Savings Banks. The first savings banks were established shortly after the reorganisation, through the agency of Norges Bank, of the finances of the country following the distress in the years of war prior to 1814. Christiania (now Oslo) Sparebank was founded in 1822, and was followed in 1823 by similar institutions at Bergen, Drammen, and Trondheim. The appended figures show the growth of savings banks: | Year Number of Banks | Deposits 1850 90 Kr. 16 700 000 1870 262 » 81 600 000 1900 413 > 306 000 000 1914 525 » 637 900 000 1920 562 » 2053 300 000 1924 580 » 2555 100 000 1930 627 » 2234000000 1932 614 >» 2114 300 000 It will be understood that the great increase in savings banks deposits during the years of the War is due to the rise in prices and the conse- quent illusory increase in incomes. Norwegian savings banks have naturally sustained heavy losses in the protracted economic crisis of post- war years; but, despite all these difficulties, ’ 117