Trial Balance. - No trial balance is necessary in this set, as the general balance ledger is in itself a trial balance of the general ledger accounts of the bank.

Dividends. - It is customary for national banks to declare dividends semiannually and close their books. Before any dividend can be declared every national bank must carry at least one-tenth part of its net profits for the half-year immediately preceding to its surplus fund, until the same shall amount to 20 % of its capital stock. After the surplus fund has been deducted the directors may declare a dividend of so much of the profits remaining as they deem expedient.

Statement of Resources and Liabilities. - A statement of resources and liabilities is usually made out daily in all large national banks. Such a statement gives the condition of all the general ledger accounts of the bank, together with a detailed exhibit of the cash account. All items of information entered on this statement are properly classified, thus furnishing data for the computation of the bank's reserve, and for the necessary reports to the Comptroller of Currency. The National Bank Act also requires that every national bank shall make to the Comptroller of the Currency not less than five reports during each year. These reports must be made in accordance with a prescribed form and be published in a newspaper where the bank is established. They exhibit in detail the resources and liabilities of the bank, the amount of each dividend, and the net earnings in excess thereof.

In this set you will make but one general statement of resources and liabilities. Carefully study the form given on pages 78 and 79, and then proceed to make your statement of resources and liabilities.