These amounts represent the balances maintained in the United States, Great Britain and elsewhere in connection with exchange operations, and make also a very useful way of carrying a certain proportion of the bank's reserve. These balances combined with specie, Dominion notes and the notes and checks of other banks form $18.28 of the bank's total assets, are generally known as quick assets. With the exception of a few of the bank accounts, on which a low rate of interest is sometimes obtained, the quick assets do not earn interest.