Fort Worth Star-Telegram from Fort Worth, Texas • 64

2ioM1 'N 0 MmiNimlimm) Mrs William Laimbeer head of Ns-omen's department of National City Bank of New York To THE ladies! Dig business is now responding with great alacrity to this salute It Is being proposed with the utmost seriousness by directors' meetings and is being incorporated in the working policy of dignified banks For the ladies have become an important factor in the financial world Eecent income-tax returns and other sources of information show that they are getting bold of large amounts of the Nation's money and are therefore entitled to the profound consideration of financial institutions According to bank statistics women now own 75 per cent of the savings accounts in this country They spend 85 per cent of the Nation's money Invariably it i3 the woman of the household who selects the family's motorcar Its home its food its clothes its education and even its recreation Some wives buy everything but their husband's hats and shoes To the lathed then is no vain business toast! There was a time not so far back in that old-fashioned period before the war when a woman's checking account was more likely to be a source of apprehen sion than enthusiasm to a bank Today all the large banks of the country are frankly soliciting feminine business many of them through special women's departments organized and directed by women financial experts The National City Bank of New York City is the latest large financial house to take this step It has opened women's departments in five branches of its bank with the assistance and under the direction of Mrs William Laimbeer a well-known New York business woman who occupies the important position of assistant cashier I By Polly Fergusson case but I do believe they have Nk more patience That is why the banks find us useful in dealing with our own sex" she smiled "We are more tolerant to ignorance in financial matters and a woman does not feel so elf-concioim or foolish in revealing her lack of business knowledge to another woman "I also believe women like to deal with women in financial matters because they understand each other Experience has shown that women are often completely taken in by men but It is a rare instance when one woman is able to deceive another If I ever decided to go In for a life of crime and sell bogus securities I should never tly it with my own sex I know they could easily see through me Now A slight shrug of the shoulders finished her thought "Personally I do not believe that present-day women make as good financiers as men Their training in the past has been so limited and their opportunities for putting over large financial deals are too restricted Women financiers are a comparatively new institution They still have to prove their capabilities "It is really only since the war that women have been displaying much initiative in the management of their own money affairs During the war there was great need for economy and for the first time the desirability of establishing a household budget was hammered home to the public by a widespread publicity campaign For the first time too many women became directly interesthd in investments through the purchase of Liberty Bonds They came in direct contact with the banks and realized the value of the service performed for them As a result domestic women are showing a much greater capacity for the management of their own homes and property a Fair Sex Holds Seventy-five Per Cent of Nation's Savings Accounts Says This Feminine New York Banker Who Predicts Her Sex Will Wield Tremendous 1 Influence in the World of Finance under the supervision of foreign traders questioning officers and working for day3 with bank clerks in absorbing the banking background she required in order to manage this second woman's department of a bank to be operated in New York City It was from this post which she held for six years that she same six months ago as assistantcashier to the National City Bank 12 The ever-increas ing number of women depositors and the fact that most of them prefer to do business with one of their own sex are two reasons given for the feminine element in the personnel of many big banks today MCPERIENCE has shown that women are often completely taken in by men says Mrs -William Laimbeer assistant cashier of one of the largest New York banks but it is a rare instance when one woman is able to deceive another "If I ever decided to go in for a life of crime and sell bogus securities" says Mrs Laimbeer "I should never try it with my own sex But with men Women have more patience in handling people than men and women who earn their own living are more competent in financial matters than women who depend upon men for support Graciousness and courtesy are essential good health and calm nerves are highly desirable while tact and concentration are imperative The job calls for the kind of poise that comes with maturity I i Ite Women as Bankers I 0 "it If t- Tr" -11 si ivsib 11- ---N4I' La 3:1 5 I t- I At -t At 4S1r 10141 4 14 r-t 40: -1- ----r- aL- 4 A "1-0 1 le 7 ''i'' fe'kk'4''kz ''4' 4 ''''''44Vif t''-''' 't el ''S4tes411-N i -1 tk lkihs aa'a seee a- 4-'' 7' --11I'-'- --e --se Ic yt 4 's -1c44' '----rik-T41-- '4- if 7 ti: -'''e'f --'e -t it Women as Bankers IL '7 'It t' 41 7 44' '1'Ei 4 rt I i 74 1-- ir- 41 I'7--'" 4 N- -4 t4 Ili i4 -') lir A I70- A I 6- I i' Mrs William Laimbeer ta'Ji 0 t-1XPERIENCE has shown that women 7 0- ii)1 head of women -4 -vtt--T-7 -u- department of s'-4-5 1 I are often co mpletelytaken in by men says Mrs -William Laimbeer assistant of New York National City Bank ----Y'r 4-4A ef Fair Sex Holds Seventy-five Per Cent cashier of one of the largest New York 4 -''L: 3: banks but ut it is a rare instance when one --4 At-4- of Nation' i Savings Accounts woman able to deceive another 4 1-? 7 rs4A't IfitAks 1tt tittloo 0 i i-i TA -1ip't Zr1 I "If I ever decided to go in for a life of li tvi- ''4-" l'' 11'-14 Says This Feminine New York crime and sell bogus securities'' says Mrs --11'--t I S' 4 I t- Nk- i'4- 4 1 0 -43il 4 Laimbeer "I should never try it with my 1 -Va 1 4 i TO-fg-t 4 i ii --44 Banker Who Predicts Her Sex own sex But with men Al ii- Women have more patience in han- -if-- --1 -4 41' -t: NV I 'X'5f Will Wield Tremendous dlng people than men and women who i earn their own living are more competent 11'N IP 4e it 1 7- 4 '14- t) le i 1 in financial matters than women xi- st 4 44 4-i rro 4: i 'OP It 41 1itt it 0 :1 i i fl Inuence the who orld are essen- messenanfodr courtesy are depeGndracuipoonnsn i A :4 4 40-''' '40 s'-'41-: '-'t: -47- ti '0 rl 2-i's l''''Is ii f- -1ti-wc4Ai 7 4-kz-4 i 1 V0 41: 14 :::114 t-4citi 1 A It tt I -1'2A 't'-t7--i-S51-''''''1' t(i '1k-'1''' '-''j 4'1 rztI '1 0 11 an nal good health and calm nerves are Iv 4 i -171 4 :2 4S: 7 re )7174 1 0 alk I 1 1'1 rs 4 1 highly desirable while tact and concen tv -4- -c a -a 1 -i' 0: 4 ti tration are imperative te 4 ii ito 1 4:: :4 1'-'''4 4 'wo ft ir 4 iA-4i ::::5: The Job calls for the kind of poise that 7 7' t-ldseee e': sere a eaaaa comes with maturity a 11 LER i ---Z-k- eee ae-se-esasa' i i 0110-tigeoW -'''''lb4t -4-- r'' 1-- N4 too 1 ft 7 -Nz Aar eseeee se seises: see asseaae esesse-as es ss ssee asseears ea ee a see i i i vir 4 ite 17p 7-e- Itl: r'll' I -4---- 11 PAyt I eaaess -4 esaeaaeass le et taG 111 -4 I IPA eta easeee'se esaaaaaerreaaaa-eVe' la li cl ttLER ligall rotts5044463 '''''-'-4 ---'-48wf--- i I 0 se ease eesese eaaa- as i 1 I I' a If l' -4 co it 3-01td tiul 1J13JHis lid )10-'' StZ ib By Polly Fergusson- i1 1 tot' 1 4 I 1 Ili i 0 410 ---c I ------r---r 7 0 1 ri 1 i I ii rTO THE ladies! Dig business is now case but I do believe they have 1 0 34 4'4' 4 It'L qs1 'ee A responding with great alacrity to more patience That is why the ees- 1 'N this salute It Is being proposed with banks find us useful in dealing I sik- 4 it "t' I -'------A (1- 41 7 '11( di tr the utmost seriousness by directors' with our CONTI sex" she smiled 7' meetings and is being incorporated in "We are more tolerant to ignorance ae 1p grit a' a -aaea' asee a eae IV r-''''----rf'' the working policy of dignified banks in financial matter3 and a woman does 4 eedea-- a ri es ar For the ladies have become an im- not feel so self-conscious or foolish in a east ar if 111 1 a 441V 1 14 1 i portant factor in the financial world revealing her lack of business knowledge Ne I a- )11 i 'ifApr2 11 Becent income-tax returns and other to another woman 4' Pla 1 1 I 'i as i 4I'' 4 1 1 4 Is 1 a aa sources of information show that they "I also believe women like to deal with are getting ho of ld large amounts of women in financial matters because they se dk ItP alt kP3: i the Nation's money and are therefore understand each other Experience ha3 ee 11 1111 I entitled to the profound consideration of shown that women are often completely 1111P- op financial institutions taken in by men but it is a rare in ui IA tit ii''''' 1 aaaasseeeee I According to bank statistics women stance when one woman is able to de- i now own 75 per cent of the savings ceive another If I ever decided to go ee117 iA 1 a i -1 1111111111111P -e-- accounts in this country They spend in for a life of crime and sell bogus se- ze a 5-sia 111Wit--'---47 'a Se'' a- ia: 85 per cent of the Nation's money In- curities I should never tay it with my ea '-'7 :7 7 -t ie variably it is the woman of the house- own sex I know they could easily see ea se lea ai e' eas1 71t a -ae-aeaaVe e- ae 114re'': 4 I 1 17 bold who selects the family's motorcar through me Now A slight 1::: ii aa 1 areeeaqatese' aa tea le Its home its food its clothes its educa- shrug of the shoulders finished her pi I l'OV 4s 1 tion and even its recreation Some wives thought i I A buy everything but their husbands hats "Personally I do not believe that pres- ill '''e '47 i i sa ale- a i and shoes To the ladies then is no ent-day women make as good financiers 4'13--- 1 th vain business toast! a3 men Their training in the past has ekt7e-'- 41': There was a time not so far back in been so limited and their opportunities 1 --eatsme2a- e-aeL I that old-fashioned period before the war for putting over large financial deals a eeeel ee sae ea tat when a woman's checking account was are too restricted Women financiers 7it'ts 1 ---I---7--- 7 r7 41 4' I :4 i more likely to be a source of apprehen- are a comparatively new instittrtion I la aas -'A seensea''' else 1 I I i's1 L1 sion than enthusiasm to a bank Today They still have to prove their capabill- I 'it 1 th 4 74 all the large banks of the country are ties i If 1 I frankly soliciting feminine business "It is really only since the war that ril a ee 'se' -) i many of them through special women's women have been displaying much initia- 7-eae4iasal 4 ea a departments organized and directed by tive in the management of their own NN (1e 4 women financial experts money affairs During the war there aealaaaa sp I 1 '17 The National City Bank of New York was great need for economy and for ee 101 City is the latest large financial house the first time the desirability of estab- a A 1 to take this step It has opened lishing a household budget was ham- 14 111L cs- women five 's departments in ve branches ered home to the public by a wide- lin a ii COG of its bank with the assistance and spread publicity campaign For the first 111- i L'47 I 4P' under the direction of Mrs William time too mane- women became directly seefaaaaaea a easaaasseeesee a -e e- -se a- se sae ese ----------sseas7------- -a as------- aeas es eeeae -e ea-- Laimbeer a well-known New York busi- interested in investments through the 'iv es- 's-eases i at IIPPr se '--a----- 'a ''-eta- af ea ea -i-'fases'- -1' a It a- a sees a se s' ness woman who occupies the important purchase of Liberty Bonds They came tgii'lls'-- -1 I positiori of assistant cashier in direct contact ith the banks and t14-- I 'f 7 1- 7 -7' realized the value of the service per- tr formed for them As a result domestic 4 women are showing a much greater Aol -r A 1 11 i i I capacity for the management of their Ili 444: 11 7 7 -is 14 '1'1- c' -f: '''-ii i A ''t f' I Own homes and property ait las aa Lea pea' aaee-se i ea a eleits a- l' "A' Ts r4 14 II A R4 J141-4" ---'4 A under the supervision of foreign traders eeresesees es-- questioning officers and working for days a es' -ea 7 1'74' i with bank clerks in absorbing the bank- 'Thf4-- ing background she required in order to manage thie second woman 's depart- 1 a ae ee a 7': 7- merit of a bank to be operated in New ae'area 'V 'S i-:" 1 7: I York City It was from this post which t' she held for six years that she same '''lts- six months ago as assistantcathier to The ever-increas- 7f 't f-t -2 v- i the National City Bank ing number of 43- 4 s-- es' -4' -''0' 4 ---1: 11 women depositors '-11-4'--' 7 1- -'i '1 i- I r' and the fact that f'' 2 r' a- most of them prefer 4 4 's to do business with one of their own sex are two reasons given for t'''- '''--049 the feminine element in 7 the personnel of many big banks today '44409' THE managers of women's depart ments are chosen for their persdnalities rather than their technical training That may be acquired but it is of no value whatever if a woman's personality is repellant Graciousness courtesy and a real interest in one's fellow humans are essential Good health and calm nerves are also highly desirable for the work is in many ways exacting and calls for both tact and concentration It is not it seems to a young woman's job unless she has a very exceptional personality "It calls for maturity and the kind of poise that maturity brings with it Young women who are preparing for posts of this kind should look forward to serving several years of apprenticeship and perhaps the best training is to be bad in a small country bank where one has the opportunity to learn all the workings of all the departments offers to women of ability today almost the same opportunities that it offers to men And it is a business that is ever expanding so that women have a chance to grow with it Fancy! In the last fifty years its re sources have grown from $300000000 to $60000000000 We are fast losing our reputation as a nation of spendthrifts As a people we are becoming extremely thrifty And it is women who are leading in the movement" "Are women more thrifty than men then?" was asked Mrs Laimbeer hesitated "Yes I think they are" she answered at last "Of course men save greater sums than women do because they earn greater sums But 75 per cent of the savings accounts in the United States are in managers of women's depart ments are chosen for their perstn alities rather than their technical train ing That may be acquired but it is Of no value -whatever if a woman's pen sonality is repellant Graciousness cone tesy and a real interest in one's felars humans are essential Good health an calm nerves are also highly desirable for the work is in many ways exactieg and calls for both tact and concentra Con It is not it seems to tae a youti woman's job unless she has a very ea ceptional personality "It calls for maturity and the kind el poise that maturity brings with it Youre women Who are prepering for posts el this kind should look forward to sera ing several years of apprenticeship at perhaps the best training is to be Ila in a small country bank where one has the opportunity to- learn all the ork ings of all the departments offers to women of abilits today almost the same opportuti ties that it offers to men And it is business that is ever th xpanding so al women have a chance to grow with it Fancy! In the last fifty years its r6 sourc es have grown from $3000000 to $60000000000 We are fast losing our reputation as a nation of apend thrifts As a people we are becoming extremely thrifty And it is women wle are leading in the movement" Are women more thrifty than men then?" was asked Mrs Laimbeer hesitated "Yes 1 think they are" she answered at last "Of course men save greater sums than women do because they earn greatet sums ut 73 per cent of the saviegl accounts in the United States are in ing them to manage their fli own bank accounts 1 to "It's necessity that 1 brings out the best in women If I had not had to work I certainly liever I would have" 1 Twelve years ago Mrs Laimbeer nee Nathalie 'Schenk popular New 1 York debutante was a society leader of New York and Southampton Her husband ocCupled the same positic- in the firm of Bishop Laimbeer Co that Mrs Laimbeer occupies in the National City Bank now Ile was killed in an automobile accident and she was left with very little money in the bank and with three small children to support Suddenly within the space of a few months she was changed from a frivolous young matron with no greater worry than the felicitous arrangement of her guests at the dinner table to a grave young widow facing the problem of gaining alone for her children the advantages that she and her husbanct had planned for them For their sakes she had to succeed She had been trained for nothing but domesticity but she decided to turn that training to advantage So she started a canning business in the Long Island home where she had formerly lived in luxury By these means she kept the home fires burning merrily until the war came when-she was immediately placed in charge of the local chapter of the Red Cross responsible for shipments of food to Europe In this work her executive ability was so conspicuously brilliant that' it attracted the attention of the Edison Company which at the end of the war offered her a job as manager of its bureau of home economics Starting with one Negro servant as an assistant she made an extensive tour of omen's clubs colleges and schools showing women how to use electricity in the home In one year the work had grown so that she had twenty-two assistants At this timk the 'United States Mortgage and Trust Company was contemplating Opening its first woman's department and looking about for a woman executive it noted Mrs Laimbeer She was promptly offered the opportunity of organizing the new department and so began her career as a banker To gain the necessary experience for her uncharted task she worked in all departments of the bank counting money with the tellers figuring interest with the loan clerks telephoning brokers ing them to manage their eei 1 tti own bank accounts "It's necessity that brings out the best in women If I had not had to work I certainly 'hever 'e would have" tt Twelve years ago Mrs Laimbeer nee Nathalie 'Schenk popular New York debutante was a eociety leader of New York and Southampton Her husband oceupled the same positice in the firm of Bishop Laimbeer Co that Mrs Laimbeer occupies in the National City Bank now He was killed in an automo- bile accident and she was left with very little money in the bank and with three small children to support Suddenly with- in the space of a few months she was changed from a frivolous young matron with no greater worry then the felicitous arrangement of her guests at the dinner table to a grave young widow facing the problem of gaining alone for her children the advantages that she and her huban sft had planned for them For or their sakes she had to succeed She had been trained for nothing but domesticity but she decided to turn that training to advantage So she started a canning business in the Long Island home where- she had formerly lived in luxury By these means she kept the home fires burning merrily until the war came when-she was immediately placed in charge of the local chapter of the Red Cross responsible for shipments of food to Europe In this work her execu- five ability was so conspicuously brit- liant that' it attracted the attention of the Edison Company which at the end of the war offered her a job as manager of its bureau of home economics Start- ing with one Negro servant as an assist- ant she made an extensive tour of veom- en's clubs colleges and schools showing women how to use electricity in the home In one year the work had grown so that she had twenty-two assistants tirriIIE idea is frankly to get women -I- customers" explained Mrs Laimbeer when she was interviewed at her offite in the 42d street and Madison avenue branch "We want to encourage women to come to the bank with their problems to educate them as to the many valuable services a bank renders and to make them feel at home in a business atmosphere" We looked at the tall vase of flowers on Mrs Laimbeer's desk at the shaded lamps arm chick velvety rug that set apart this particular corner of the bank's lobby and nodded our appreciation Mrs Laimbeer herself has the sort of personality that would inspire confidence in the most shrinking of feminine customers She is as good-looking as it is possible for a woman to be and still reveal a strong character in her face and she is businesslike without sacrificing any of her large supply of feminine charm "While women are acquiring bigger and bigger incomes" she told us "they are still largely ignorant in managing them They are not trained in business methods like most men And our job is to help them take care of their money invest it and spend it wisely We assist them in handling their personal and household funds in handling their investment accounts and in the balancing of their budgets There are lots of women who are very efficient in doing all these things themselves but to the vast majority the offer of expert advice is more than welcome "Women are supposed to have more tact in handling people than men a not know that this is always the strrHE idea is frankly to get women -I- customers" explained Mrs Laim- beer when she was interviewed at her offite in the 42d street and Madleon ave- nue branch want to encourage omen to come to the bank ith their problems to educate them as to the many valuable services a bank renders and to make them feel at home in a business atmosphere" We looked at the tall vase of flowers on Mrs Laim beer's desk at the shaded lamps ana chick velvety rug that set apart this particular corner of the bank's lobby and nodded our appreciation Mrs Laimbeer herself has the sort of per- eonality that would inspire confidence in the most shrinking of feminine cus- tomer She is as good-looking se it is possible for a woman to be and still re- veal a strong character in her face and she is businesslike without sacrificing any of her large supply of feminine charm "While women are acquiring bigger and bigger incomes" she told us "they are still largely ignorant in managing them They are not trained in business methods like ITIOSt mere And our job "THERE is a type of woman who still likes to boast of her ignorance of business and business methods however Usually she has lived a protected frivolous life always dependent upon a father or a husband to arrange things for her Her career often runs along smoothly and serenely enough until some accident throws her on her own resources and then she is at the mercy of unscrupulous persons who are highly gifted in the art of separating lighthesrted ladies from their money Unless she has sense enough to place her affairs in the hands of a reputable bank she is likely to lose all she has "As a general rule women who earn their own living are more competent in financial matters than women who depend upon men for their support Contact with the world of business affairs makes them more resourceful and gives them I believe a better chance of happiness as wives and mothers Besides it is becoming fashionable now Society women are going into business and debutantes are taking courses in business and economics to fit them definitely for earning a livelihood in case it should ever become necessary No girl's future Is secure and every girl should be taught self-reliance and provided with a sure means of taking care of herself It was not so with me But my daughters Josephine and Natalie Lee just entering their teens are going to have commercial training and right now I am teach tirrIIERE is a type of woman who still 1- likes to boast of her ignorance of business and business methods however Usually she has lived a protected frivolous life always dependent upon a father or a hueband to arrange things for her Her career often runs along smoothly and serenely enough until some accident throws her on her own re- sources and then she is at the mercy of unscrupulous persons who are highly gifted in the art of separating light- hearted ladies from their money Unless she has sense enough to place her affairs in the hands of a reputable bank she is likely to lose all she has "As a general rules women who earn their on living are more competent in financial matter3 than women who de- end upon men for their support Con- tact with the world of business affairs makes them more resourceful and gives them I believe a better chance of happi- ness as wives and mothers Besides it 11 women holding the important banking positions Mrs Laimbeer went on "are with few exceptions women of ability and character whose technical training took place after their selection for the post Since banking has come to be recognized as a profession for women however conditions are changing and many women with executive ability are taking special courses in the colleges to equip themselves thoroughly with the theory of banking as well as its practical problems "The chief qualification of the woman banker I should say is that she inspires confidence For this reason it is necessary that she be conversant with all branches of banking so that she is not floored by some unusual question or request She is called upon to handle a wide variety of matters for the some hundred-odd women who call on her for advice every day She must buy securities for them advise them in regard to investments assist them in mak women holding the important banking positions today" Mrs Laimbeer went on "are with few ex- ceptions women of ability and charac- ter whose technical training took place after their selection for the post Since banking has come to be recognized as a profession for women however condi- tions are changing and many women with executive ability are taking special courses in the colleges to equip them- selves thoroughly with the theory of banking as well as its practical prob- iDg their wills take their securities for safe-keeping lend them money when they have need for it help theta choose their home sites consult with them as to the best schools for their children and aid them in planning their family budgets "If she exhibits hesitancy or indecision on any of these subjects she at once undermines the confidence of her client So there is nothing for her to do but to become an authority on every question she is going to advise ou the names of women A woman I be Ileve is more likely to save for the for the future Of her a man often looks no farther than the present "Yes" Mrs Laimbeer repeated 'sit seems to me that women are the more conservative Most of their mistakes come from ignorance But cure they learn all the tricks of the trade they are going to wield a tremendous power in the world of finance" cuiJirighs by Public Led lc? Com Pare ft a 1.