Volume 2 - ElectricCanadian.com

APPENDIX IV.THE BANK PREMISES DEPARTMENT ANDITS BUILDINGS.The task of providing with suitable premises and up-todateequipment a modern Canadian bank possessing hundredsof offices and agencies in all parts of Canada, were it suddenlythrust upon any individual, would indeed be a Herculean one.It would be a great feat, ifaccomplished within the span ofan ordinary lifetime.In the early days the customer soughtthe bank, and this simplified the problem of providing premises.With the development of the country and of banking came anincrease of competition, and the demand that the convenienceand comfort of customers should receive fuller consideration.The banking office as a mere adjunct to the manager's residencegave way to one centrally located as regards the businesscommunity of the town, and equipped with safeguards againsttheft, burglary and fire. Iron safes gave place to those ofsteel, key locks were replaced by combination ones, vaultswere lined with steel, and finally to these precautions wereadded the time-lock, that most effective barrier to anyunauthorized intruder save the expert cracksman. Later on,as the demand arose for such conveniences, the safety depositbox provided a place of safe-keeping for customers' valuables.The result is that many branches, even in comparatively smalltowns, now have premises and equipment that in early dayswould have been considered elaborate even for a head office.At the present time (1918) The Canadian Bank of Commerceowns 576 safes, 420 time-locks and 17,787 safety deposit boxes.The policy of The Canadian Bank of Commerce at firstwas to rent premises except in the larger cities; only thehead office and a few of the branches, for instance, Chatham,Sarnia and Ottawa, were housed in buildings owned by the