It is the policy of the Accounting Division to institute controls and procedures to safeguard one of the most important liquid assets of the Bank, namely “Due from Banks-Current A/C”. Adequate controls over Bank accounts are accomplished by ensuring the following:
1. Timely account reconciliation at specified intervals;
2. Proper documentation and follow-up of outstanding items; and
3. Adequate follow-up action on overdue items.
Closing balance as per the Trial Balance and the corresponding Bank Statement will not reconcile, in the event of either or both of the following situations:
1. DELAY by either party in recording transaction.
2. ERROR by either party in recording transaction.
Ordinarily there is a time lag of one day or more between the date the current account is credited for various payments drawn on correspondent bank accounts; and the date presented to the Bank for payment. Examples of such transactions area as follow:
1. Items sent for collection.
2. Checks deposited.
Regardless of the systems of internal control for error detection, there are occasions when errors may occur in the posting of transactions.
Bank reconciliation is the task of identifying transactions, or items posted/not posted in internal records/bank statements, that result in the closing balance posted in the Trial Balance not agreeing to the correspondent bank statements.
It is the responsibility of the staff performing the reconciliation to identify, follow up and refer to the respective divisions the items that caused the reconciliation, and ensure that the General Ledger reflects accurate balance.
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