8o 



FRANCE - CREDIT 



There are no statistics to show the amount of deposits made by each 

 class. And it is impossible for us, as we should wi^h, to give the number 

 of depositors belonging to the agricultural classes. Categories III, IV, V 

 and IX include depositors certainly of these classes, even if temporarily 

 resident in cities. In other categories (I, II and VIII,) depositors be- 

 longing to the agricultural classes (heads of agricultural enterprises, and 

 landowners) are counted together with others who work in towns. In 

 aU these cases it is impossible to give the exact number of depositors 

 belonging to the agricultural classes. 



Besides the deposits of individuals, the statistics account for those made 

 by societies, many of which are authorised to make deposits up to 15,000 fr. 

 All the deposits, however, of societies and syndicates received in both the 

 ordinary and postal banks form but a small proportion, being only about 

 I % of the total amount of the deposits. 



§ 6. The investment of the capital of the savings banks. 



We have already indicated the various modes in which the law of 1895 

 permits of the funds of savings banks, whether ordinary or postal, being 

 invested. What are the investments actually made by the Deposit and 

 Consignment Bank within the limits laid down by the law ? 



On December 31st., 1912, the sums to the credit of depositors in the 

 post office savings banks amounted to 1,745,563,726 fr. Of this amount, 

 40,571,671.41 fr. were in current account bearing interest at the Deposit 

 Bank, the remainder being invested in Government stock and in railway 

 bonds. 



The property of the post office banks at the same date amounted to 

 74,658,662.72 fr. and was represented by a capital of 70,839,412.42 f r in 

 Government stock, real estate to the amount of 1,804,214.88 fr. and 

 capital invested in the building of post offices, amountng to 2,015,035.42 fr. 



The following table shows the amount of the personal estate securities 

 in which the deposits and the capital of the Post Office Savings Bank were 

 invested on December 31st., 1912. 



Table VI. — Securities belonging to the National Savings Banks. 



