THE GOOD WORK OF THE BANK 43 
Negroes, it should have as many Negro officials 
as possible, and in time about one half of the 
employees were Negroes. At nearly all of the 
branches, especially after 1870, when some of 
them were allowed to do a regular banking busi- 
ness,® there was an advisory council, or board of 
directors, of responsible Negro property holders. 
These men were proud of the Freedmen’s Bank 
and of their connection with it. 
For example, National Bank Inspector Meigs 
gave special praise to the Negro board of advisers 
of the Norfolk branch who, he said, “are very 
proud of the position they occupy.” And of the 
Richmond branch he said: “They have what is 
called an advisory board of colored men of the 
better class and these men evidently take a deep 
interest in the welfare of the institution and pro- 
mote in every way the habit of saving on the 
part of their people.” 
LITERATURE OF THE BANK 
The more thrifty Negroes, believing that their 
deposits would be secure in these banks, which 
they understood were supported by the govern- 
ment, eagerly availed themselves of the oppor- 
tunity to lay up small sums for the future. To 
each depositor a unique pass book was given. 
In this book were the usual printed rules govern- 
Ing the making and withdrawal of deposits, a list 
of the branches of the bank, with names of the 
cashiers, and this statement: 
# These were at Norfolk, Va., Beaufort, S. C., and Jacksonville, Fla. 
There were whites on some of the local boards. Report of Meigs, 
National Bank Inspector, in Ho. Misc. Doc. No. 16, 43 Cong., 2 Sess., 
P. 64; Bruce Report, pp. 246, 247.