Subjoined are the conditions upon which some of the leading London joint-stock banks engage to do business with the public.

It was our original intention to contrast the conditions of the joint-stock banks with those of the private banks, but finding that no published conditions were issued by the latter we have been obliged to confine ourselves to the two classes referred to.

Subjoined are the official rules issued for the guidance of persons keeping accounts with the Bank of England:

All letters should be addressed to the chief cashier.

The pass books should be left at the drawing office at least once a month to be written up.

It is desirable that drafts should be drawn upon cheques furnished by the bank.

Cheques upon clearing bankers should only be drawn against, on the same day they are paid in to the bank, by cheques crossed to some banker. Cheques, etc, upon all other London bankers, may be drawn against after half-past two o'clock on the following day.

Cheques on country bankers will only be credited when the proceeds have been actually received. No notice can be given of delay of payment, - any loss from which, or from theft, fraud, insolvency, or otherwise, is to be at the customer's risk.

Where post bills are required, or a payment is to be made to any office of the bank by cheque on the Bank of England, the cheque must be presented at the office upon which it is drawn, and exchanged for an order on the Post Bill office, or on the office at which the payment is to be made.

Persons keeping their drawing accounts solely at the bank (although not having a discount account) may tender bills for discount through the Drawing office. Application for discounts, or for advances on stock, exchequer bills, etc, must be made before 2 o'clock, or before 1 o'clock on Saturdays.

Bills of exchange and Notes, not paid when due, will be noted.

Secueities. - The bank will make purchases or sales of British or foreign securities upon an order in writing addressed to the chief cashier, and dividends on stock may be received under powers of Attorney granted to the cashiers of the Bank.

Exchequer bills, bonds, railway debentures or any other securities, may be deposited, and the interest, when payable in London, will be received and placed to account.

N.B. - Persons keeping accounts with the Bank are requested to make known any change of residence at the Drawing office.

We may further remark that deposits exceeding the sum of £300 are received by the Bank of England for periods of not less than one month; but no interest is allowed, and this convenience is afforded as a rule only to persons resident within the United Kingdom.

Of the London banks the following are members of the Clearing House:

Alliance Bank, Barclay & Co., Barnett & Co., Bosanquet & Co., Brown, Janson & Co., City Bank, Consolidated Bank, Dimsdale & Co., Fuller & Co., Glyn, Mills, Curries & Co., Imperial Bank, London Joint Stock Bank, London Joint Stock Bank (Southwark), London & County Bank, London & Westminster Bank, London & Westminster (Southwark), Martin, Stone & Co., Metropolitan & Provincial Bank; National Bank, National Provincial Bank of England,

Prescott & Co., Robarts & Co., Smith, Payne & Co., Union Bank of London, Williams, Deacon & Co., Willis & Co.

N.B. - Branches of these Banks are not considered Clearing Bankers, except the Southwark Branch of the London Joint Stock Bank, and the Southwark Branch of the London and Westminster Bank.

The London and Westminster Bank. - Established in the year 1834.

The capital of the bank is £10,000,000 sterling, in 100,000 shares of £100 each. The sum of £20 has been paid on each share, so that the paid-up capital is £2,000,000 sterling. The rest or surplus fund is £710,070, 6s. Od.

Current accounts are received on the same principles as those observed by the London bankers. Every person connected with the establishment signs a declaration of secrecy as to the accounts of individuals. No Christmas boxes or other gratuities are allowed to be taken by the officers of the bank. The bank takes the agency of joint-stock banks, private bankers, and other parties residing at a distance. Strong rooms are provided for the security of deeds and other property lodged by the customers of the bank. Parties who are desirous of having current accounts, without being under the necessity of keeping a balance, are charged a small commission, proportionate to the amount of their transactions.

Sums of £10 and upwards are received on deposit at interest, and are repayable upon demand, or at seven days' notice. For these sums receipts are granted, called deposit receipts. These receipts are not transferable, nor can cheques be drawn against them. When paid, the depositor must either attend in person, or sign the printed form at the back of the receipt. If the money is withdrawn within a month, no interest is allowed. Parties may lodge money upon an interest account who have no current account, and those who have current accounts may transfer any portion of their balance to an interest account.

Cheques can only be drawn upon, and Acceptances made payable at, the office where the account is kept; and to avoid mistakes and risk it is particularly requested that customers will draw only on the cheque forms provided by the bank. It is desirable that pass books should be left at the bank at least once a fortnight, to be written up; they will then be checked, and ready for delivery on the following day after 12 o'clock, but they should always be left a few days before the last day of June and December, in order to be balanced. Bills for discount should be left with the Manager before two o'clock. All cheques, notes, or bills sent into the country or abroad for collection will be credited only upon advice of payment. No charge is made for collection, and the bank will not be responsible for any loss that may occur by delay or otherwise in transmission or collection. Cheques on country banks must be paid in before 11.30 a.m., and on Saturdays before 10.30 a.m., or they will not be forwarded the same day for collection. Circular notes of £10, £25, and £50 are issued for the use of travellers, payable in the principal towns of Europe, Asia, Africa, and North and South America. No expense whatever is incurred, and when cashed no charge is made for commission. Letters of credit are also granted upon all the chief towns and cities abroad. They may be obtained at the bank, in Lothbury, or at any of its branches.

Union Bank of London. - Regulations respecting deposits.

Sums of £10 and upwards are received on deposit at seven days' notice of withdrawal, whether by customers or the public generally, and receipts given for the sums so deposited.

Interest is allowed thereon at the current rate of the day; the bank notifying any change in the rate of interest by advertisement only, in one or more of the leading London newspapers.

If the money is withdrawn within fourteen days from the date of deposit no interest is allowed.

The interest is made up on the 30th June and 81st December, in each year, and is payable at any time after those dates.

The receipts are not transferable.

When the amount of a receipt, or any portion of it, or interest thereon is withdrawn, the receipt will be required, and if not presented by the depositor, it must be accompanied by his stamped cheque.

At the expiration of seven days' notice of withdrawal of a deposit, without the amount being withdrawn, the interest will cease, unless the depositor express his wish to continue the deposit, subject to further notice.

Remittances from the country must be in cash, or by draft on London, and the signature and address of the depositor must accompany the first deposit.

The Alliance Bank Limited

The following- are the terms upon which business is transacted at this Bank.

Current Accounts. - These will be made up to the 30th June and 81st December in each year, and if the balance shall not at any time during the half-year have been below £500, interest at the rate of 2 per cent. per annum will be allowed on the minimum monthly balances. If not below £200, interest at the rate of 1 per-cent. per annum will be allowed on the minimum monthly balances; but if below £200 no interest will be allowed.

The bank will not be responsible for any cheques, notes or bills, sent to country bankers for acceptance or collection, or for any delay that may arise, but will credit the amount only when received.

A commission will be charged when a remunerative balance is not kept.

Every facility afforded for the transmission of money between London, Liverpool, and Manchester, and for the receipt and delivery of stocks, shares, etc.

It is requested that the pass books be sent to the bank as often as convenient (at least once a month,) in order that they may be made up; also that all changes in the residences of customers be communicated to the bank. The bank will not undertake to present for payment on the same day any cheques paid in after half-past three o'clock.

Deposit Accounts. - Deposits are received subject to seven days' notice of withdrawal, at the current rate of interest, notice of any change of rate being given by advertisement only.

Should a deposit not be withdrawn at the expiration of the notice of withdrawal, the interest will cease, unless the Depositor express a wish to continue the deposit, subject to further notice.

The clerks of the bank are not allowed to receive any fee or gratuity.

The Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China.-Head Office, 20, Threadneedle Street, London.