In 1904 A. P. Giannini became a board member of a San Francisco bank. He discovered that most banks cared only for the wealthy, powerful, and well-born. The 'little fellows' had to hide their savings under a mattress (床垫) and borrow from loan sharks at high rates. Yet A. P. knew these people were struggling to make something of their lives. A. P. argued with the banks directors to change their policies. They refused. So he stormed out saying, 'Ill start my own bank!' And on October 17, 1904, Bank of Italy later renamed Bank of America opened its doors. According to Giannini, 'There isnt any good reason why a bank should have the temperature of a fish market. When you walked into some of them you felt as if youd got into a funeral parlor. I think what I am most proud of is anything I may have done to help with the humaniza-tion of banking. ' At first, bankers looked down their noses at 'the baby bank' and its methods. They felt that going out to ask for new business was distasteful especially from immigrants, farmers, and wage-earners. But A. P. and bank employees went door-to-door explaining to people what a bank could do for them and inviting them to become customers. They did. And Bank of Italy grew. Said Giannini, 'The old idea of a banker was that he must wear a silk hat and shut himself up in fancy quarters. He thought he couldnt ask for business. If business is worth having, its worth going after. It helps to get up earlier than your competitor, and to keep looking for new ways to do more good business. ' A former bank vice-president remembers that 'A. P. was always available. People would often come to his desk, just to say hello. ' Recalls another bank employee: 'He wanted to make sure the customer was always our boss, that we were working for the customer. ' The term 'loan sharks' (Line 3, Para. 1) refers to______.