When the card ledger system is used, an additional column may be provided to show the present balance, thus indicating at a glance the condition of the ac count. Places are also provided for the ratings and for the credit terms as well as for the data abstracted from the various credit sources that may have been used, covering the customer's character, capacity and capital. From time to time, this brief is revised or enlarged as new information comes to hand.
9. Color keys in credit records.—Some firms use differently colored cards, so that at a glance some in formation of vital and constant importance may be conveyed to the credit man. If the regular ledger cards are white, two other colors may be used to indicate special conditions. A blue card, for instance, replacing the white, tho containing exactly the same information, may be made to indicate that for some reason credit was at one time refused that customer. This blue card is never again changed to white. Either a white or a blue card may, perhaps, be re placed by a red. The latter may be used to show that the customer's account has been placed in the hands of an attorney for collection. The color of the
card is never changed back to white, even tho satis factory business relations with the formerly delinquent customer may have been restored. The red card stands as a perpetual warning to the credit depart ment that at one time a serious weakness was dis played by that customer.
10. Abstract of financial times it is desirable to have in condensed and convenient form an abstract of a customer's latest financial statement, including agency ratings and other essential infor mation. For this purpose, a specially ruled card, size five by eight, is generally found most suitable. On this may be shown the quick assets singly and in total, as well as the liabilities that represent creditors' claims as distinct from capital and surplus. The ex cess of quick assets over liabilities may also be shown. A glance at such a statement tells the credit man what assets may be realized in case the debtor should be forced into liquidation.
It is not, of course, material that any certain form or forms should be copied, since every credit man ought to be able to devise such forms as will best sup ply the need of his department.