mar conditions no longer exist,
it would appear to be simply a waste of time to make this detailed
analysis also to cover a few pre-mar years.
(3) _1.124._.
:ae cannot get comparable data for non-member state banks
from the bank commissioners for the individual banks from 1921-1929.
(4)
The estimates of cost appear to be reasonablzaccurate if
we assume that the entire job is to be handled by expel:finCid-clerks
accustomed to the use of these reports. Our small department, however,
must carry on its awn work and our employees cannot be taken off that
aork for a period of several weeks or months.
Therefore, inexperienced
clerks whose work would have to be done tlifiCe over would be necessary.
In that event prly,the costs would run up something above the
board's estimate.
l5)
A grouping of banks according tc_l_W!_has been proved in this
Federal Reserve District to have relatively little significance. This

••
Mr. J. E. Riddle

2

MM.

4•
June 30, 1930

classification for our purposes was abandoned after 1927
in our studies of earnings and expenses, although we had
used it for seven years and originally expected that it Was the
Much more significance in New England
ideal classification.
at any rate appears to attach to the classification of banks
in accordance to their proportion of time to gross deposits.
Classification as in accordance with the size of the community
in which the banks are located seems entire]y useless. A city
like Bangor, for instance, with its populaLion of 26,000, would
be more typically a rural community than would many of the small
manufacturing centers in Massachusetts whosepopulation might not
be more than S.,000 or 10,000.

(6)

Yes. Loans and investments are a satisfactory measure of size.
Invested funds and capital are worthless as a measure of size
because the capital structure of individual banks varies all
the way from 10 per cent. up to 20, 30 and even 40 per cent. of
deposits.

(7)

So far as New England is concerned the grouping of banks as
outlined appears to be rather too minute, some of the
classifications being such as to contain a very small number
of individual banks.

(8)

(9)

(10)

Analysis of earnings of individual banks have been made
annually by this reserve bunk since 1921 but they have been
based upon the semi-annual earnings and dividends statement only
Unfortiaqely, we can use very little of these
from 1921-1927.
early studies for the work contemplated by the Board because most
of the items mentioned by the Board represent small variations
For example, since 1924 the figure
from the figures as used by us.
for capi-4aljuipik as used by us has contained capital, surplus and
undivided profits, this basis having been adopted in 1924 at the
specific request of the Board in order to make our figures uniform
with theirs. (See Ur. Stewart's letter addresssed to kr. Bowser
Now the Board indicates that
under date of January 16, 1925).
capii;a1 funds s:ould be compiled on an entirely different basis
so as to include reserves as part of capital funds,- a figure which
increases the amount by about 2 per cent, on the average. Similarly,
the Board wishes demand„..11Aptialtie....to exclude bankers' deposits and
U. S. deposits. Our compilations already made carry demand deposits
to include bankers' deposits and U. S. deposits. We also have them
to exclude everything except individual deposits, but neither of
these compilations exactly tallies with what the Board wants. Therefore,
much of the early work done will be useless for this study and
we will have to go to work from the beginning with the original
reports.
Unquestionably total available funs are more inclusive and,
therefore, more accurate; but the difference between them and total
loans and investments does not seem to justify the additional work
involved, since we have many of these ratios already worked out on
the basis of loans and investments.
The importance of using averages of five calls rather than a

•• _

•

single call depends entirely upon the degree of
accurady which the Board desires to attain. An avgragn-ag
five days throughout the year is always more dependable
than the figures of a single day. It is simply a matter of
whether it is worth the expense of attaining this somewhat
greater accuracy.
Changes in the character of banks' such as the absorption
of a non-member bank by a member bank uaually deargys the
comparability and would"seem to require that the bank 1*
question be eliminated from the study.
(12)

(13)

Ratio X which shows the percentage of interest paid on
total deposits appears to serve no good purpose. It is obvious
that a bank with more than 50 per cent. of its deposits in
time deposits will s ow much higher interest rates relative
to its total deposits than will a bank which handles mostly
commercial checking accounts. Some time ago we got away from
this percentage, many of our member banks having taken exception
to it as being worthless and misleading. I should, therefore,
On the other hand, there certainly should be
omit Ratio X.
a ratio showing the percentage of time deposits to gross
deposits as this may prove to be the key to the whole' problem.
In New England, at any rate, it is the point on which most of
our conclusions seem to hinge.
Yes.

Very truly yours,
•
•-/
'
ftl •

Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent

safte—ws

June 27, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
eoaton, easeachusetts.
Der 1r.

artisS:

Your letter of June 11, regaeding the Committee's reouest for changes
in tee structure of eueleeee enterprises in your cLstrict as they affect
banking connections was received some days ago. Year doubts as to the
value of tnis Info-maTior en well as your henitancy in sending the forms
to the member banks of your district are, of course, underetandable and
your views on the subect err apprecieted. You eneeretend the situation
in your district oetter than the rest of ab, and tee Comeittee has no desire to press this reeuest if it prosfec, imp ictici
ft1y bureensome.
It hee beer roceezere for tb& Cammittce in Lrfting Ali its requests
for information to eeieh the difficeities of compiling against the value
ofthe data which may be secured. In this case, se in others, it was decided that all things considered It was worth making un efiort to get some
definite tangible data regarding the effect on te bankine system of the
changes in industrial and commercial structure. nose changes in the business structure are everyweere suggested as one Ji tne calses for cafe present
tendencies in the banking organisation, but little substantiating evidence
has been coepiled on the sub:ect. It is learly one of the functions of
the Committee to determine if possible the causes for the present tendencies in bnnking organization end it was felt that if anyone nhould know
what chenees are affecting the banks, it would be the bankere themselves.
This re7uest was prepared, therefore, to get from the verious sections of
the country some concrete ceses of the changes which are actually occurring, as well as the testimone of the bankers themselves. If the brinks
are willing to supply this information, it -maid doubtlens have considerable value. It may be, (Nf course, that the Dore of the reqnest was not
the best that could have been deeised.
Then Mr. Rand of the Marine Midland was testifying before the Haase
Com:nitteo on Banking and Currency, he read (c)nfileetially and off the
record) a list of beieness mergers or consolidations in eis territory
whioe had reeulted in the loss of accounts to his banks. The members of
the Committee and others who heard his testimony were greatly Impressed
with this concrete and effective -may of illustreting some of the economic
changes welch affect banking institutions. It was suggested informally
that the Federal /eserve eoard might collect similar infermetion from the
various districts of the country.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss #2

June 27, 1930.

The suggebtion seemed to fit in with the program of the Yederol
Reserve Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking and was, therefore, adopted. I hope the effort prores lrorthwhile end that we may get
something of value. 7:e have not heard from the other districts, but
resume the information IE tejng complied.
Very truly yours.

• H. Riddle,
Secret -17. Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Jane 25, 1.930,

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal isserve
Pederal 4eserve Ilalk of Boston,
Boston, Lassachusette.
Dear VI.„

Airtiss:

Tour letter_pf June 24, 19;50, has been received, 710--The Committee appreelates the
ioue COAMElltE which both you am t:le
of the Ilrurch brnking Nvatem whom you coh641teL:
;nrding the proposed schedule :or
hwe maoe rey:
cllIectInc information from branch banking sysue kept
tems. These v,Ilriout Suu,gebtiOilb
in mind when the ashedule is finally revised,
Very truly yours,

J. H. RiL:dle,
Secretary, Co:Inittee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

Tune 25, 1930.

?reieric TI. Curtloa,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, nassachusetts.
Dear kir. Curtiss:
am enclosing two copies of a memorandum regarding
the proposed study of hank earnings /ay the Committee on
iranch, Gronp end Chain Banking. This memorandum outlines two mpthods of procedure with various modifications,
and !sides a number of luestions aa to both the scorie
the investigrtion anti the method of procedure to be followed.
•
•••••••11v

In view of the Ivork which your bank hab already done
along these lines and the interest which you have in the
subject, the CO4mittee would. appreciate your viwws regarding the proposnls outlined and the various ‘uestions rkised.
Very truly yours,

J. H. 'Riddle,
Secretai7, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.

•0

••

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
W. P. G.
WILLIAM
WILLIAM
KRICKEL.

HARDING, GOVERNOR
W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WI L LETT. CASHIER
K. CARRICK, SECRETARY
ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLIS G. HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SwEETSER

FREDERIC

H. CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

CHARLES r. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

June 24, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
I hnve your letter of June 12,..1930 enclosing a tentative schedule which
it is pronosed to submit to the more important branch banking systems in
I have taken up this schedule with the president of the
the country.
largest bank in this district which operates branches in cities outside
of the home office, and T am gore yor will be interested in his comments.
He says:
"On Page 2, Question No. 7, we would rot core to divulge the emonnt
of deposits or local loans in connection with any of our branches,
This, however,
as we consider this confidential information.
might not apply to other institutions.
"Page 3, Question No. 10, this information could be obtained, of
course, but would require considerable labor.
"Page 4, Question No. 2, this would be practically impossible to
answer.
Frankly, it would seem that it has no bearing on the
subject.
"Page 5, Sub-division 4, Question No. 1, the word Idisposable.t
That is rather indefinite and we would not know exactly what it
means.
Later it would seem that the word 'available' has been
used in the same manner.
"All the other questions, it would seem that the barks would be able
to answer, although It would require considereble labor and effort
on their part."
His general comment on the questions is that the most valuable function
of branch banking is lost sight of, as there seem to be no questions
covering +lin benefit of having a branch of a large bank in a small
community -where that small community has the advantages of the organization, such as large deposits and the large capitalization, of e parent
institution.
He mentions the cases of small towns which have large
manufacturing plants rilich would not he justified in doing business
with a bank of the size ordinarily found in such e small community.

t/

r

•
•

—2—

•
•

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on. Branch, Group and Chain. Banking,

He notes that there is nothing in the questionnaire which covers the greater
safety to depositors in the management of a brnch as against a small separate
unit institution, for instance, the establishment and use of a large well
organized auditing department which not only makes physical examinations
Periodically, but elso requires weekly reports to the head office covering
A small institution is ordinarily run and controlled by
branch operations.
the cashier or president, in other words, a one man control, rhile branch
management is controlled by a head office which establishes a policy. He
thinks that these subjects should be brought out in the questionnire.
Mr. Goldenweiser, in his letter or June 5, 1930, mentioned that there were a
number of other schedules and forms which were being worked into finel shape,
and it seems to me that there ir danger of these schedules overlapping, for
instance, on Page 4, Question No. 2 of this schedule would seem to cover about
the same ground as the schedule enclosed with Mr. Golaenweiserts letter of
June 3, asking for names of accounts lost through mergers or consolidations
or business enterprises, eta.
Many of the questions in this schedule would also apply to groups or chains of
barks and in some cases we have groups or banks, some of the member banks of
which have branch systems including branches outside of the home office city.
If it is proposed to send a similar questionnaire to group banks, it mould
impose a heavy burden on all such groups as had extensive br-nch systems.
Yours truly,
';;;°••—•••■•—•.—.. mirk
D.

Frederic B. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent.

:um 12, 1930.

Curtiss,
Kr. 'Frederic,
Federal Deserve Agent,
1.;,e
, dorn1 r).csm•.-.fr -%,); )7 ,c.,toT,I,
BOston, klassaCiusette.
Dear

mr. Jurties:

The Committee on iiranon, Cro.ap and ChaiL
tins deolOad h.'s a ofirt
;tr.- irci9r,t!,17 tioLi to cio,
througn the eederal reserve brtn:Ks,
Lchodule to
more important bm-,,h
t.:1•:: cY.)-1/,
for the purrose of securing as rauch da:a as
fls to the aotual oner, tlons of theze sys',;ems.
sohedule has bren prepared, tlin copieu of Wrii011
tire enclosed, trat be'ore
Aopting :.and sending
it to the blisish systems the Committee mould tporeoiate gm/ oaoments or s-.7.71.rsti7.-ms
dou may luirs to
MEJ.AO.
10,Zrbrl, to mate tae sohedule
It is (iesirable,
'..ocure
sufficientl:, cs,w7rel-ienLi.te
burdensmae or iminformation vitecut bein3
t t
*
- -.7) • 1 1::r
sy
nract
.gest any
operating in Jour uistriot may lead you to su4.,
order
rnblr.
s..ey he
add': tiout or o'canc.es
results.
to secure Lae best
Yery truly yours,

J. N. Riddle,
Neeretary, Coarsittec: on draach,
Croup and Chain &lc cing.

ir „ice_

SCHEDULE OF INFORMATION ON BANKS
OPERATING BRANCHES OUTSID2 OF
THE CITY OF THE HEAD OFFICE

I. Organization and history
1. Name of institution
City

Location of main office:
State

Population of city

Member or non-member of Federal Reserve
2. Condition as of last call, Date
Capital
Surplus and undivided profits
Loans and discounts
Investments
Demand deposits
Time deposits

3.

Outline your corporate history, including dates of organization, incorporation, important mergers and the
beginning of branch banking.

4.

Number of branches,Juu

30, 1930

June 30, 1925

In city of main office
In outside cities and towns

5.

What procedure have you followed in acquiring banks-exchange of stock, purchase of stock, or purchase
of assets?

6.

How do you determine the price to be paid when you purchase the stock or assets of another bank? In the case
of exchange of stock What mPthod is usPd to determine
the basis of exchange between the stock of the bank
taken over and the stock of your barilx?

-2-

7.

List all branches outside of the city of the head office.

IIILocation
d name of
410branches
-

Population
of town
or city

Is community
residential,
commercial,
industrial,
or
agricultural?

Average
gross deposits
of branch

Local
loans

Year of
establishment
of
branch

Acquired
by
merger,
or established
de novo

Number
of independent
unit
banks in
same
town or
city

Number
of
branches
of other
banks in
same
town or
city

III
411
1

•
•

•
•
-3

g. List below the corporations other than Commercial banks-i.e., securities companies, insurance, mortgage, safe
deposit, real estate companies, etc.--with which your
bank is affiliated. Give the form of the affiliation
in each case--stock trusteed for bank stockholders,
direct ownership, ownership through or by holding company, etc. State also their function and how they were
acquired--exchange of stock, purchase of stock or purchase of assets.

Capital
and
surplus

Name

9.

Form of
affiliation

Function

Method of
ac uisition

Describe the method of handling slow and doubtful assets
of banks acquired by you, and indicate what success you
have had in liquidating such assets.

10. Distribution of stock:
How many stockholders have you?
What proportion of your stock is held in the city where
your main office is located?
What proportion is held in branch cities?
What proportion is held elsewhere?
Are these proportions undergoing any change?
Have you a policy of stock distribution? If so, describe
it.
If all the stock of your bank is owned by some corporation, state its name and give the above distribution
of its own stock.
11. Economic background
1. Outline briefly the development of your branch operations indicating that considerations and conditions were most

•
•-4

•
•

influential. Has the development been largely a
matter of choice with you, or has it been impelled
by social and economic changes? If the latter,
please describe them as specifically as possible.
2. Presumably many formerly independent enterprises (stores,
factories, etc.) operating in your region have been absorbed in recent years by larger companies, with the
result that the local banking connections have been disturbed. If so, can you give a representative list of
such cases? Are your banks seriously affected by the
tendency?
3. Have you taken over any weak or unprofitable banks that
are now being operated as successful branches? If so,
to what do you attribute the fact that they are now
successful?

III.

4.

Have you established any branches in communities Which
would probably not support independent unit banks?
at advantages
Have such branches been profitable?
to
them
succeed where
enable
that
have such branches
the unit bank would not?

5.

Have you been operating any branches outside of metropolitan centers at a loss in the expectation that
community growth would make them profitable? If so,
describe the conditions.

6.

Describe the economic character of the territory covered
by your organization, indicating what diversification
of business is secured by your branches.

Management and supervision
1. Has each branch its own advisory board consisting of
local people? Is each member of the advisory board
a stockholder?

••

•
-5-

2. How many of your branches have as managers the same men
who were in charge of them as independent unit banks?
To what extent do you shift managers from branch to
branch?

3.

Has the growth of your branch operations been retarded by
difficulties encountered in developing a competent personnel? What difficulties have been encountered and how
have they been overcome?

4.

To what extent do you decentralize management? Are all
branches controlled directly from the main office or
do you have intermediary district offices?

5.

Are there definite, specific restrictions upon the poWer
of the managers to make loans--both as to total funds
available and as to the credit of the individual borrower? To what extent does your main office or
trict supervisory office attempt to pass upon loans
beSore they are made at out-of-town branches? Approximately what proportion of the volume of loans made by
the branches is passed upon by the head office or
trict supervisory office?

6.

What methods are used in coordinating the activities of
the system as a whole?

7.

Describe the method used in auditing the branches.

S. Do auditors or special inspectors invPstignte loans from
a credit standpoint?

IV. Policies and operations
1. Give the proportions of the bank's total available funds
(capital, surplus, undivided profits, deposits, borrowed
money and notes in circulation) on June 30, 1929, and on June 30,
1930, which were used in the following, and e.xplain

•
•

•
6

whether tliese proportions are represontative of your
policy and practice:
June 30,1529

June 30,1930

Loans to customers

er!

Securities, acceptances,
mortgages, etc.
New York money market
Depository banks
2. What essential changes, if any, have been made in the lending policies of the branches since they were taken over?
How is this reflected in their loans and investments? Has
the ratio of aggregate loans and discounts (not investments) to deposits changed materially in any of your branches since they were taken over?
3. Has your bank with its branches actually achieved a diversity of loans not possible while it was a unit bank without branches? Explain.

4.

What changes have been made in rates charged on loans by
banks taken over and converted into branches?.

5.

How do the rates Charged on customers' loans by your branches compare with the rates of the independent banks in
the same communities?

6.

Do all your branches Charge thr same interPst rates? If
not what factors determine the rates and why the differences?

7.

Do your branches have any minimum size for loans? If so.
what is it? Is this any different from the nractice of
independent unit banks in the same communities?

S. Do all your branches pay the same rate of interest on
deposits? If not, what factors determine the rates and
why the differences?

•

7

9.

What changes have been made in rates paid on deposits by
the banks which were taken over and converted into
branches?

10. How do the rates paid on deposits by your branches compare
with those of the indepeIdent banks in the same communities?
11. In case the credit demands on a particular branch are in
excess of the funds available, what assistance is rendered by the main office or other branches? How is this
assistance rendered?
12. Through the process of shifting funds from one branch to
as the. neet_s determine, are you able to meet all
the credit demands on the various branches or do you
sometimes borrow from the Federal reserve bank or your
metropolitan
correspondent?
M

•

13. What is the ratio of the bank's capital to deposits?
14. Is capital assigned for accounting or other purposes to
branch offices? How do you determine profit and loss
for each office?
15. Have you a fixed rule as to the proportion of deposits that
must be carried as cash in vault by your branches? If it
varies for different branches, give the reason therefor.
For your entire system how much cash in vault is carried
in proportion to deposits?
16. What, if any, economies have been effected in the operation
of your branches since they were converted from independent unit banks? Can you give specific evidences of such
economics in:
Salaries and payroll
Forms, supplies and equipment
Advertising
Rent, etc.

•
•

•
•
8

17. Aside from operating economies, if any, what specific
advantages have your branches over the independent
unit bt.nks?
18. Has it been your experience that the enlargement of your
capil,a1 funds through the acquisition of banks and their
conv:xsion into branches has tended to increase or decrease your rate of profit?
19. Do you handle personal trust business? What proportion of
your gross profits is derived therefrom? Are trust
operations carried on in each brarch? What proportion
of branch office profits is derived therefrom? Describe
your supervision of trust operations.
20. Do you sell securities? Are your branches important outlets for the sale of securities? Do you originate
issues, either directly or through an affiliate?
21. Does your bank make loans secured by the stock of any
corporation with which your bank is affiliated, and
particularly a corporation which itself is a large
stockholder of your bank?
22. When an independent bank is taken over and converted into
a branch, how are correspondent relations affected? Are
the combined balances which the parent bank and new
branch carried with correspondents before the merger
reduced? Do any of your branches borrow directly from
correspondent banks? State what direct contacts, if
any, your branches have with correspondent banks.
23. What effect, in your opinion, would the general development of branch banking have upon correspondent relationships as they have developed under the independent unit
banking system?
24. If a member of the Federal Reserve System, how do your
relations with your Federal reserve bank comnare with
those of independent unit banks doing about the same
volume of business? Are all the currency requirements
of your branches handled through the parent bank, or
do your branches deal directly with the Federal reserve
bank? Do any of your branches ever borrow directly
from the Federal reserve bank, and if so, under what
circumstances?

•
•

•
•
9

25. What effect would the general development of branch
banking have upon the Federal Reserve System?
26. Describe your method of clearing checks, indicating
particularly how your branches clear with one
another, and whether they deal directly with the
FPderal reserve bank and correspondent banks.
27. If you are a member of the Federal Reserve System
and operate in a state There branch banking is
permitted, do you work under serious competitive
disadvantages compared with non-member banks that
are free to extend their branches? If so, indicate how serious the competition is.

V. Branches and the public
1. Is there any general prejudice in your own region or
territory against either group banking or branch
banking?
2. That various types of banking service are offered by
your branches? Do the branches of your bank offer
any services to the public in addition to those
offered when they were independent banks? Do they
render any service not offered by the independent
unit banks in the same communities? What are they?
Do you expect in time to offer other services?

3.

Are the lending policies of your branches more liberal
or less liberal than those of the independent banks
in the same communities?

4.

Have any new independent competitive banks been opened
in the communities served by your branches since they
were established?

5.

Do you think that small rural communities can be as
adequately served by unit banks as by branch banks?
If not, why?

6.

In your opinion, can branches operate successfully in
small communities where it appears unprofitable for
independent unit banks to operate?

••

9

•
•
— 10 —

7.

In your opinion, what territorial limitation should
there be on branch banking, if any? Should it be
limited to counties or states, to reserve districts,
trade areas, or to other economic divisions?

S. Aside from the law, what are the chief barriers, if
any, to an economically sound development of braach
banking? For example, administrative and personnel
problems, adverse public opinion, etc?

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC H. CURTISS
CHAIR MAN

June li, 1930

Mr. J. H. Riddle, Secretary,
Committee on Branch Banking,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Riddle:
On June 3 I received a letter from Mr. Goldenweiser in reference to procuring data
for the Committee on Branch, Group and Chain Banking in connection with the organization
and structure of industrial and commercial enterprises in this district as they affect
I have also received, under separate cover,
the shifting of banking connections.
a number of forms for use in connection with this letter, asking member banks for names
of accounts lost or gained through mergers of business enterprises covering a period of
5 years.
From contacts I have had with bankers in this district, both in Boston and outside, I
find that no records are kept by banks covering information of this character,and I
doubt very much whether any information we can get from the banks on this subject would
There are so many changes and transfers
be of any worth whatsoever to your committee.
very
would
be
difficult for a bank to draw any
daily
that
it
on
going
accounts
of
conclusions that to my mind would be worthy of consideration.
-01.11 far as the New England district goes, there are certain outstanding features of the trend
of banking which wó come in contact with here at the Reserve Bank; for instance, in Ikaine
there has developed a fairly large chain of banks which are owned or controlled by the
so called Insull interests in Chicago. In some cases, these interests have gone into a
mill center and have purchased the mill for the water power rights and have then either
In the
operated the mill purchased or in some cases have only utilized the water power.
western part of Massachusetts, we have a group of banks that have joined together under
the name of the Western Massachusetts Banking Associates in order to protect their
This movement is similar
stock ownership and to cooperate in connection with loans.
to the one organized last year in Minneapolis../ Another movement here in Massachusetts
was one made under the direction of Mr. Homer Loring, that took the form of the
While in that
consolidation and reorganization of certain textile mills in Fall River.
particular case there is some affiliation with the Fall River banks, there is also no doubt
some financing done in this enterprise with the Boston banks, although on the other hand,
Boston banks have been accustomed to financing both Fall River and New Bedford mills for
a number of decades.
"There are two outstanding systems that have developed under the leadership of Boston
banks; one that of the First National Old Colony group and the other the National Shawmut
Bank group.
These two groups have purchased banks in the outlying territory of
Boston, the particular bank bought being for the most part in residential sections where
the banks have an accumulation of either savings or individual deposits,and in cemmunities
which had a comparatively small demand for bank accommodation from local business interes+7s.

-2-

I think this movement has grown to a considerable extent through the desire of the Boston
banks to have an outlet for their security departmentrI the local interests being
influenced to sell their stock ownership through the attractive offers made by the Boston
The prices paid in most instances by the Boston banks
banks for the local bank stock.
for the stock of these outside banks has appeared to us to be inordinately high. On the
other hand, the Boston banks I imagine have expected to meke considerable saving in the
overhead expenses of these banks besides having them as feeders as I have mentioned.
During the last two or three years there has been considerable development in this district
in chain stores, such as Woolworths, Kresge, A. &: P. and the First Aational (not, of course,
the First National Bank) and these chain stores have been keen competitors in local
communities with the local stores.
As you no doubt know, the two most important industries in New England have been the
textile and the shoe, and the communities having these industries have suffered considerably
This, of course, has affected a large
by the circumstances surrounding thos3industries.
and,in
that
way,
has
population
of
the
affected
the banking situation. Irrespective
portion
savings
throughout
New
the
deposits
fact,
England
have tended to increase, both
of this
in the mutual savings banks and in the commercial banks. /In the case of the ccmmercial
banks, the falling off in commercial borrowing has made it difficult for the country banker
to find investments and he has turned toward real estate loans and securities, neither of
which at the present time have proved very satisfactory.
I think this together with the
attractive offers that have been made from the city banks for their stockholdings, has been
the incentive which has brought about chain banking.
This whole movement that has been going on here over the last two or three years has been so
gradual and so indefinite that I believe in most cases the bankers themselves have not
realized just what has happened.
I am giving you this picture as I
viewpoint here is much closer and
information from any of the banks
further on this matter, and shall
care to have me do so.

see it here at the Reserve Bank, for I believe that our
accurate than anything that can be received from seeking
in the district.
I shall be glad to hear from you
of course send out these questionnaires if you still

Yours very truly,
w4/.
' Federal Reserve Agent.

ne b,

i4r. Frederic ff. Curtiss,
Federal leserve A,,fent,
Aulerel eserve 3ank of Boston,
ooston, kassacdusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:
AS you doubtless know the i;oilifsittee on iranc4, Group
and Chain 3anking has been preuerinR during recent weeks
a program for its investigation, and various tables,
schedules and forms for compiling data are in course of
preparation. 5ome of tiles* have already beton submitte,
to you either or suggestions as to form or for the actual
collection of data, and others will fellow snortly.
I aai leaving ashington tomorrow anu will be away about
thrrs months, spending most of thr,t time in Yurope. In my
absenoe the secretary of the Committee, kr. Riddle, will
soledules
keep in to 10h with you and Till submit to you other
lours.,
of
and forms as they are /orked into final aape. I,
secrethe
have gone oirr the w,neral soope of the study with
tary nnd some other members of the Committee and it merely
reasins to work out the final details of the pr000aals.
other memThese schedules and forms will be passed upon by
l oases
bers of the Committee, in ay absence, 'Ind In specia
y
tinnil
are
they
before
14stem
by other members of the
your
in
data
of
tion
the
collec
for
adopted and submitted
!lave
district. You may be assured, therefore, that they
receivrd careful attention.
Very truly yours,

'Thainuan, Counittee on Branch,
lroJ and Chain Nanking.

To be sent to all ?ederal

Xgents

Dear Lr. Curtiss:
As you doubtleLs 'chow the Committee on Branch, group and Chain Banking has been preparing during recent weeks a program for its investigation and various tables, schedules and forms for compiling data are in
course of rreparation.

Some of these have already been submitted to

you either for suggestions as to form or for the actual collection of
data, and others will follow shortly.

ec4,17
I

am leaving 7lakhington tomorrov..7 aiA,p---arerrtte+r-ne-etiti---rszt-tnd will be

away about three ::.onths, spendin.

_lost of that time in Europe.

In

my absence the secretary of the Committee, I.1r. "?.i.,1,11e, will keep in touch
with you and will submit to you other sched.11:, and forms as they are
worked into final share.

I, of coarse, have gone over the general scope

of study with the secretary and some other members of the Committee and
it merely remains to work out the final details of the pronosals.

These

schedules and forms will be passea upon by other members of the Caa..ittee,
in my absence, and in special cases by other members of the System before
they are finally adopted and submitted for the collection of data in your
ette.:41
received careful attention.
have
they
- ,TOU may be assured
district%
Very truly yours,

Chairman, Committee on 3ranch,
Group and Chain Banking.

,444-1.44-1-t

/
16

-434-4-eta,

,ottkttaArt•-e+4
_A>, :6

A

June 4, 1930.

Mr. Frederic J. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve A ,7ent
Federal leserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts,
Pear Mr. Curtiss:
,
In the study of branch banking the Cannittee on Branoh
show
someto
ble
group and Chain Banking thinks it desira
thing of the development of branches as far back as 1900
in order to give a fairly oomplete statistical story of
this movement. Apparently no reliable statistics on branch
banking have been oompiled for years prior to 1919 or 1920,
and it is proposed, therefore, to ask the various state banking departments and the Comptroller of the Currency for certain data for selected years during that earlier neriod.
Accordingly a simole schedule has be-en prepared asking mereand
ly for the number of branches, loans and investments
more
or
one
ed
operat
w
lioh
tr:tnk
eaoh
total resources of
branches in any of those .years. The .-e were prob .bly not
more than two or three 'hundred such banks in the whole
country und the compilation, in so far as the data is
not be a burdensome one.
available,
t that
A cony of this soheaule is enclosed and I sugges
to
ments
g
depart
bankin
you request the appropriate state
states
of
,narts
or
supply this information for the states
le
which are included within your district. A separate schedu
law
state
under
is to be mzIde out for each brink o )erating
data
whioh had branches in any of the years mentionod. The
of
for national banks 7111 be supolied by the Comptroller
the Currency.
d to you in
'The secretary of the Committee will forwar
in your
use
for
les
schedu
supply of toebe
a few days
district.
Very truly yours,

+Enc.

Chairjac, Ca-Attee on Branch,
grou:i zn.. Tattin BankinR.

June 3, 1930.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss,
Federal Reserve Agent,
Federal Reserve Bank of Boston,
Boston, Massachusetts.
Dear Mr. Curtiss:

one of the functions of the Committee on Branch, Group and
Chain Banking is to determine, if possible, the principal causes
for the present tendencies in banking.

It is believed that °hangs

which have been going on in the organisation and structure of industrial and commercial enterprises throughout the country have
resulted in a shifting of banking connections and have been a
factor in the situation.

In nearly all communities there have

doubtless been independent enterprises with local banking connections which during the past five years have been amalgamated
with or absorbed by other enterprises with headquarters in some
other city, usually some metroixolitan district, with the result
that their principal banking connections have likewise been transferred to banks in the larger cities and only nominal accounts left
in the local banks.

Other industries have passed Into the control of

capitalists located elsewhere with a conseiuent shift in banking connections.

In some communities this has nrobably resulted in S net

loss of business to the banks, while in others the Rain may have
equaled the loss.

In still other communities, especially the metro-.

Mr. Frederic H. Curtiss #2

June e,

politan areas, the result has perhaps been a net gain in banking
connections or in the volume of business.
While it is cleerly not feasible to make a complete tabulation
of these changes in bank connections so as to show just how much
particular communities have lost or gained by the process, it is possible to secure for selected cities or oommunities a list of instances
where industrial or trnJe combinations have resulted in the loss of
business to the banks of that area.

In fact one banker while testi-

fying recently before the Hausa Committee on Banking and Currency read
such a list of consolidations or mergers which he resulted in the
loss of accounts to his group of banks.
Perhaps you can secure such lists from the member banks in
certain selected cities or comunities of your district, 1.n.,
names of industrial and caanercial enterprises which through
either chanee of control or throlgh consolidation or merger with
other enterprises have transferred all or a part of their business away from the banks with which they have been a.customed to
do business to banks in other cities.

The neene of the city to

which the account has been transferred should likewise be gieen.
In making the reports the balks might also note the accounts which
have been gained by the same process.

It is suggested that you

reeuest this information from the member banks in some teelve or
fifteen towns

Or cities in your istrict varying in size from the

very mall towns to the larger cities.
treated confidentially.

It will, of course, be

Attached is a suggested schedule for col-

lecting the information relaested.

Mr. Frederic 1. Curtiss #3

June .,, 1930.

..nother factor which affects the banking situation in many
oommunities is the change which has cy=rred in methods of histrioution, especially the chain store, the chain restaurant and
the chain servile station.

Perhaps the bankers from whom you

request the above information would indicate roughly the extent
to which they have been affectea by this and similar developments.

Very truly yours,

Chairman, Committee on Branch,
Group and Chain Banking.
t1

-

I

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
W. P. G.
WILLIAM
WILLIAM
KRICKEL

FREDERM

HARD! NG, GOVERNOR
W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GOVERNOR
WILL ETT, CASHIER
K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H

CURTISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

CHARLES F. GETTEMY

ELLIS G HULT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

May 23, 1930

Mr. E. M. McClelland, Assistant Secretary,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. G.
Dear Yr. McClelland:
Please accept my thanks ir sending me so promptly
the copies of the published parts of the hearings before the
Committee on Banking and Currency for which I asked you in my
letter of 'ay 17.
I appreciate your courtesy not only in sending them
but also in your offering to send me additional parts of the
hearings as they become available.
Very truly yours,

Secretary.

,/

•,t

A
!lay 19, 19!!0

Der "r• Oarrie1.1
Referring !:c your lotiAtr.ot
I take plenenre in enZi; herewith, flr Your
use, n rierr.• doWl of pprts 1 to 10 of he Hear*
in:;$ before the Ilorv.ittee on Sanking and curronsy
of the 1:4,113e of Representatives, on the subject
of Group, Chain and Bran,* Bankisso Am addition.i.
al parts of the Hearings beeps's swallablas 1 will
see that copies are sent to you.
.!ory truly yiurs„

E. M. McClelland,
Assistant Secretary

Mr. K. K. Carrick, Secretary,
Federal User's Banks
Beaton, MuSe•

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
FREDERIC

G HARDING. GOVERNOR
W
WILLIAM W. PADDOCK, DEPUTY GovEranort
WILLIAM WI L LETT, CASHIER
KRICKEL K. CARRICK, SECRETARY

H. CUF2TISS

CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD
AND FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

11

ALLEN

HOLLIS
DEPUTY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD

ASSISTANT CASHIERS

ELLiS G. H LILT
ERNEST M. LEAVITT
L. WALLACE SWEETSER

CHARLES F. GETTEMY
ASSISTANT FEDERAL RESERVE AGENT

May 17, 1930

Mr. E. M. McClelland, Assistant Secretary,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. McClelland:
Could you obtain and send to me the published
record of the hearings by the Banking and Currency Committee
of the House of nepresentatives on the subject of Group and
Branch Banking?
What I have seen consists of ten separate
pamphlets containing parts No. 1 to 10 inclusive.
I would like to obtain copies for my office and
if you could send them to me your courtesy would be greatly
appreciated.
Very truly yours,

Secretary.

A

amoleoll

•

• TELEGRAM
FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM
(LEASED WIRE SERVICE)

RECEIVED AT WASHINGTON, D. C.

185bfa
l'oston Apr 24

4pJ

Youn
- Washn
Change boards cormittee on branch chain and group banking
bank comittee meets our approval
Paddock
420pri

P.1110
,
...01W1MMINOWIRCWIIMA

2--11001

to

S
FEDERAL RESERVE BANK
OF BOSTON
W. PG. HARDING
GOVERNOR

March 22, 1930

Mr. J. C. Noell, Assistant Secretary,
Federal Reserve Board,
ashington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Noell:
Governor Harding wishes me to acknowledge
you very much for sending him a copy
thank
and
receipt
of Part 2 of Volume 1 of the Hearings before the Conittee
on Banking and Currency of the House of Aepresentatives
on Branch, Chain and Group Banking.
Very truly yours,

Harding.
ov.
toV
Sec
etary
c'e"%c
.47
r

March 20, 1930.

Dear Mr. Harding:
)'or your information I am enclosing
herewith a copy of Part 2 of Volume 1 of the Hearings before the Committee on Ranking and Currency
of the HOU30 of Representatives on Brand:, Chaia
and Group Balking, H. R. No. 141.
Very truly yours,

J. C. Noell,
Assistant Secretary.

Kr. W. P. G. Harding. Governor,
?adored Rosary's 10164
Boston, Ilassachosotts.
'nclosure.

Mirth 20$ 1930.

Dear Mr. Curtiss:
lor your information I am snilosing
herewith a copy of Part 2 of Volume 1 of the Bearings before the Gammittee on Banking and Currency
of the House of Representatives on Drandh, Chain
and Group Banking, H. R. No. 141.
Very truly your c,

As

J. C. Noell,
Searetary.

Mr. Prederie U. Curtiss, Chairman,
Mead Reserve Bank,
Reston, Maseadhusetts.
tas1mmar4).

FEDERAL RESERVE BANK

LI

OF BOSTON
W. E. G. HARDING
GO,
,ERNO.

March 12, 1930

Mr. J. C. Noell, Asst. Secretary,
Federal Reserve Board,
Washington, D. C.
Dear Mr. Noell:
I have received your letter o
and wish to thank you for sen ivg me a copy of the
hearings held on February 25, 26 and 27, before the
Committee on Banking and Currency of the House of
Representatives, on Branch, Chain and Group Banking.
Very truly yours,

74_ t--6-fri
Governor.

/

March 10, 1930.

Dear mr. Salasit
Enclosed herewith for your information is
a copy of the hearings held on February 25, 26 and 27, before the Committee on 3anking and Currency of the House of
Representatives, on Branch, Chain and Grump Backing.
Very truly yours,

J. C. leen,
Assistes$ Sesretary.

Mr. T. P. G. Harding, Governor,
Federal Reserve Bank,
Boston,
Mass.

Enclosure:

:larch 10, 1930.

Dear 2r. Curtiss:
Bnclosed herewith for your information is
a co-)y of the hearings held on February 25. 26 and 27 be,
the Committee on Banking and Currency oi the Rouse
of '?epresentatives on Branch. Chain, and Group Bankiag.
Very truly yours,

J. C. Noell,
Assistant Secretary.

'fr. Frederic I. Curtiss, Chairman,
Federal Reserve Bask,
Boston,
Wes.

Inaclosures