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2478
A meeting of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
WaS held

in Washington on Saturday, November 23, 1935, at 11:30 a. m.
PRESENT:

Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.
Mr.

Eccles, Chairman
Thomas, Vice Chairman
Hamlin
Miller
Szymczak

Mr. Morrill, Secretary
Mr. Bethea, Assistant Secretary
Mr. Carpenter, Assistant Secretary
The Board acted upon the following matters:
Letters to Mr. Sproul, Secretary of the Federal Reserve Bank of
New

y°rk, Mr. Austin, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia,

141". Clark, Secretary
of the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, and Mr. Wood,
rman of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis, stating that the Board
411Pr°ves the establishment without change by the Philadelphia and St.
141lia banks on November 20, by the New York bank on November 21, and by
the Atlanta

bank on November 22, 1935, respectively, of the rates of dis-

c°'141t and
purchase in their existing schedules.
Approved unanimously.
Bond in the amount of e50,000, executed under date of November
16 by m
' - -r. Larry McPherson Odom as Acting Assistant Federal Reserve Agent
at th
6 a Paso Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Dallas.
Approved unanimously.
Memorandum dated November 19, 1935, from Mr. Wyatt, General
Couns
el, submitting the resignation of Mr. J. Delafield DuBois as an
Aesist t n
an- -ounsel in the Legal Division, to be effective as at the close
or bus

illess on December 24, 1935, and recommending that the Board accept




2479
11/23/35

-2-

the resignation
as of that date.
Accepted with regret.
Letter to Mr. Curtiss, Federal Reserve Agent at the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, reading as follows:
"In connection with its consideration of the application of 'The First National Bank of Boston', Boston,
Massachusetts, for a voting permit entitling certain
trustees to vote the stock which such bank owns or controls
of 'Old Colony Trust Company', Boston, Massachusetts, the
Board has determined that the applicant is not engtiged,
directly or indirectly, as a business in holding the stock
of, or managing or controlling, banks, banking associations,
savings banks, or trust companies within the meaning of
section 2(c) of the Banking Act of 1933, as amended by
section 301 of the Banking Act of 1935, and, accordingly,
the applicant is not a holding company affiliate for any
Purposes other than those of section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act.
"Inclosed herewith is a letter to the applicant advising
It concerning the Board's action in this matter. If, for
any reason, you believe that this matter should be reconsidered by the Board, please communicate with the Board at
once. Otherwise you are requested to transmit the inclosed
letter to the applicant. A copy of the letter is also inclosed for your files.
. "As you will note, the Board expressly reserves the
right to make a further determination of this matter at any
ti.me on the basis of the then existing facts. In this
connection it is requested that you advise the Board if, at any
tune, you believe this matter should again be considered by it."
Approved unanimously, together with
a letter to "The First National Bank of
Boston", Boston, Massachusetts, reading as
follows:
"This refers to the application of your bank for a voting
permit entitling certain trustees to vote the stock which your
Dank controls of 'Old Colony Trust Company', Boston, Massachusetts.
"The Board understands that your bank was organized and
i8 operated for the purpose of conducting a general banking




2480
11/23/35

—5_

"business; that 98.75 per cent of the stock of Old Colony
Trust Company is held by trustees for the benefit of the
shareholders of your bank; that Old Colony Trust Company
ls operated as a trust company affiliate of your bank and
is principally engaged in handling trust business; that
your bank owns all of the stock of First of Boston Inter—
national Corporation and 25 per cent of the stock of French
American Banking Corporation, both of which are engaged in
the international banking business; that your bank does not
manage or control any other bank or banking corporation and
has only a relatively insignificant portion of its assets
invested in stock of such organizations; and that your bank
is not operated for the purpose of managing or controlling
banks.
"In view of the above facts, the Board has determined
that your bank is not engaged, directly or indirectly, as a
business in holding the stock of, or managing or controlling,
banks, banking associations, savings banks, or trust
corapanies within the meaning of section 2(c) of the Banking
Act of 1935, as amended by section 301 of the Banking Act
of 1935, and, therefore, it is not a holding company affili—
ate for any purposes other than those of section 25A of the
Federal Reserve Act. Accordingly, it is not necessary for
it to obtain a voting permit in order that the stock which
it owns or controls of Old Colony Trust Company may be
voted and, on this basis, the Board will give no further
consideration to its application for such a permit.
"If, however, your bank acquires control over any other
bank, or if the facts should at any time otherwise differ
from thos9 set out above to an extent which would indicate
that your bank might be engaged, directly or indirectly, as
a buaines- in holding the stock of, or managing or controlling,
1
, this matter should again be submitted to the Board.
2ank3
The Board reserves the right to make a further determination
Of this matter at any time on the basis of the then existing
facts.”
Letter to Mr. Case, Federal Reserve Agent at the Federal Reserve

Balik

or New York, reading as follows:
"In connection with its consideration of the application
of the
'Hudson—Harlem Valley Corporation', Mount Kisco, New
York, for
a voting permit entitling such corporation to vote
the stock which it owns or controls of 'Trust Company of
Northern Westchester', Mount Kisco, New York, the Board has




2481
11/25/35

-4-

"determined that such applicant is not engaged, directly or
indirectly, as a business in holding the stock of, or
managing or controlling, banks, banking associations, savings
banks, or trust companies, within the meaning of section
2(c) of the Banking Act of 1935, as amended by section 501 of
the Banking Act of 1955, and, accordingly, the applicant is
not a holding company affiliate for any purposes other than
those of section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act.
"Inclosed herewith is a letter to the applicant advising it concerning the Board's action in this matter. If,
for any reason, you believe that this matter should
be reconsidered by the Board, please communicate with the Board at
once. Otherwise, you are requested to transmit the inclosed
letter to the applicant. A copy of the letter is also inclosed for your files.
.
"As you will note, the Board expressly reserves the
right to make a further determination of this matter at any
time on the basis of the then existing facts. In this connection, it is requested that you advise the Board if, at any
time, you believe this matter should again be considered by
the Board."
Approved unanimously, together with a
letter to the "Hudson-Harlem Valley Corporation",
Mount Kisco, New York, reading as follows:
"This refers to the application of your corporation for
a voting permit elititnic it to vote the stock which it owns
or controls of 'Trust Company of Northern Westches
ter', Mount
Kisco, New York.
"The Board understands that your corporation owns or
!cntrols 5,156 of the 4,000 outstanding shares of Trust
?°mPany of Northern Westchester, its sole subsidiary bank;
"that your corporation controls
through its subsidiaries stock
of three other banks but in each case such stock
constitutes
very small fraction of 1% of the outstanding stock of the
anki that, except as stated above, your corporation does not
the stock of, or manage or control, any other bank; that
,PProximately one-fourth of the assets of your corporation are
ltiveSted in bank stock, almost all of the remainder being
°mested in the stock of a real estate title and mortgage
c Pany and the stock of an investment company; and that your
°rPcration was not organized and is not operated for the purP°8e of managing or controlling banks.
"In view of the above facts, the Board has determined that
Your corporat
ion is not engaged, directly or indirectly, as a

t

r




2482
11/23/35

-5-

"business in holding the stock of, or managing or controlling,
banks, banking associations, savings banks, or trust companies,
Within the meaning of section 2(c) of the Banking Act of 1955,
es amended by section 501 of the Banking Act of 1935, and,
therefore, is not a holding company affiliate for any purposes
Other than those of section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act.
Accordingly, it is not necessary for your corporation to obtain
a voting permit in order to vote the stock which it owns or
controls of Trust Company of Northern Westchester and on this
basis the Board will give no further consideration to your
application for such a permit.
"If, however, your corporation acquires control over any
Other bank, or the character of the business of your corporation, the nature of its assets, or the purpose for which it
ls operated should at any time differ from the description
thereof contained in this letter to an extent which would indicate that it might be engaged as a business in holding the
stock of, or managing or controlling, banks, this matter
should again be submitted to the Board for its determination.
The Board reserves the right to make a further determination
Of, this matter at any time on the basis of the then existing
fact8.1!
Letter to Mr. Case, Federal Reserve Agent at the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York, reading as follows:
"In connection with its consideration of the application
,T. Henry Schroder Banking Corporation', Nem York, New
f'
York, for a voting permit entitling it to vote the stock which
tt °wns or controls of 'J. Henry Schroder Trust Company', New
tYork, New York, the Board has determined that the applicant
?s not engaged, directly or indirectly, as a business in
the stock of, or managing or controlling, banks,
antang associations, savings banks, or trust companies, within the
meaning of section 2(c) of the Banking Act of 1935, as
amended by section 301 of the Banking Act of 1955, and,
I.tccordingly, the applicant is not a holding company affiliate
or any purposes other than those of section 25A of the Federal Reserve
Act.
v. "Inclosed herewith is a letter to the applicant advising
concerning the Board's action in this matter. If, for any
as°11, you believe that this matter should be reconsidered by
wr Board, please communicate with the Board at once. OtherYOU are requested to transmit the inclosed letter to the
aPPlieent. A
copy of the letter is also inclosed for your
files.

j




2483
11/23/35

—6—

"As you will note, the Board expressly reserves the
right to make a further determination of this matter at
any time on the basis of the then existing facts. In this
connection it is requested that you advise the Board, if,
at any time, you believe this matter should again be con—
sidered by it."
Approved unanimously, together with a
letter to the "J. Henry Schroder Banking
Corporation", New York, Nev York, reading as
follows:
"This refers to the application of your corporation
for a voting permit
entitling it to vote the stock which it
owns or controls of 'J. Henry Schroder Trust Company', New
York, New York.
"The Board understands that your corporation owns 7,162
of the 10,000 outstanding shares of stock of J. Henry
Schroder Trust Company, but does not hold the stock of, or
manage or control, any other bank; that your corporation is
Principally engaged in the business of international banking
was organized and is operated for that purpose, whereas
your subsidiary
bank is principally engaged in the general
banking and trust business; that only a relatively small
Portion of your
corporation's assets is invested in bank
Itock; and
that your corporation was not organized and is
t operated
for the purpose of managing or controlling
banks.
"In view of the above facts, the Board has determined
that your
corporntion is not engaged, directly or indirectly,
3 a business
in holding the stock of, or managing or con—
tr011ing, banks, banking associations, savings banks, or
Brust compallies, within the meaning of section 2(c) of
the
A a king Act of 1933, as amended by section 301 of the Banking
'
e6 of 1935, and, therefore, it is not a holding company
affiliate for any
purposes other than those of section 23A
.fc.
31% the Federtl
Reserve Act. Accordingly, it is not necessary
Ir°r Your corporation to obtain a voting permit in order to
T°te the stock which it owns or controls of J. Henry Schroder
_rust Company
— and, on this basis, the Board will give no
rurther consideration to your application for such a permit.
If, however, your corporation acquires control over
bank, or the facts should at any time otherwise
11.ffer from those stated
herein to an extent which would
icate that your corporation might be engaged as a business
h°1ding the stock of, or managing or controlling, banks,
.0,,"-L6 matter should again be submitted to the Board for its

Z

IT




2484
11/23/35

-7-

"determination. The Board reserves the right to make a
further determination of this matter at any time on the
basis of the then existing facts."
Letter to Mr. Stevens, Federal Reserve Agent at the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago, reading as follows:
. "In conneaion with its consideration of the application of 'Continental Illinois National Bank and Trust
Company of Chicago', Chicago, Illinois, for a voting permit
entitling certain trustees or their successors as such to
vote the stock which such bank owns or controls of 'Continental National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago', Chicago,
Illinois, the Board has determined that the applicant is
not engaged, directly or indirectly, as a business in holding
the stock of, or managing or controlling, banks, banking
associations,
savings banks, or trust companies within the
meaning of section 2(c) of the Banking Act of 1935, as
amended by section 301 of the Banking Act of 1935, and,
accordingly,
the applicant is not a holding company affiliate for any
purposes other than those of section 23A of the
Federal Reserve Act.
.4.
"Inclosed herewith is a letter to the applicant advising
1L concerning the Board's action in this matter. If, for any
reason, you believe that this matter should be reconsidered
bY the Board, please communicate with the Board at once.
Otherwise you
are requested to transmit the inclosed letter
to the
applicant. A copy of the letter is also inclosed for
Your files.
"As you will note, the Board expressly reserves the
ri
:
ght to make a further determination of this matter at any
time on the basis of the then existing facts. In this
connection
it is requested that you advise the Board if, at
11.Y time, you believe this matter should again be considered
cY
Approved unanimously, together with a
letter to the "Continental Illinois National
Bank and Trust Company of Chicago", Chicago,
Illinois, reading as follows:
."This refers to the application of your bank for a voting
1;,ermit entitling certain trustees or their successors as such
vote the stock which your bank owns or controls of 'Conti7.11
,
1tal National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago', Chicago,




2485
11/23/35

-8-

"The Board understands that your bank is engaged in
the general banking and trust business and was organizea
and is operated for that purpose; that your bank owns or
controls all the stock, except directors' qualifying shares,
of Continental National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago,
which stock is held by certain trustees for the benefit of
Your bank; that your bank owns 48.6 per cent of the stock
of State Bank of West Pullman, West Pullman, Illinois, (in
liquidation) and owns some stock of other banks but does
not manage or control such banks; thnt only a relatively
insignificant portion of the assets of your bank is invested in bank stock; that the assets of your bank are more
than 300 times as large as the assets of your subsidiary
bank; and that your bank is not operated for the purpose
of managing or controlling banks.
"In view of the above facts, the Board has determined
that your bank is not engaged, directly, or indirectly, as
a business
in holding the stock of, or managing or controlling, banks, banking associations, savings banks, or
trust companies within the meaning of section 2(c) of the
Banking Act of 1933, as amended by Section 301 of the
Banking Act of 1935, and, therefore, it is not a holding
company affiliate for any purposes other than those of
section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act. Accordingly, it
Is
not necessary for it to obtain a voting permit in
order that the stock which it owns or controls of Continental National Bank and Trust Company of Chicago may be
voted and, on this
basis, the Board will give no further
consideration to its application for such a permit.
"If, however, your bank acquires control over any
Other bank, or if the facts should at any time otherwise
differ from
those set out above to an extent which would indicate that
your bank might be engaged, directly or indirectly, as
a business in holding the stock of, or managing
or c
ontrolling, banks, this matter should again be submitted
to the
Board. The Board reserves the right to make a
further determination of this matter at any time on the basis
of the then
existing facts."
Letter to Governor Harrison, Chairman of the Federal Open Market
ee'mrilitt
ee, prepared in accordance with the action taken at the meetingsof

the Bo

4rd on November 8 and 20, 1935, and reading as follows:
"Reference is made to the resolution adopted by the
federal
Open Market Committee at its meeting on October 23,




2486
11/23/35

-9-

"1935, in Washington.
"The Board has given careful consideration to the
Committee's statement about the present credit situation
and the possible desirability of taking steps to absorb
some of the excess reserves of member banks eithe throu
r
,
gh
the reduction of the
System's portfolio of Government
securities, or through the raising of member bank reserve
requirements.
"In vier of the Committee's observations, with which
the Board concurs,
that there is nothing in the business or
credit situation which at this time necessitates the
adoption of any policy designed to retard credit expansion,
and that the
primary objective of the System at the present
time is still to lend its efforts to a furtheranc of
ree
covery, the
Board feels that it would not be timely to undertake at this stage
of business recovery any measure for the
absorption of excess reserves.
"The Board is alive to the injurious consequences that
will be caused by
the excess reserves if they are permitted
to go
uncontrolled beyond the point rhere it will become
reasonably clear
that further pursuit of the policy followed
thus far by
the Federal Reserve System during the depression
Will be attended
with economic hazards to the country which
the
System could not safely assume. When and as that point
approaches the
Board 1011 act.
"A preliminary study has been made of the possible
effects on the position of membe banks
r
of any change in reserve requiremen
ts that might be made by the Board. A
./ IiImmary of the results of this study, as presented by
the
sion of Bank Operations, is attac
hed.
"The authority granted in the notion adopted by the
Federal
Open Market Committee at its meeting with respect to
1t e purchase and
sale (which it is understood would include
allowing maturities
to run off without replacement) of
Government secur
ities by the executive committee, is in the
me form as that appro
ved by the Federal Open Market
°mmittee at its meeting on May 27, 1935,
and, inasmuch as it
e
Provi
des that before any purchases or sales are made by
the
Fxrutive committee telegraphic approval of a majority
of the
Open Market Committee and the approval of the Board
L be obtained, there appears to be no necessity for the
,!:uard
4to take action on the autho
rity at this time. However,
the Board
will hold itself in readiness to consider any action
?posed by the execu
tive committee with the approval of a
J011tY of the Federal Open Market Committee, as provided in
"e motion.

r

Z




2487
11/2s/35

-10-

"The second motion adopted by the Federal Open
Market Committee authorizes the executive committer to
make shifts of maturities of Government securities in the
System account up to $300,000,000, provided that the
aaount of securities maturing within two years be maintained at not less than $1100010001000 and that the amount
of bonds in the account be not over $50010001000. The
Board has carefully considered the reasons given for the
adoption of this motion, but feels that a substantial shift
in maturities of securities held in the account would not
be desirable
at this time. Therefore, the Board approves
the authority given to the executive committee only to the
extent necessary to enable the committee to replace securities maturing between now and the date of the next meeting
of the Federal Open Market Committee which will be held
sometime before the end of the current year in compliance
With the requirement of the law that at least four meetings
be held
each year.
"A copy of this letter is being forwarded to the Chairof the board of directors of each of the Federal reserve
banks."
Approved unanimously, together with a
letter to the chairmen of all Federal reserve
banks inclosing a copy of the above letter.
Letter to Mr. Stevens, Chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank of
Chicago
prepared in accordance with the action taken at the meeting of
the Board on
November 201 19351 and reading as follows:
"The members of the Board of Governors of the Federal
Reserve System have read with interest your letter of
i
ti:,ovember
15, 1935, inclosing a copy of the statement adopted
Your executive committee as an expression of the opinion
Of the
board of directors of your bank after a review of the
report of the meeting
of the Federal Open Market Committee
°Il October 22-24,
1935. It is noted that the statement has
been
concurred
in
by every member of your board with one
exoeptiont
and
of
that
the opinion of that director is definitely
that
action should be taken toward a decrease in the amount
o
!
holdingsan
government securities by Federal reserve banks,
either by the sale
of securities or by allowing maturities to
Off
Without
replacemen
t, rather than by action providing
for
an increase in the reserve requirements of member banks.




2488
11/23/35

-11-

"The statement referred to reads in part as follows:
therefore, as a Board, desire to respectfully
suggest for earnest consideration by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, an increase
in required reserves against bank deposits in
Central Reserve and Reserve City banks to possibly
twenty-five per cent of the increase now permitted by
law, thereby not only fortifying our banking structure
to this extent, but giving assurance to business and
the public that the levers of control are operative
and in the hands of authorities who are ready to use
them. We believe that such action accompanied by a
proper statement of its objectives would be favorably
interpreted by the financial and business interests
rather than otherwise.
'We recognize that in addition to the measure referred to, that of an increase in required reserves,
consideration may properly be given to another effective power in the control of inflationary tendencies,
under which credit may be withdrawn from the market
either by the sale or by the maturity without replacement of Government securities held in the Federal Reserve System. Hov:ever, because it is considered that
the application of such a measure might be reflected
in the market for Government bonds at this particular
time, we are disposed to suggest the primary consideration of an increase in reserve requirements.'
"The action taken by the Federal Open Market Committee
at its meeting in Washington on October 22-24, 1935,
and the
atatement
-quoted in your letter have been very carefully con?red by the Board,
and there is being addressed to the
1_1 113
:
rman of the Federal Open Market Committee today a letter
!avlsing of the Board's decisions in connection with the
fesolution and motions adopted by the committee. This
letter contains the following paragraphs:
'In view of the Committee's observations, with
Which the Board concurs, that there is nothing in the
business or credit situation which at this time
necessitates the adoption of any policy designed to
retard credit expansion, and that the primary objective
of the System at the present time is still to lend its
efforts to a furtherance of recovery, the Board feels
that it would not be timely to undertake at this stage
of business recovery any measure for the absorption of
excess reserves.
'The Board is alive to the injurious consequences
that will be caused by the excess reserves if they are




7

2489
11/23/35

-12-

"'permitted to go uncontrolled beyond the point
where it will become reasonably clear that further
pursuit of the policy followed thus far by the Federal Reserve System during the depression will be
attended with economic hazards to the country which
the System could not safely assume. When and as
that point approaches the Board will act.'
"The Board appreciates very much the interest which
Your directors are taking in the question of System open
market policy and expresses the hope that they will not
hesitate to give the Board the benefit of any views that
they may have from time
to time on this important subject."
Approved unanimously.
Letter to Mr. J. Will Taylor, President, Union Trust Company
of Clairton,
Clairton, Pennsylvania, reading as follows:
"We regret to find that no reply has been made to
your letter dated July 20, 1935, regard
ing the question
whether your bank may permit withdrawals, without notice,
of accrued interest credited to saving
s deposits.
"As an example, you state that a savings depositor
has a balance of C51000 on which interest was credited on
June 30, 1935,
On July 20, 1935, such depositor requested
that he be allowe
d to withdraw $100 in accordance with
rule 3 of your saving accoun
s
t rules and regulations and,
in addition,
requested that he be allowed to withdraw the
interest which had been credited to his account on June
30, 1935.
"Rule 3 of your savings account rules and regulations
Iequires 31 days' notice for withdrawal of an amount up to
4400 and longer
periods of notice for larger amounts, and
so contains the follow
ing proviso:
'Provided, however, the Company may at its
option waive notice of withdrawal of as much as
t100.00 against any one notice; but in accordance with the provision of Federal Reserve
Board's Regulation Q, Series of 1933, the
Company reserves the right to require a notice
nott,y-one days for the withdrawal of any

y

"You state that it is your thought that possibly
section VI of Regulation Q permit your bank to grant the
s
deposit
--ort s request, provided that the bank treats all




7

2490
11/25/35

-13-

"similar requests in the same manner. You also state
that it would not be your intention to change the benk's
rules and regulations but, instead, to have the bank
adopt a practice of waiving notice of payment of interest
on savings deposits, if such payment were requested within
30 days after the interest had been credited.
"It is understood from the above quoted rule that it
is the practice of your bank to waive notice for withdrawals from savings deposits of not more than $100. It
Is also understood that you propose to change your practice
in this regard so as to add to the amount which may be
Withdrawn without notice all accrued interest which has
been credited to the account not more than 30 days before
the date of withdrawal.
"The Board is now engaged in a revision of Regulation
Q in order to bring such regulation into conformity with
the law as recently amended, and the question which you
present will be considered in connection with such revision.
However, until the issuance of such regulation, the Board
Will raise no objection to the payment by your bank, without
notice, of interest on savins deposits in accordance with
the
e of practice proposed in your letter and outlined
changabove, provided that it shall, upon request and without
requiring notice, pay interest under the same circumstances
on the savings deposits of every other depositor.
"If you have any further questions regarding this
matter or any similar matter, it will be appreciated if
7ou will communicate with the Federal Reserve Agent at the
Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland."
Approved unanimously.
Letter to Mr. Curtiss, Federal Reserve Agent at the Federal Reeerve Bank of Boston, prepared in accordance with thecction taken at
the meeting of the Board on October 30, 1935, and reading as follows:
"Reference is made to your letters of June 12, 1955,
and October 10, 1955, with respect to the question whether
rtain 'agency accounts' in the foreign department of the
_ndustrial Trust Company, Providence, Rhode Island, are
clePosits within the meaning of section 19 of the Federal
Reserve Act.
"This question has its origin in an earlier ruling of
he Board which was contained in a letter to Mr. Paddock

?




2491
11/23/35

-14-

"dated January 4, 1934, and in which the Board gave consideration to the nature of certain 'foreign currency deposits' of
the Industrial Trust Company representing funds placed with
the Trust Company for deposi with
t
a foreign correspondent
bank in the name of the Trust Company. Without expressing
any view as to the exact legal relationship between the Trust
Company and its customers under this arrangement the Board
ruled that the sums received pursuant theret should
o
be regarded as deposits within the meaning of the spirit and purPose of the provisions of section 19 of the Federal Reserve
Act relating to
the payment of interest on deposits.
"The 'agency accounts' in the foreign department of the
Trust Company which constitute the subjec
t of the present
inquiry differ from the 'foreign currency deposits' which
were previously consid
ered by the Board and the scope of the
Present inquiry is broader than that previously submitted
inasmuch as the Board is now asked whether the 'agency
accounts' are deposits within the provisions of section 19
relating to the reserves required to be kept by member banks,
as well as the provisions relating to the payment of interest
on deposits to
which the earlier inquiry was confined.
"The Board has considered the question presented to it
in the light
of the letter from the Trust Company, the forms
used by the
Trust Company in connection with these 'agency
accounts,,
and the opinions rendered by counsel for the Trust
TrIpany and counsel
for your bank, all of which were inclosed
17.1.th your letter of June 12, 1935,
as well as in the light
°f your letter
of
Octobe
1935,
r
10,
and the Trust Company's
;Letter of
October 9, 1935, which was inclosed therewith. It
also been noted that, under
the Banking Act of 1935, the
Board is
authorized in the opening paragraph of section 19 to
Prescribe such
rules and regulations as it may deem necessary
effectuate the purposes of the section and to prevent
e asions
thereof.
is
understood that these 'agency accounts' are used
b
rust Company chiefly because a large number of its
''._ttsomers are of foreign birth
and prefer to carry accounts
Ecl
ii particular foreign currency rather than to open accounts
ref °liars. In addition, the Trust Company makes specific
stee!'ence to other customers who have future commitments in
0
„rling which they wish to cover by buying spot Sterling
cZight pving
the Trust Company cash and having the Trust
/agency account' carry the Sterling for
thtutr=nrit unnecessary for them to open accounts in
"Qon for that
purpose.
t•i_ "The
instrument which is signed by the customer at the
tue of the creation
of one of these 'agency accounts' refers

n




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11/23/35

-15-

"to the customer as the 'Client', to the Trust Company as
the 'Agent' and to the amount deposited as the 'Fund'. No
mention is made of any 'deposit' or 'depositor'. In paragraph (1) it is provided that the Fund shall continue to
belong to the Client. It is subsequently provided that
any shrinkage or loss which shall occur in the Fund is to
be borne by the Client. In paragraph
(2) the Trust Company
is authorized:
i* * * to mingle the Fund with other like
funds and funds of its oval in the same currency,
to invest the Fund either separately or mingled
with such other funds in its discretion in any
form of foreign exchange or in deposit in any
bank or otherwise as it may deem best, and at
the sole risk of the Client, and without being
liable for or to account for any shrinkage or
loss in the Fund, however occurring, not due to
its own gross negligence or bad faith, nor for
any consequences of its acts undertaken or done
in good faith.'
"There is no provision for partial repayment of the
Fund to the Client but upon demand
of the Client the Trust
?°mPany is required to account for the amount of the Fund,
ogether with net income and profit computed as provided in
instrument, payment to be made either on demand or on
,° days' notice depending upon which provision is selected
°Y the Client at the time of executing the instrument
.
"In paragraph (5) it is provided that the Trust Company
taaY retain as its compensation all net income and profit in
excess of a
stated maximum and in any event shall be entitled
;.? compensation, out of the principal of the Fund if necessary,
!'t the minimum rate of
one half of one per cent per annum of
amount of the Fund. It is also provided that payment of
.
"e amount found due the Client shall be made by delivery of
raft drawn by the Trust Company upon its foreign correspondent in the currency named in the certificate, except that
delivery of such a draft becomes impossible the Trust
0mPanY may make payment by other means.
ru, "Unlike the certificate considered by the Board in its
fig on the previous inquiry,
there is no assurance that
the
withTrust Company will use the Fund to establish a credit
a designated foreign correspondent for, as indicated in
th
quotation above, the Trust Company is givenauthority to
1 vest the
Fund as it may deem best.
th
"It is understood that the Trust Company considers that
i+e arrangement constitutes an agency relationship between
"self and its customers. Counsel for the Trust Company in




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11/23/35

-16-

"their letter of April 3, 1335 say:
'While the mechanics of the relation
necessarily are slightly different, we believe
that the theory of this account as now arranged
is substantially identical with that of trust
funds, and that the amounts held in these foreign
accounts have the same status as trust investments, the net income on which is paid to the
beneficiary after deducting expenses and compensation to the trustee.'
"The Board is of the opinion that on the basis of the
facts which have been presented to it the 'agency accounts'
in the Industrial Trust Company do not constitute 'deposits'
within the meaning of the provisions of section 19 of the
Federal Reserve Act which relate to reserve requirements or
the provisions
of the section which relate to the payment of
Interest on deposits. In notifying the Industrial Trust
u°mPany of the Board's position you are requested to advise
the Trust Company
that the Board reserves the right to issue
regulations requiring that the accounts, be treated as dePosits under section 19 if at any time in the Board's judgment
this action becomes necessary in order to prevent the evasion
?f the provisions
of the section. You are also requested to
4eeP yourself advised of the manner in which these 'agency
!ccounts1 and other similar accounts are handled by the
- .dustrial
Trust Company or b any other member bank in your
c.Llstrict and to bring to the attention of the Board any case
in which it appears that such accounts are being used as a
means of evading the requirements of the law."
Approved unanimously.

Thereupon the meeting adjourned.

14-.4

41)Prc'ved:




1-

—
Secretary.