ANTE-BELLUM BANK ACCOUNTING . A CASE STUDY: The New Orleans Savings Bank In The 1830s

This is a case study of the history, operating practices and financial reporting system of an antebellum-era financial institution. The New Orleans Savings Bank, which served the people of Louisiana from 1827 to 1842, was founded as a philanthropic endeavor and is an example of altruistic capitalism . as it was practiced in the nineteenth century. This institution is of particular interest to accounting historians because it maintained a relatively sophisticated accounting system which was, in many respects, similar to financial reporting systems in use today.