Many institutions, especially in the West, combine both saving and commercial banking. Savings deposits at times exceed checking accounts in amount, but as a rule these banks engage essentially in commercial business and only incidentally operate a savings department. At first trust companies and later state banks were allowed to receive savings deposits in addition to carrying commercial accounts. National banks reframed from accepting savings deposits, for it was believed that this power was not granted under the National Bank Act. In 1903 the Comptroller of the Currency expressed the opinion that while a national bank was not specifically authorized to accept time deposits, nevertheless this step was not expressly prohibited by the National Bank Act. The question was definitely settled in favor of the national banks by the Federal Reserve Act, which recognizes a savings department in Section 19, denning deposits as follows: "Demand deposits within the meaning of this act shall comprise all deposits payable within thirty days, and time deposits shall comprise all deposits payable after thirty days, all savings accounts and certificates of deposit which are subject to not less than thirty days' notice before payment." This definition has practically the same force as an authorization to accept savings deposits, and accordingly many national banks now operate such departments.