In the Review of Aug. 13, 1858, the idea was first advanced to our people of making the office a place of deposit for surplus means. Persons who had money for which they had no immediate use could make the office a depository, drawing it at any time upon order as they might need it, and thus give the office the benefit of its use. This suggestion being acted upon, it afforded still greater financial strength to the work. GSAM 289.3
From that time to this (1905), no person has ever yet lost a dollar thus loaned to our publishing houses, or failed to get his money when called for. The candid, thoughtful ones have come to regard our offices of publication a safer place even to deposit their surplus means than banks, which so often fail. Banks have worldly credit, while our publishing houses have the strength of the whole denomination for their “backing.” GSAM 289.4