Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1911 — HAPPENINGS IN THE CITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

HAPPENINGS IN THE CITIES

Chicago Is to Have a Bank for Women

CHICAGO. Chicago Is to have a bank by women for women on the proposition that it is the women who do most of the economizing and consequently have most of the money to deposit. The originator of this banking idea is Mrs. Antoinette Funk, While a bank owned and conducted by Women is not an experiment, the pioneer of women's banks being in Joplin, Mo., it is an experiment in a large city. All similar institutions have been in comparatively small communities. The announcement that it is a women s bank for women ,is also somewhat of rn iniovation. as the other women's banks have sought business wherever it could be found, but In the Punk bank men's business will be tolerated if the depositors come well recommended. The bank will be located at Edison Park, a suburb, during the experimental stage, but the real intention is to establish a downtown bank. Because of high rent and other expenses, it Was decided to try the idea In the

suburb under smaller expense and invade the loop when success is assured. . In discussing the project, Mrs. Funk said: “Our bank will explode a theory that has long prevailed in the minds of a few that woihen do not trust women. We will demonstrate that such a belief is a fallacy. Women are the money savers of the world and we will attempt to appeal to these savers through our trust and savings departments. ‘‘Many women Bave not only their own money, but that of their sons and husbands and brothers. When women are left dependent they make special efforts to save, and we will endeavor to show a class of this sort that we can help them. No inducements will be made to obtain stockholders or to attract depositors. When the bank is ready for business it will be found that the backers are women of sufficient financial standing to insure a good, sound, business proposition. - “Our original idea was to establish a bank in tne downtown business district. But for the sake of economy, while becoming established, w-e decided to choose a suburban location If the business justifies we will haVe a branch downtown. But a conservative policy will control all of out transactions.”