Norine,
Find below the response to your questions
Question 1: Do you normally create a new bank in the bank directory for suppliers / staff? Or, use a summary bank instead? You do not create a new bank for all suppliers/staff. Suppliers and staff payment depends on the company code assigned. In your case all you have to do is to assign the suppliers and staff on the one company code that you are using currently. As far as the payment method is enabled on the bank directory and on the supplier/staff master records. When you get to the payment monitor window, you can then select which bank account you want to pay the supplier/ staff from. Remember you must set up the bank account in the directory with all the necessary details completed. For example if you have four account with same bank, all the accounts must be set up under the bank name to enable payment to and from them.
Question 2: In the supplier's bank data screen, there is a "new bank" button for us to create a new bank, while in editing the personnel file, the payment information screen does not allow me to create a new bank. That means, I will have to add one in the bank directory first before I can edit the payment information screen. Yes you need to have your bank account details all set up in the bank directory and methods of payment enabled. You might need to check configuration settings for suppliers/staff and also the scoping questions to confirm that this functionality is enabled. The new bank account in the supplier/Staff master record is the bank account of the supplier or staff not for the company.
Note
Payments are driven by the company code and payment methods enabled, so for example you cannot pay a supplier that only check payments are enabled on his master records by wire transfer.
Regards,
Emeka