29 $1 to $2 per meeting attended. During the first couple of decades of the 20th century, Bank of Clarke County established a unique system of determining the loan needs of local African-Americans. An informal partnership was created between the bank and a prominent local black businessman. His insight into the creditworthiness of the applicants resulted in many blacks receiving credit from Bank of Clarke County without the “traditional” established credit history of other customers. He knew his community so well that, upon a name presented to him, a yes vote immediately signaled an approval of the loan. If the businessman was silent after the name was mentioned, the loan was declined. On June 1, 1911, Mr. Herbert B. Whiting resigned his bookkeeper position at the bank. The Board responded with an appropriate declaration: Whereas Mr. Herbert B Whiting has tendered his resignation as bookkeeper for the Bank of Clarke County which position he has filled for the past six years with a high degree of efficiency – and wishing to record our appreciation of his faithful service: Now therefore, Be it resolved; That we, the Board of Directors take pleasure in preserving upon our minutes this testimonial to his worth. Dignified and gentlemanly in bearing and behavior his association with his fellow-workers and Officials of the Bank has always been pleasant and agreeable. Accurate, prompt and painstaking in the performance of his duties his work has been at all times entirely satisfactory, and he retires from the service of this Bank with the good wishes of all its officials, who regret that he has severed his relations with this institution and has sought other fields of endeavor. Mr. Whiting’s position was filled three months later by 20 year-old Mr. Rice W. Levi with a salary fixed at $30 per month. During his employment, he was responsible for meeting the train at the Berryville station once a week for the bank’s money shipment. He walked to the train station during his lunch, threw the money bags over his shoulder and walked back to the bank, his pistol drawn, while Berryville residents looked on. In 1912, Bankers Engineering Company of Chicago was called in to perform renovations to the bank building and fixtures. The work was agreed to be done at a cost “in no event to exceed the sum of $8,205, exclusive of freight”. The Cashier was instructed to hire a watchman to assure the security of the safe and its contents during remodeling. After work was done, Mr. P. R. Pulliam was hired to “damp-proof” the vault at a cost of $48. 1913 saw the introduction of the bank’s first “Christmas Savings Club” with weekly deposit amounts ranging from 5¢ to $1.00 per week. The July 30, 1913 Clarke Courier featured a picture of the remodeled bank with the caption “’Old’ Bank’s New Home.” The caption continued – “The above is an excellent picture of the newly remodeled and refurnished home of the Bank of Clarke County at the corner of Main and Church Streets. Many visitors, here for the Horse Show, will be shown through the new building by Cashier John B.