Drawing And Recording Drafts

After drawing it, on the form provided, the junior enters the particulars of the draft in the register, puts the number on the requisition slip, and hands book and draft to one of the signing officers, who examines the document. On being satisfied that it is properly drawn in conformity with the requisition slip, and correctly entered in the book, the signing officer signs it as "accountant," or "pro accountant," and passes book and draft on to the manager, or other officer authorized by the head office to sign as manager. Both signing officers initial the record in the book. When handed or sent to the customer, bearing the signatures of the proper officers, the draft becomes the binding obligation of the bank to the rightful owner.

Specimen Signatures

As the branches are drawing upon each other, and upon other banks, in this way, and advising transfers, etc., all the time, it is necessary to have specimen signatures distributed. This is done from the head office. The manager and accountant, when formally appointed by the general manager, are, of course, authorized to sign those titles. But one of them may be away when his signature is wanted; it is, therefore, necessary to appoint substitute-signers, who sign their principals' titles with the prefix "pro" or "p."

The head office keeps a record of the officers authorized to sign at every branch. Cards or slips are supplied to each branch, on which are specimens of the signatures of officers authorized to sign on behalf of the bank at every branch, and at the branches of other banks keeping drawing accounts with the bank.

Changes are advised with fidelity and promptness. The large banks, which have European banks as drawing customers, frequently have to keep track of signatures representing the authorized signers at all the branches of the European banks, in addition to the many hundreds belonging to their own numerous branches. But it is a simple matter to find any specimen that is wanted. It is filed first under the name of the bank, and secondly, under the name of the particular branch to which it belongs.

It is hardly necessary to detail any more of the junior's duties. He has checking work to do and calling off, and is largely at the beck and call of the others. We can now suppose that he is ready for promotion, and follow him as he makes the next rung on the ladder. This may probably be his appointment to the deposit or current account ledger, and for the present he will be referred to under his new title of "Ledger-keeper."