  CLARENCE T. SIMMONS, of the Iowa Bank of Des Moines, is the only man we know in the United States who controls over 1500 banks, but these banks differ from most institutions since they have no capitol, no surplus and no deposits. The collection of these miniature banks has been a hobby of Clarence's for many years and all the banks have been gifts to him and he has not invested a dime in securing them. They were on exhibition at Yonkers during the convention and attracted a great deal of attention. Northwestern Banker, October, 1946 WORLD-WIDE BANK COLLECTION SALARIES, TAXES AND INTEREST RATES are three management headaches that don't bother bank-owner Clarence T. Simmons of Des Moines, for all of his 2,500 banks are of the coin bank variety. And Variety is really the spice of Mr. Simmons' hobby, too, for there are at least 24 countries represented in his collection now with more on the way. His banks were displayed in a downtown Des Moines department store window during the recent Iowa Bankers Convention and drew hundreds of spectators. One of the most interesting banks added since the war is a bank from the Post Office Savings Bank in London. It survived the London blitz but turned up with split seams and all of its coins welded together from the heat of the bombing. Natives of India evidently, don't hide their wampum under their skirts anymore for a savings bank from this country is also included. Mr. Simmons, who is employed by the Iowa State Bank in Des Moines, began his collecting hobby while serving some years ago as a bank examiner. The banks are usually on display in his home. The very size of the collection gives Mr. Simmons his only problem. By the time he finishes dusting the last bank — it's time to start all over again! Northwestern Banker, November, 1946 SIMMONS COIN BANK COLLECTION Among the magazines that have carried stories about this collection are: NORTHWESTERN BANKER of Des Moines HOBBIES MAGAZINE of Chicago BURROUGHS CLEARING HOUSE of Detroit SAVINGS BANK JOURNAL of New York SOUTHERN BANKER of Atlanta MID WESTERN BANKER of Milwaukee COMMERCIAL WEST of Milwaukee TEXAS BANKERS RECORD of Dallas BANK NEWS of Kansas City HOOSIER BANKER of Indianapolis TRUSTEE SAVINGS BANKS GAZETTE of London BANKING of New York FINANCIAL ADVERTISERS BULLETIN of Chicago |
