1
It seemed as if the report about everyone having come to open an account had been accurate after all.
Edwina could see the big man leaning back expansively, still holding his dollar bills.
His voice cut across the noise of other conversations and she heard him proclaim, "I’m in no hurry. There’s something I’d like you to explain."Two other desks were quickly manned by other clerks. With equal speed, long wide lines of people formed in front of them.
Normally, three members of staff were ample to handle new account business, but obviously were inadequate now.
Edwina could see Tottenhoe on the far side of the bank and called him on the intercom. She instructed, "Use more desks for new accounts and take all the staff you can spare to man them."
2
Tottenhoe grumbled in reply, "You realize we can’t possibly process all these people today, and however many we do will tie us up completely.""I’ve an idea," Edwina said, "that’s what someone has in mind. Just hurry the processing all you can."
3
First, an application form called for details of residence, employment, social security, and family matters. A specimen signature was obtained. Then proof of identity was needed. After that,
the new accounts clerk would take all documents to an officer of the bank for approval and initialing. Finally, a savings passbook was made out or a temporary checkbook issued.Therefore the
most new accounts that any bank employee could open in an hour were five, so the three clerks presently working might handle
a total of ninety in one business day, if they kept going at top speed, which was unlikely. |
