Their balance sheets are effective secrets--rigidly guarded.
But none of them, except a few of the largest, are believed at all to gain business.

The common repute of Lombard Street might be wrong in a particular case, but upon the general doctrine it is almost sure to be right.

There are a few well-known exceptions, but according to universal belief the deposits of most private bankers in London tend rather to diminish than to increase.
As to the smaller banks, this naturally would be so.

A large bank always tends to become larger, and a small one tends to become smaller.

People naturally choose for their banker the banker who has most present credit, and the one who has most money in hand is the one who possesses such credit.