Show PUBLIC confidence RESTORED BY BANKS american bankers association describes its activities to create better understanding ill regarding eg arding banks NEW YO YORK RK eight different lines hues ot of ac tivit through which the american bankers association la Is constantly aiming to promote better public un der standing and opinion la in regard to banking and the attitude ot of bankers toward legislation are described in detail in a statement made public here by R S hecht president ot of the association cia tion the aim lie he says Is to strengthen the real basis tor for good opinion in re gard to tile the banks through fostering informative bank advertising in tile the newspapers and in other ways the statement was issued la in reply to sug gest ions received urging a nation wide public educational program in regard to the business of banking and its place in the lire life of our country mr air hecht declares that we have tried very hard to convince the public that the banking fraternity has truly profited by the tha lessons of the past Is determined to approach all question of banking policy from the broad viewpoint of public welfare and Is prepared to carry its full share of tho the burden in connection with all efforts to restore sound prosperity in this country the means employed in describing the various measures of tile the association to exert a beneficial influence on oil public opinion regarding the functions methods and operations of banks mr hecht enumerated the following activities 1 the public education commission which prepares plain langu language ace talks about banking for use of bankers and others before schools chic clubs and over the radio 2 the constructive customer relations P program rii 9 ram installed in many banks to help q quality bank employees to promote a better informed and more sympathetic attitude among 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 furnishing the tha general genera press with ne news s and information regard regarding ling the actie activities of the association asso association clation 1 the advertising department department supplying members of the association oc it on with EL series of Inform informative atie newspaper advertisements ti setting forth in brief popular language the methods and policies under which banks operate their efrer tive practices tor for protecting depositors funds the services they render and the various ways way in which they cooperate with business 1 in their own communities in fostering lne sound recovery and progress 5 the executive Olli cera and the committee on banking studies who are active particularly at washington in consulting with administration and monal leaders in formulating proposals for banking reform based on broad lines of public welfare 6 the agricultural commission promoting among bankers in tho the farm arm districts tho the practice of aiding their farm customers jn in installing on their farms better financial and operating methods 7 the american institute of banking having primarily to do with the technical education of the younger banker but now directing these efforts toward also playing a part in improving public relations for or banking as it ft whole particularly through stressing the public responsibilities and the ethical aspects of practical banking 8 the Public publication aLlon of banking the official organ of the association circulating among bankers bank directors business executives economists law fl firms r M government departments libraries colleg 0 I 1 34 e ci public schools and other publications presenting articles regarding banking and banking viewpoints the objective sought in commenting on the foregoing program mr arr hecht says that it Is not the primary objective to attract attention particularly to the american bankers banker association as such but rather to I 1 focus attention on and give impetus t to 0 those ideas which it believes are beneficial in promoting understanding and solidarity among banking business and the public he adds our program for or the development ol of satisfactory public relations tor for banking does not consist merely ot 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 banking business in the newspapers and over the radio Is the association recognizes very helpful toward creating a sound public ton ion regarding banking but the asso elation believes that the most imbor tant thing ultimately Is to foster throughout the banking profession the doing sincerely of those things that reflect favorably the sound help tul ful practices of the business of bank ing and thit that then the true news of its constructive activities will constitute the best answers to misrepresentations aimed at banks and bankers |