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F ederal Reserve Ban k O F DALLAS Dallas, Texas, July 3, 1952 CHECK ROUTING SYMBOL To the Member and Par Nonmember Banks of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District: Since 1945 the American Bankers Association and the Federal Reserve banks have sponsored the Check Routing Symbol Plan. From time to time we have advised you of the progress being made on this program. A survey completed on June 1, 1952, showed that while 88 percent of all checks collected through the 12 Federal Reserve banks and their branches carried the routing symbol in the approved location, the percentage for the Eleventh Federal Reserve District was only 82 percent. Bank checks represent such a substantial part of the Nation’s medium of exchange and serve so largely as a substitute for money that their collection in the shortest possible time is highly desirable. The Routing Symbol Plan not only permits a faster and more efficient handling of checks but also results in lower operating costs. The full advantage of the plan will be realized only when the symbol appears in the upper right-hand corner of all par checks. Our studies indicate that most of the checks ordered from check suppliers by banks, either for their own stock or for customers, have the symbol printed in the proper place. Many depositors, however, who order their checks directly from printers apparently fail to request that the routing symbol be printed on the checks. Perhaps this is because they do not appreciate fully the importance of the routing symbol in speeding up the collection of checks throughout the banking system. It would be helpful if you would examine your canceled check files and suggest to your depositors who have had checks printed without showing the routing symbol, or with the routing symbol improperly placed, that the symbol be printed in the proper form and location on all checks ordered in the future. We will be very glad to assist you in meeting any problems that you may encounter in pro moting the Routing Symbol Plan. Two copies of our folder illustrating the placement of the routing symbol are enclosed with this letter, and additional copies will be furnished upon request. The American Bankers Association will make available without cost to its members a folder titled “ We Need Your Help to Help You.” This folder is designed for distribution to depositors who have their own checks printed but do not include the routing symbol in the correct location. Yours very truly, R. R. GILBERT President This publication was digitized and made available by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas' Historical Library (FedHistory@dal.frb.org) FOLDER OF SPECIMEN CHECKS AND DRAFTS Showing routing symbol and transit numbers combined in fractional form. Sizes of specimens are standard sizes recommended by Bank Management Commission of American Bankers Association. * Fe d e r a l reserve ban k o f Da lla s D A L L A S 1 3 .T E X A S Reprinted 7-1-52 The combined transit number and routing symbol should be shown in the upper right corner of each check in clearly readable type. If possible, the serial number should be of a size and character of type readily distinguish able from the transit and routing symbol numbers and the figure amount of the check, preferably in a different color (wherever two or more colors are being run). No. O U The First State Bank W £ Somewhere, Texas,________________________ 19___ § S m W 1001 88-4522 1113 D A Y TO THE r ORDER O F - ______________________________________________________ ____ DOLLARS 8 P A Y A B L E A T P AR T H R O U G H F E D E R A L R E S ER V E S Y S TE M SPECIMEN KNOW YO UR ENDORSER— REQUIRE ID E N TIF IC A TIO N Size 8 % " x 3 A " The routing symbol should always be in the upper right comer and should always be the number of the paying bank. No. 1001 JOHN DOE AND SONS COMPANY, Inc. — ADDRESS — 32-523 1110 Dallas, Texas, pAY T O T H E 1 ORDER OF— ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- - T — 19 ; $ ________________________________________DOLLARS P A Y A B L E A T PAR T H R O U G H FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM SPECIMEN BLANKVILLE NATIONAL BANK n A T T .A S , T E X A S • K N O W Y O U R EN D OR SER— REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION Size 8 % " x 3 % " May also be 814" x 3iV' Even though the name of the PAYING bank is in the lower left corner of the check the ROUTING symbol should be in the upper right corner. Note: The ROUTING SYMBOL numbers should appear only on checks drawn on banks that are on the Federal Reserve Par List. No. M erchants an d 1001 P lanters B a n k 32-524 88-5427 1110 Anywhere, Texas,_ .19- T O THE ORDER O F- p a y * DOLLARS P A Y A B L E A T PAR T H R O U G H FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM SPECIMEN To THE BLANK NATIONAL BANK DALLAS, TEXAS C ASH IER KNOW YOUR EN D OR SER— REQUIRE IDE NTIFICA TION Size 8 % " x 3 % " Where one bank draws on another bank, the routing symbol in the upper right comer should be the number of the PAYING bank. CUSTOMER’ S DRAFT DALLAS, TEXAS, 19 PAY TO THE ORDER OF __________________ DOLLARS Value received and charge the same to account o f To W ITH EX C HA NGE AND C O L L EC TIO N CHARGES SPECIMEN K NOW YOUR E N D O R SE R — R E Q U IR E IDE NTIFICA TION Size 8 % " x 3 % " Blank drafts for the use of customers should NOT bear any routing symbol and it would be preferable to omit the transit number. NO. S T A N D A R D V IL L E , T E X A S ,_______________________ 19----------- 88-4523 1113 STANDARD TRUST COMPANY PAY TO THE O R D E R O F _____________________________________ _____________________________________________ $. ________________________________________________________________________ D O L L A R S P A Y A B L E A T PAR T H R O U G H F E D E R A L RESER VE S Y S T E M SPECIMEN K N O W YO U R EN D OR SER— REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION Size 6 % " x 2 % " On the small pocket check the transit number and routing symbol should also be in the upper right corner. .19. N A M E O F BANK. L O C A T IO N O F B A N K ____________________________________ P ao r d e r o f ________________ Brown Dry Goods Company DOLLARS A D D R E S S ____________________________________________ SPECIMEN P H O N E NO___________________________ ______________________________________________________________ Size 6 % " x 2 % " May also be 814" x 3A " No symbol number should be printed on courtesy checks supplied by busi ness houses to customers paying for purchases by check.
@FedFRASER