The Banking Structure in Evolution: A Response to Public Demand

by U S Comptroller of the Currenc Office

This book is a record of the history of banking in the United States, focusing on the evolution of the banking structure and the role of public policy in shaping that structure. It begins with a discussion of the reasons for federal banking regulation in a capitalist economy, exploring the tension between public regulation and private initiative. It then traces the evolution of the banking structure, with particular emphasis on the period 1961-65. The author examines rapid expansion from 1900-1920, and the sharp retrenchment from 1927-1934, considering the factors that contributed to the instability in this sector during the 1920s. Postwar adjustments from 1946-1960 are discussed, noting the increase in commercial banking offices and the growth in bank expansion and mergers from 1961-1965. Overall, the book provides a detailed look at the history of the banking structure in the United States and the impact of public policy on its evolution.

352 pages, Hardcover

Published August 24, 2018