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BANKS IN NEARBY COUNTIES REOPEN
Most Neighboring Virginia and Maryland Institutions on Normal Basis.
With a majority of the banks functioning on a normal basis, "business as usual" was the slogan in the Maryland and Virginia counties around Washington today.
Shortly after their doors opened, bankers of the various counties reported deposits were "heavier than usual," while withdrawals were described as "normal," indicating the experience which Washington's banks had yesterday was being repeated on a smaller scale today in Maryland and Virginia.
As President Roosevelt's progressive program for reopening the Nation's financial institutions reached its third stage, the restored confidence which has been so evident in the financial centers and big towns of the country during the past two days, reached the rural areas and small towns this morning.
Others to Open Later.
Marylanders were particularly happy to have their banks functioning again, as they have been closed by gubernatorial holiday proclamations since February 25. Virginia banks had only suspended operations during the national holiday, which began March 6.
State Bank Commissioner John J. Ghingher of Maryland emphasized, in announcing the list of banks licensed to reopen, that those not included were not necessarily unsound and probably would be permitted to resume functioning in the near future. The commissioner issued licenses for 96 State banks and expects to have more time to examine the unlicensed ones with a view to reopening them in the next few days.
Ten of the 11 banks in Montgomery County whose doors have been closed during the holiday reopened for business this morning, with the other institution awaiting action by the Federal Reserve Bank in Richmond on its application to resume normal operation.
With the exception of the Farmers' Banking & Trust Co. of Rockville and the Bank of Damascus the 10 institutions open for business were operating with no restrictions on withdrawals. A 2 per cent limit has been placed on withdrawals from the Farmers' Banking & Trust Co. and the Bank of Damascus.
Eight on Normal Basis.
The eight banks that resumed business on a normal basis are the First National Bank of Gaithersburg, Citizens' Bank of Takoma Park, Takoma Park Bank, Germantown Bank, Bank of Bethesda, First National Bank of Sandy Spring, Sandy Spring Savings Institution and the Silver Spring National Bank.
Officials of the First National Bank of Gaithersburg said this morning that they have not yet received their license from the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond, but opened for business when given the assurance that the license would be granted today.
The Montgomery County National Bank of Rockville was not open this morning, but the cashier of the institution declared that application had been made with the Federal Reserve Bank for a license to operate on a normal basis with no restrictions on withdrawals.
Ira C. Whitacre, cashier, Silver Spring National Bank said, "We opened this morning on a 100 per cent basis and (Continued on Page 5, Column 3.)"