Banking Problems and Their Solutions

For a number of years past we have had frequent requests for the publication of a collected edition of the monthly banking problems with the winning answers, which have been a feature of The Bankers' Magazine since 1927. It has been recognised, however, that to be useful to bankers the volume had to be something more than a mere reprint. Inevitably changes in the law and the practice of banking - the latter greater in the past decade than in any in living memory - had to be reflected. Consequently the answers extending for some ten years past have been edited and entirely re-set in order to produce a currently accurate collection. As readers of The Bankers' Magazine well know, the topics arising in the problems are very varied. Some are of obviously wide importance, others savour of the curious. Most have undoubtedly occurred in practice; even those few that may have the fruits of fertile imagination probably reflect discussions among bankers or between students and teachers-stemming from actual events of a germane character.

It was also felt that, as with any collection, there was an absence of background. The troublesome, disturbing, odd, and interesting problems of daily banking life cannot be expected to provide in themselves a complete guide to the subject. In order, however, that without reference to text books the problems should be seen in the light of standard law and practice each of the groups into which the answers have been divided has been preceded by a note summarising very briefly indeed the established law and practice. Thus the book provides two extremes: on the one hand a simple statement much shorter than a study note on each topic concerned; on the other hand discussion and answers relating to practical problems sufficiently unusual and perhaps complex - to have caused them to be sent to The Bankers' Magazine. Most of the questions relate to problems that could well be litigated if enough were at stake; it must therefore be appreciated that the 'solutions' often represent what is thought to be 'the better view'. If the answers had absolutely incontrovertible solutions they would have little interest as problems.