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THE VOICE OF THE GAY COMMUNITY - SERVING THE SOUTHEAST AND THE NATION
PUBLISHED IN ATLANTA, GEORGIA
25 CENTS
Atlanta, Ga. -C&S
Bank, one of the south’s
largest banking corpora
tions advised “The Barb”
that effective November 19,
1974, their account would
be closed. The letter writ
ten by John South III, bank
ing officer of the Stewart-
Lakewood branch, where
The Barb has maintained
a fairly substantial account
for approximately one
year, gave no reason why
C&S had decided to close
the account.
It was learned October
21, 1974 that an employee
had stolen a page of checks
from the check book and
allegedly forged the Edi
tor’s signature to them.
Upon further investigation
of the matter, we found
there had been checks in
excess of $650 allegedly
forged. We immediately
contacted the security de
partment of C&S and were
advised we must sign affi
davits in order that they
credit the account with the
amounts that were cashed.
We were further advised it
would be necessary to go
to the police department
and sign a warrant for the
arrest of the former em
ployee, even though we did
not have to sustain the loss.
Following their advice a
few days later we contact
ed the Atlanta Police De
partment and they advised
us that C&S must file the
complaint since they fail
ed to compare signatures
with the signature card, and
they consequently were the
loosers. Detective Brum-
elow, assured us that as
soon as the checks were in
his possession, he would
member, Bill Smith, re
quested that CRC Con
sumer Affairs staff person,
Muriel Smith, investigate
the matter.
Both the Editor and Busi
ness Manager of The Barb
became concerned over the
refusal of Mr. South to dis
cuss C&S’ decision to close
the account and contacted
Community people involved
in banking and finance to
determine if it was a stan
dard procedure for banks to
close accounts after for
geries have been discover
ed. Each person contacted
indicated that it was not a
standard procedure, and in
fact quite unusual. They
told us that while banks
usually close such ac
counts, they usually reopen
under a different number
if the account had been
satisfactory. Since there
was no reason given it then
became apparent that The
Barb account was closed,
not because of alleged fin
ancial irresponsibility, or
failure to safeguard the
checks, but we must as
sume because it was a gay
publication.
Acting upon this infor
mation we contacted the
bank President’s office
which referred us to Mr.
Bob Clayton, _ Vice Presi
dent Public Relations, who
then informed us that it
was a policy of C&S to
close accounts on which
the bank had sustained a
loss or high risk. An aide
to Mils Lane, former
C&S President, suggested
that we contact Howard
Morrison, Investment Offi
cer since Mr. Lane was out
of the country and couldn’t
be reached at that time.
Mr. Morrison telephoned
the next day, and while be
ing very cordial and cour
teous would not reverse
the decision of Mr. South
and Mr. Clayton. Once
again it appeared somewhat
irregular since Mr. South
readily explained the rea
son to both Mr. Clayton
and Mr. Morrison, but re
fused to offer any explana
tion to either the Co-Edi
tor, or Commissioner
Smith when they requested
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THE BARB’S STUD OF THE MONTH
Photo by Edmund
such information.
The Barb intends to con
tinue its investigation into
this matter andisduscuss-
ing the possibility of taking
legal action against the
bank. It was decided how
ever, until such time as an
agreement could be reach
ed with C&S, it was ne
cessary to find a bank that
would accept a gay account.
The Barb Editor contact
ed a Trust Company branch
manager and explained in
detail the circumstances
surrounding the closing of
The Barb account. The
manager then informed him
that there would be no pro
blem in handling the ac
count.
gay people to patronize
those businesses which do
not discriminate against an
individual regardless of
race, color, or sexual ori
entation.
This incident has taught
us a lesson. We shall cer
tainly exercise more se
curity, and safeguard the
checks more carefully, and
hope that you will do the
same. We also urge all
We have * ‘ switched’ *, but
still intend to fight!! Should
you decide to switch, please
explain the reason for doing
this. It’s time we stood up
and showed our strength in
the gay community.
OUR SPECIAL HOLIDAY GREETINGS
