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F ederal reser v e Ban k OF DALLAS Dallas, Texas, March 1,1948 To Member and Par Nonmember Banks in the Eleventh Federal Reserve District: As you will recall, the CHECK ROUTING SYMBOL PROGRAM was inaugurated in June, 1945, by the American Bankers Association and the Federal Reserve banks for the purpose of making it much simpler for the commercial banks throughout the country to sort checks that are collectible at par through the Federal Reserve System. In a nation-wide survey conducted as of December 1, 1947, it was found that 96 per cent of the 12,000 par banks in the United States have some checks in circulation with the routing symbol in the approved location. In a recent survey conducted by this bank, it was found that all but 8 of the 897 par banks in this district have some checks in circulation bearing the routing symbol, and that approximately 56 per cent of the checks and drafts received drawn on the par banks of the Eleventh Federal Reserve District bear the correct routing symbol in the approved location. These results are very gratify ing and show that the check routing symbol plan has been accepted by banks generally. In order, however, to reach the goal of making it possible for banks to use the check routing symbols in sorting checks collectible at par through the Federal Reserve System, it is essential that a large majority of checks in circulation bear the symbol. Substantial further progress can be made in this direction if banks will encourage their customers when ordering checks and drafts direct from printers to have the routing symbol printed in the upper right-hand corner of the checks and drafts. For your assistance in furthering the program, there is attached a revised copy of our folder of specimen checks and drafts, illustrating the check routing symbol and the A.B.A. transit number as they should appear in fractional form on checks and drafts that are collectible at par through the Federal Reserve System. The fine results which have been achieved so far have been made possible by the cooperation of the banks and the printers generally, and your continued efforts to have your combination transit number-routing symbol printed in the correct location on the checks of your bank as new stocks are ordered, whether the checks are printed by you or by your customers, will be greatly appreciated. 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 o f specimens are standard sizes recommended by Bank Management Commission o f Am erican Bankers Association. X- federal reserve bank o f D a lla s D A L L A S 13, T E X A S Rerittd 3-1-48 The combined transit number and routing symbol should be shown in the upper right comer 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). N o. 8 1001 The First State Bank 88-4522 1113 Somewhere, Texas,------------------------------------------ 19-----H E PAn FTDOE RT HO FOY R * _________________________________________________________ __DOLLARS P A Y A B L E A T P A R TH R O U G H FED ERAL RESE RVE SY ST E M M SPECIM EN K N O W Y O U R E N D O R SE R — R EQ U IR E ID E N TIFIC A TIO N Size 8 W x 3 * " The routing symbol should always be in the upper right comer and should always be the number of the paying bank. N o. 1001 JOHN DOE AND SONS COMPANY, Inc. — ADDRESS — 32-523 1110 DALLAS, TEXAS, PAY T ° 1 .1 9 4 . the ORDER OF.DOLLARS P A Y A B L E A T P A R T H R O U G H FED ERAL R E SE RVE SYST EM SPECIM EN BLANKVILLE NATIONAL BANK DALLAS, TEXAS K N O W Y O U R E N D O R SE R — REQUIRE ID E N TIFIC A TIO N Size 8 % " x 3 % " May also be 814" x 3rfe" 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 and 1001 P lanters Bank 32-524 88-5427 1110 .19. Anywhere, Texas,. D A Y TO THE * ORDER O F- -S - DOLLARS PAYABLE AT PAR THROUGH FEDERAL RESERVE SYSTEM To THE BLANK NATIONAL BANK ) SPECIM EN DALLAS, TEXAS CASHIER KNOW YOUR ENDORSER— REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION Size 8 % " x 3 % " Where one bank draws on another bank, the routing symbol in the upper right corner should be the number of the PAYING bank. B lank National Bank at Dallas 194 Dallas, Texas, PAY TO TH E O R D E R OF _________________ DOLLARS WITH EXCHANGE AND COLLECTION CHARGES Value received and charge the same to account o f To. SPECIM EN KNOW YOUR ENDORSER— REQUIRE IDENTIFICATION 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. ST A N D A R D V IL L E , T E X A S.___ : , 884523 1113 _______________ 19---------- STANDARD TRUST COMPANY P A Y TO TH E O R D E R O F _____________________________________________________________________________ S. _____________________________________ __ __________ D O L L A R S P A Y A B L E AT P A R T H R O U G H FED ERAL RE SE R V E SY ST E M SPECIMEN K N O W Y O U R E N D O R SE R — REQ U IR E ID E N T IF IC A T IO N Size 614" x 2 % " On the small pocket check the transit number and routing symbol should also be in the upper right corner. 19. NAME O F B A N K LO C A TIO N O F BAN K ______________________________________ P aytothe Brown Dry Goods Company DOLLARS A D D R E S S ______________________________________ SPECIMEN P H O N E N o __________________________________________________________ Size 6y*"x2%" May also be 814" x 3 A " No symbol number should be printed on courtesy checks supplied by busi ness houses to customers paying for purchases by check.
@FedFRASER