Note Teller.-In the larger banks where there is a special teller who attends to the collection and payment of notes, he is known as the note teller, sometimes called the third teller. He receives checks certified or uncertified or cash in payment of notes, of which there are two kinds: first, the notes which have been discounted by the bank and the payments for which become a part of the funds of the bank, the bank having already purchased the same; and, second, notes deposited for collection, the payments for which are credited to the depositors of the same. Should any notes either for collection or discount not be paid when presented, the teller hands the same over to the notary of the bank for presentation to and demand on the maker, when, if not paid, they are protested. Such presentation and protest are necessary in order to hold the endorsers. It is of the utmost importance that the note teller should make no mistake in the date of presentation of a note to the drawer, at the place where the note is made payable, because, should a note be presented a day after its maturity and the drawer decline or be unable to pay the same, the endorsers cannot be compelled to pay it.

Book-keeper. "The book-keeper" is used in contradistinction to the ledger keepers, who are also book-keepers. He is the person directly responsible for the general books of the bank, and the other book-keepers and ledger keepers are immediately under his control.

In no business is it so necessary as in banking that the books should be kept written up to date, especially the depositors' accounts, else errors may and probably will occur which would do great damage to the bank. All accounts should be posted to date so that the exact condition of each account can be ascertained at the beginning of each day's business. It is the rule in most banks to have checks entered up in the Customers' Ledger immediately after payment or certification, and before the

clerks leave the bank for the day to enter up to their respective accounts all deposits. Should any check forming part of a deposit be returned unpaid the person depositing the same is debited therewith. Most banks make it a rule that their depositors shall not draw against that portion of their deposit consisting of checks the day of deposit.

The teller and collection and discount clerks have books which are kept exclusively by them and are only referred to by the book-keeper to post or prove his books, which are not books of original entry.

The pass-books are written up by the ledger keepers. The books should be so kept that a complete statement of the bank's condition could be furnished within a day, and all accounts which would influence the Board of Directors or other officers in the making or rejecting of discounts or loans should be written up to date.

While the ruling of some books in the various banks may differ in a minor degree, practically the same system prevails in all large banks. In the smaller banks and the country banks fewer books are required and used than in the larger, one book in many instances answering in the place of two and sometimes three.

In order to keep the books properly written up it is necessary that the book-keeper should have a sufficient number of assistants, and that each man should do the work assigned him systematically and accurately.

Runners.-Runners, usually young men, are employed to present notes, drafts, and other promises to pay; notes are presented to the makers; if they are not in, a notice is left, a printed slip with which the runner is provided, stating that the bank holds such and such a note payable to the order of for the amount for which it was drawn, and giving the last day when payment for the same will be received. Drafts, of course, are presented to the person on whom drawn, if on sight for payment, and if time

drafts for acceptance. In case of the absence of the person on whom they are drawn a like notice is left.

In regard to notes presented on the last day of payment it is important that the runner should report promptly to the note teller a failure to collect, so that the paper may be placed in the hands of the notary to make the necessary presentation, and, in the event of non-payment, protest and notice to the endorsers. Generally notice is given the maker several days before maturity, after which notice the maker is expected to call at the bank and pay the same by the morning of maturity; if he does not do so the bank again presents the note. (For presentation, protest, and notice to endorsers see "Notary.")

The bank is in charge of the porter from the time the watchman who has care of the bank at night leaves in the morning till the clerks arrive and the books are put in their proper places, and again from the time the clerks leave till the watchman comes on duty.

How to Open a Bank Account. The first thing is to have the necessary amount of money with which to open it. Many of the New York banks of deposit refuse to receive accounts averaging less than a thousand dollars, and there is one well-known bank in New York which will not receive an account which averages less than twentyfive thousand dollars.

The next thing to do is to secure an introduction to the cashier, preferably by a depositor of the bank. You are then questioned as to the amount of balance you intend to keep on hand, and what accommodation you expect from the bank.

As the various banks have different rules in regard to the amount of deposit which, as they term it, "entitles a depositor to accommodation," none can be here stated. The larger and more prosperous a bank, the less anxious it is generally to secure new accounts, and the more independent in the matter of accommodation, so that it is not

always best to keep your account in a large bank, if that account is a comparatively small one, and it is probable that accommodation will be needed.

The preliminaries being satisfactorily arranged, you are introduced to the receiving teller, who receives your de posit and gives you credit for the same in a book, which is handed you, termed the "pass book," on one side of which are credited the amounts deposited, and on the other, when your book is sent in to be written up, i. e., balanced with the bank's books, is debited with the checks drawn by you against those credits.

You are next introduced to the paying teller, and requested to write your signature in a book kept for that purpose in the bank and called the "Signature Book," and you are given a check book. The cashier, if you are of sufficient importance, accompanies you to the door and you are politely bowed out, and you have opened your bank account, and your hard-earned wealth is in the possession of a soulless corporation which knows no favor, or should know none.

Bank pass books should be handed in, at least once a month, to the proper ledger keeper, to be written up, and, on the return of your checks and book, the checks and entries in the pass book ought to be carefully compared with the stubs in the check book, and, if the account is found correct, the checks should be done up in a package and marked checks on the bank on which they are drawn, from........to........and put away in a safe place, as generally an endorsed check is the best obtainable evidence of a payment.

If any discrepancy is found to exist between the bank's balance and the balance the depositor thinks is due him, the bank should be immediately notified and the pass book taken back for comparison.

Course of a Deposit.-As deposits are divided into two kinds, checks and currency, we will have to con

sider the same separately, as they do not follow the same

course.

First In regard to currency, the amount of which must be stated on the deposit slip of the depositor, who is provided therewith by the bank. This currency is paid in at the window of the receiving teller and by him credited, together with the rest of the deposit, to the person making the same, first on the pass book, then on the teller's book, and finally by the ledger keeper on the ledger, and is placed in the receiving teller's till, mixed with the funds. of the bank, of which it becomes a part, and its identity is lost.

As to checks. First we will consider those which are drawn upon the bank in which the depositor has his account. These checks, as in the case of currency, are set out on the deposit slips and are handed to the receiving teller, who credits the depositor with the amount thereof as before described. The total amount of the deposit of which such checks form a part is placed in the depositor's account to his credit. The checks are passed to the ledger keeper in charge of the ledger in which the drawers' accounts are kept and are there debited to said accounts. At the end of a given period, as above stated, they are returned to the drawers when their pass books are balanced.

In regard to checks drawn on other banks, the credit is made to the depositor depositing the same, in the manner above described, but the checks, instead of going through the books of the bank, are assorted by the assistant teller and placed in numbered boxes, the numbers of which correspond to the numbers assigned said banks at the Clearing House.

After the close of business hours the checks on each bank are done up in a separate package and the total amount, together with the bank's name, is written thereon. The total amount of checks on all the Clearing-House banks, or those clearing through them, are then stated on