Savings-bank

(sāv'ingz.) [From L. salvo, to keep safe.] An institution established for the purpose of encouraging provident habits among the poorer cla es, by enabling them to deposit small sums of money at liberal interest, and returnable on demand. The earliest S. B., properly so called, of which we have any account, are those of Hamburg,founded in 1778, and of Berne about 9 years afterwards. The first institution of this kind in this country was established in Philadelphia, Nov., 1816. They are now very numerous in the U. States, and, in general, remarkably well managed. Savoie, in France. See SAVOY. [s. 799]