THE FIRST THRIFT CONFERElSlCE 



41 



The Def)osHs and the Savings-bank Books of the Savings Banks. 



These figures give rise to several observations. It is seen that those 

 having reference to the Savings Bank of Santiago show a larger propor- 

 ti(mate increase in the number of savings-bank books than in the amount 

 of deposits, while the converse is true of those referring to the National 

 Savings Bank. Hence it ma^^ be deduced that working people deposit 

 small savings more largely in the former than in the latter establishment 

 On the other hand the fact that from the time of its constitution the ser- 

 vices of the National .Savings Bank were — by its branches and agencies 

 and the post-offices — made available for the rural population, and the 

 fact that the total sum of deposits for the w-hole country is increasing con- 

 siderably, allow the conclusion that this increase is greatl^^ due to an in- 

 flux of deposits from rural districts. 



The most important point brought out by the figures is however that 

 a certain habit of saving has been little by little acquired by the popula- 

 tion, and that there is absolute confidence in the investment offered by sav- 

 ings banks to capital and certainty as to their soundness. As regards 

 the employment of funds they are converted into first class conmiercial 

 values or into real estate, on behalf of the depositors. 



The repayment of deposits is subject to no risks : the banks make 

 no difficulty about reimbursements — so long of course as the term of deposit 

 has been exhausted. Up to the present — even during the periods of eco- 

 nomic crisis through which the country has passed — the savings banks 



