Women’s Banking and Check Etiquette

A “Second Debut” article from 2014 – Because older articles often get overlooked.

Who is the Bank? 

“A bank is not a building of brick, steel and concrete, with marble fixtures and metal bars with piles of money behind them. The human element is dominant there, just as in every other successful business organization.”

Before perforated checks in books were available, businessmen and women had sheets of checks like this shown above, and they needed a “check cutter” or a ruler which would double as a check cutter. This fabulous gilded age example was designed by George Shiebler

Banking Etiquette “Don'ts” for the Housewife of 1928

Hubby: “The bank phoned me today that your account with them was over-drawn.”

Wife: “That must be a mistake, as I still have a lot of checks left in my book.”

That old joke's been man's standby for years. Mere man has always been of the opinion that it was absolutely impossible for a woman to keep her bank account as it should be kept. 

Without taking the side of either party in the controversy, we're listing below several banking "don'ts" for the housewife, that if strictly adhered to will enable her to keep her account absolutely correct it all times -- and eventually win the argument.

• Don't — write checks with lead pencils.
• Don't — use counter checks if you can possibly avoid it.
• Don't — ever write a check without first filling out the stub in your check book.
• Don't — fail to keep the amount of your checks totaled, also the amount of your deposits. The difference is the amount you should have in the bank.
• Don't — write checks for an amount greater than your balance. They will not be honored and will therefore cause embarrassment to you.
• Don't — fail to make deposit slips out in your own hand when making deposits to your account. Hand the teller your book and have the teller enter the amount of your deposit. This protects both you and the bank.
• Don't — ask the bank to give you the amount of your balance over the phone. This can not be done accurately for the reason their books might show one amount and a check you have given them previously, may not have been charged your account.
• Don't — fail to call for your bank statement the first of each month.
• Don't — leave either your bank or check book laying around — keep them locked up.

As soon as you get your statement, see if the amounts check with your figures and if so, you are ready to start out the new month in balance with your bank.

The officials of the bank you do business with, will gladly assist you in any way possible, in following the suggestions given above.— From “The Southerner Magazine”, January, 1928

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia