Berkshire Hathaway Letters to Shareholders: 1965-2024

by Warren Buffett

Illinois National Bank, earnings were close to 50% better than those of National City, or approximately 2% of average assets. This outstanding earnings record again was achieved while: (1) paying maximum rates of interest on all consumer savings instruments (time deposits now make up well over two-thirds of the deposit base at the Illinois National Bank), (2) maintaining an outstanding liquidity position (Federal Funds sold plus U. S. Government and Agency issues of under six months’ duration presently are approximately equal to demand deposits), and (3) avoiding high-yield but second-class loans (net loan losses in 1976 came to about $12,000, or .02% of outstanding loans, a very tiny fraction of the ratio prevailing in 1976 in the banking industry). Cost control is an important factor in the bank’s success. Employment is still at about the level existing at the time of purchase in 1969 despite growth in consumer time deposits from $30 million to $90 million and considerable expansion in other activities such as trust, travel and data processing.