1080. Hibernia Savings & Loan Society (San Francisco, CA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Start Date
June 24, 1893
Location
San Francisco, California (37.780, -122.419)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
2abf6ded

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

A small, orderly run occurred on June 24, 1893; bank officials paid withdrawals promptly and there is no mention of any suspension or closure in the articles. Cause characterized as fear/rumors (no specific misinformation incident described).

Events (1)

1. June 24, 1893 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Described by officials as an epidemic of fear and timid people easily frightened; no specific adverse facts or correspondent failures cited.
Measures
Paid withdrawals promptly; kept large reserves (reported cash and government bonds); refused to reopen one returned account.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was a slight run on the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society's Bank... A few timid women and excited depositors withdrew their savings during the morning hours... The bank officials paid out money promptly
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Morning Call, June 24, 1893

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Article Text

THE HIBERNIA BANK. It Has Five Millions in Government Bonds Alone. There was a slight run on the Ribernia Savings and Loan Society's Bank, at the corner of Jones and McAllister streets, during the day. A few timid women and excited depositors withdrew their savings during the morning hours. During the afternoon a number presented themselves to withdraw their deposits. The bank officials paid out money promptly, but as all of the deposits at the Hibernia Bank are in sums under $4000. the total amount of money withdrawn did not amount to over $200,000. The depositors were mostly women and a small scattering of workingmen. The crowd was quiet and orderly and stood in line patiently. One poorly dressed woman, who withdrew her savings in the morning, returned in the afternoon feeling more confident to again deposit her money, but the bank officials declined to reopen her account. The fact that those who withdrew their money will lose the current six months' interest appeared to have little or no effect upon the timid depositors. James R. Kelly, president of the bank, was directing his force of paying tellers when a CALL reporter sought an interview yesterday afternoon. "Well, we are paying them off as fast as they come," said Mr. Kelly, with a laugh. "We have not the slightest idea what has caused this run on our bank. We have no term depositors. We do not accept over $4000 from any one person. We have nothing in common with the other savings banks in San Francisco and do business differently. Why, this institution I regard as simply impregnable, and this run on us to-day is a great surprise. I cannot account for it, except that timid people are easily frightened. It is most astorishing that a bank like ours, with our $5,000,000 in hand in Government bonds alone, should have a run. We have no doubtful securities or stocks of any kind. "Our total assets are $31,132,655, and of this amount $3,650,000 is in United States Government bonds, and $1,069,183 in District of Columbia bonds. These bonds of the District of Columbia are issued by the Government and guaranteed by the United States. Then we have nearly two millions in miscellaneous bonds, and one million of this amount is in Market-street bonds, which are absolutely the best and most secure in the market. The other bonds include Sutter - street, San Jose city and other securities of undoubted value. Our balance sheet for January 1, 1893, shows among our assets real estate and lands and buildings owned by our corporation valued at another million of dollars. We have also nearly $600,000 cash in gold and silver coin in our vaults. Our total assets as stated are over thirty-one millions, while the total amount which we owe to depositors is twenty-eight millions. The actual value of our reserve fund is $2,101,905." Colonel Robert J. Tobin, secretary of the society, returned to the bank from downtown shortly before the closing office hour of 3 o'clock. To a reporter he said: "This is simply an epidemic of fear. The San Francisco banks are in just as good a condition as they ever were. Our bank is perfectly sound. We have over $20,000,000 invested in realty right here in San Francisco."


Article from The Morning Call, November 24, 1893

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Article Text

MUCH COIN HOARDED UP. Interviews With Officers of Big Institutions. NORMAL CONDITION NOT FAR OFF General Impression That the Banks Will Be Making Loans as Usual in January. business man who returned on from a three A well-known Monday CALL months' trip East, said yesterday to a reporter: "If want a really news, you banks important and piece of visit the savings ask about their affairs. I want to build on some lots in them soon the banks Western to and I went to three see I could get any money. me to learn that at each whether Addition. prised bank It loans they surare getting ready to make the usual just as soon as the January settlements are over." Practically the savings banks of San Francisco have made no new loans since last for reasons which have been knows. July They accumulating every during one demands which arose the storm of last summer, has over. These vast sums coin financial blown to meet interest which have been kept in Idleness, earning no stockand consequently no dividends for holders. A well-known financier said to a CALL reporter: "The amount of $20 gold nearly pieces so in the savings banks was never at this time. The sworn stateof the banks. which will be 1, will astonish the town. great ments January as made be twice The on actual cash on hand will probably as on as great order to get January the 1 last." reliable informaIn possible ou the subject a CALL reporter tion visited the heads of the large savings institutions of the city, with inquiry the as to the probable date of resuming making of new loans. Lovell White, secretary of the San Francisco Savings Union. said: "We have made provision for meeting all demands which will come. For this purpose we have accumulated sufficient coin. Our to half payment of taxes, amounting $175,000. has been met. We will pay about $700,000 in dividends early next year. The amount to be called for in cash is uncertain. Some years it is as low as $200,000; in others from $400,000 to $500,000. Then there for. are the term deposit notices to be provided As soon as it is determined what proportion of dividends and term deposits able will be demanded, just so soon will we be to fix a time for making loans again. "If the demand shall be an average of former years, and am inclined to believe such will be the case, we will begin making new loans, soon after New Year-say January Robert 15." J. Tobin, secretary of the Hibernia Savings and Loan Society, said: "As perhaps know, this bank nas only one you class of deposits. We have never taken term deposits. I think after the payment that of annual dividends early in January business of the savings banks of San the Francisco will return to its normal condi- about tion. Dividends will let loose to $2,000,000 in money. No mian can tell but a the events six weeks hence, be certainty I believe the loaning of money will resumed generally during next January. alWant of confidence has passed away most entirely. We have been making loans in small some right along. George A. Story, secretary of the Mutual we Bank, said: "On November 1 notices to all our to meet their of Savings sentout were ready depositors demands about all that and we have now settled with oblithem. we This bank has met all of its will under these notices, and we within gations back to our normal condition the be weeks. We expect to resume and making two of loans between December 10; Samuel perhaps Bigelow. a little earlier. president of the Savand Loan Society, said: ings facts are. withdrawals are very "The diminished and deposits are which increasmuch Of the term deposits for we on ing. received notices of withdrawal had 1, only one-sixteenth of the November was called for on that date. It settle- is alsum that after January balance will be on that all the banks, side ments, together and the likely including loans the again." right our will commence making of the own, Edward Kruse. acting president said: Savings and Loan Society, German bank has accumulated sufficient divi"This for the payment of January been funds and term deposits which have to dends for. It is a great disadvan age and called retain large sums lying made idle for have know to when demands will be approxinot In order to ascertain for the amount which shall sent notices to all our term we whom notices of mately money. have the withdrawals be called depos- have itors up to January 10 call to or cancel the their the calls have been very continue to-day been by given money notice. will and trifling, Up get is fair to suppose they the reand it inconsiderable. The time determined for to be of loans cannot be settlement, sumption the usual annual which until after takes place in and January. withdrawals Our de- diposits are increasing Indeed, nearly all be money meat of taxes." being minishing. taken out now is devoted to the pay-