21 JANUARY 1938, Page 43

BARCLAYS RECORD FIGURES.

The full accounts of Barclays Bank for 1937 confirm the general belief that the higher profit.for the year results largely from the advance of additional sums to the bank's customers. Both deposits and advances have reached record totals. Deposits at £434,645,323 show an increase of £5,106,907. Advances show a much larger proportionate increase, rising by £16,609,885 to £196,264,896. The bank's total assets were £4,873,272 higher at £469,786,056, but its investments are £6,244,957 lower at £109,391,938, and its Bills are £8,885,571 lower at £50,362,681. These figures suggest the general conclusion that Barclays have employed a larger total sum in a more profitable manner, economising on Bills which yield only a meagre return and expanding on advances which are relatively profitable. The ratio of • advances to deposits was 45.15 per cent. against 41.82 per cent. a year ago.

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