Show PUBLIC confidence RESTORED BY BANKS american bankers association describes its activities to create better understanding regarding banks NEW YORK eight different hues ot of activity through which the american bankers association Is constant ly aiming to promote bettor better public understanding der standing and opinion in regard to banking and the attitude attl tuda of 0 bankers toward legislation aro are described in de tall in a statement made public here by tl S hecht president ot of the association cia tion tile the aim he says Is to strengthen the real basis tor for good opinion in re gard to the banks through fostering ering informative bank advertising in the newspapers pers and in other ways the statement was issued in reply to sug gest ions lons received urging a nation wide public educational program in regard to the business ot of banking and its place in the lite life of our country mr hecht declares that we have tried very hard to convince the public that the banking fraternity has truly profited by tile the lessons lesson of the past is determined to approach all question of banking policy from the broad view point ot of public welfare and Is prepared to carry its lull full share of the burden in connection with all efforts to restore s sound prosperity in this country the means employed in describing the various measures of 0 the association to exert a beneficial influence on public opinion regarding the functions methods and operations of banks mr ir hecht enumerated the following activities I 1 the public jublle education commission which prepares plain language talks about banking tor for use of 0 bankers and a nd others before schools civic clubs and evl over r the radio 2 the constructive customer relations program pro Eram installed in many banks to help quality qualify bank employees to promote a better informed and more sympathetic attitude among armong their customers regarding banking 3 the publicity department supplying city and country dally daily and weekly newspapers with articles regarding banking and allied subjects and the hie general press with news and information regarding tile the activities of tho the association 4 the advertising department supplying members of the association wit with h a series of informative newspaper advertisements ti setting forth in brief popular language the methods and policies under which banks operate their effective practices tor for protecting depositors funis funds the services they render and the various ways in which they cooperate with bu business biness in their own communities in fostering bound recovery and progress B 6 the Exe executive cutiNe and the committee on banking studies who are active particularly at washington in consulting ting with administration and congues mona leaders in formulating proposals for banking reform based on broad lines of public welfare 6 the agricultural commission promoting n among bankers in the farm districts the practice of siding aiding their farm customers in installing on their farms better financial and operating methods 7 the american institute of banking having primarily to flo do with the technical education of the younger banker but now these efforts toward also playing a part in improving public relations f tor or bank banking ing as a whole particularly through stressing S s frig the public responsibilities and the he e ethical aspects of practical banking 8 the publication of banking the official organ of the association circulating among bankers bank directors business executives economists law firms government departments libraries e colleges 0 public schools and other publications t 1 ons presenting articles regarding banking and banking viewpoints the objective sought in commenting on the foregoing program mr hecht says that it Is not the primary objective to attract attention particularly to the american bankers association as such but rather to focus attention on and give impetus to those ideas which it believes are beneficial in promoting understanding and solidarity among banking business and the public he adds our program tor for the development of satisfactory public relations tor for banking does not consist merely of newspaper publicity it Is calculated to produce a continuous and cumulative effect by varied efforts which are aimed to work day in and day out to strengthen the real basis for or good opinion in regard to the banks to have favorable things said about the tha banking business in the newspapers and over the radio Is tile the association recognizes ver very y helpful toward creating a sound public ton ion regarding banking but the asso elation believes that the most important thing ultimately is to foster throughout the banking profession the doing sincerely of those things that reflect favorably the sound help ful practices of the business of batik bank ing and that then the true news of its constructive activities will constitute the best answers to misrepresentations aimed at banks and bankers |