1141. San Francisco Savings Union (San Francisco, CA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Reopening
Bank Type
state
Start Date
April 18, 1906
Location
San Francisco, California (37.780, -122.419)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
f88590df

Response Measures

None

Description

The bank's main building was destroyed in the April 1906 earthquake and fire, forcing temporary suspension of normal operations and relocation to temporary quarters. Articles describe no depositor run or panic at this institution; it resumed business May 28, 1906.

Events (2)

1. April 18, 1906 Suspension
Cause
Local Shock
Cause Details
Banking house destroyed in the April 1906 San Francisco earthquake and subsequent fire, forcing temporary suspension while temporary quarters were prepared.
Newspaper Excerpt
the only interruption to its activities ... was the few weeks succeeding the disaster of April, 1906, when its banking house being destroyed ... it was forced to await the construction of temporary quarters
Source
newspapers
2. May 28, 1906 Reopening
Newspaper Excerpt
It reopened May 28, 1906, in what was intended as temporary quarters at the northwest corner of California and Montgomery streets.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from The San Francisco Call, May 1, 1906

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Article Text

Ane IN Representatives of Savings Institutions Discuss Financial Affairs. The executive committee of the Associated Savings Banks of San Francisco held a meeting yesterday, the following members being present: Richard M. Tobin of the Hibernia Savings Bank, A. H. R. Schmidt of the German Savings and Loan Society, E. B. Pond of the San Francisco Savings Union, J. A. Hooper of the Mutual Savings Bank, A. N. Drown of the Savings and Loan Society, S. L. Abbott of the Security Savings Bank and W. E. Palmer of the Humboldt Savings Bank. These gentlemen have been getting expert testimony as to when It will be safe to open the bank vaults, and the consensus of opinion is that they cannot be safely opened for some time to come. The report that the savings banks would blacklist depositors withdrawing their accounts was strenuously denied, as there is no uneasiness among the bankers about withdrawals, the present conditions not being a panic, but entirely local and caused by the recent calamity. The principal question of discussion was the handling of the money which will be received from the insurance companies in settlement of losses. A definite policy was not decided upon, but all agreed that this money should be used in restoring improvements whenever it was posible.


Article from The San Francisco Call, May 24, 1906

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Article Text

ring throughout the day. Some groups consisted of families who had taken the precaution to bring something to eat and who munched begrimed sandwiches in the a storms of dust under the lée of fence that had remained standing after the fire went by. QUIET AT OTHER BANKS. The scenes about the Hibernia Bank neighborhood were not duplicated at either of the three other banks that the were reopened yesterday. At Mutual Savings Bank, the doors were has opened at 9 a. m. The Mutual about 10,000 depositors. Comparafew of these came to the bank- the ing tively house. Like the Hibernia, Mutual Savings Bank was able to resume in its old quarters, the bank building having stood securely throughout the disturbances of April, loss being caused by the burning used the of the inflammable materials in out interior construction and furnishings and office fixtures. At no time were there more than depositors in the bank at once. 100 Deposits, so the officers of the bank reported. amounted to a considerable The money withdrawn amountsum. ed to little more than an average day's business. According to a statement issued for by bank, the average of deposits each." the 10,000 depositors is but $1000 The Mutual Savings Bank had $5.000,000 loaned on real estate. Less than one-half of the amount was dis- on properties situated in the burned loans of the city. Where the imtrict in the burned district the The were provements were fully insured. $100,building was insured for bank It can be restored to its original 000. condition for about half of that sum. The bank had half of its deposits invested in United States bonds and miscellaneous bonds, to the amount re$5,000,000, all of which was and of by the bankers to be good with ported available. The bank reopened the $2,000,000 in cash belonging to institution. "We asked no accommodation whatever from our correspondents." one of the officers, "although of said banks as the First National of such York, the National Bank NaNew of New York and the tional Commerce City Bank of New York made At voluntary offers of assistance." Mutual Savings Bank no limit was placed the on the amount that depositors could draw. the German Savings Bank, in At old bank building on California street, the the crowd was small, never dur- ex150 persons at any time drew ceeding the day. All depositors lady ing whatever they called for. One and out quite a large amount After had took a sack in which to place it. she had received the money she redeposited it. ONLY ONE TEMPORARY HOME. The Mechanics' Savings Bank was only one of the four mentioned the opened in a temporary structure. all its that the vault, which, with by contents, Around entirely escaped injury of fire, a one-story wooden structure, size suflicient to carry on a large banking business, has been constructed. U. Calkins, the cashier, said: old J. opened at 9 a. m. at the 'We and have paid every depositor, the stand, without limit, who has visited today. That will be the rule observed. bank This bank had only twelve on property in the burned dis- to loans tricts. We have money sufficient satisfy all claims promptly. During the greater part of the Me- day were so few persons in the there Bank structure, at 143 Mont- inchanics' street, that absolutely no dication gomery was afforded that money was in demand. There was no excitement at any re- No opened savings bank yesterday. about doubt was anywhere expressed ability of the savings institutions to the pay dollar+for dollar as the money is wanted. The San Francisco Savings Union, which will reopen for business in the China building. at the northwest old corner of California and Montgomery Continued on Page 2, Column 2.


Article from The San Francisco Call, May 29, 1906

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SAVINGS BANKS ARE ALL OPEN Money Is Not Demanded in Large Amounts at Counters. Institutions Resume Business in the Old Locations. The opening of the San Francisco Savings Union, the Savings and Loan Society, the Security Savings Bank and the California Safe Deposit and Trust Company bank, which took place yesterday, showed again the general solidity of the financial institutions of the city and also the confidence that the public entertains. "There are all kinds of money in San Francisco, said a financier who stood and watched the steady payment, without stint. to depositors in the several savings banks. At the same time, in every bank opening yesterday, as was the case in the banks that previously opened, the depositors who came to find a safe place in which to put their funds were numerous. At none of the banking houses that threw open their doors yesterday was there a long line of people. Two hours after the opening at the San Francisco Savings Union's temporary quarters in the China building, northwest corner of California and Montgomery streets, there were not a dozen persons in the banking rooms. "Everything is quiet, as you see," said President Pond. "There is no large demand for money. Our depositors can get all that they are entitled to on the face of the books. There is no limit to the amounts that will be paid out on demand. Depositors are evidently getting some money to meet living expenses. That is all. The new deposits are noticeable." BUSINESS SAME AS USUAL. The loan and insurance departments of The San Francisco Savings Union are temporarily situated in the Kohl building. on the opposite side of Montgomery street. There mortgagors counseled with the bank officiale who have an interest in relation to their insurance policies that are assigned to the bank. This department of the Savings Union was fully as lively as the one where the depositors were drawing money. The business of the entire bank was not much more than the customary volume before the fire. The San Francisco Savings Union is the third savings bank in size in California. At the banking house of the California Safe Deposit and Trust Company, where both a commerical and savings bank business is transacted, the general story that applies to all other banks in San Francisco that have opened since the fire fitted very well. Commercial deposits were placed in the commercial department. Savings deposits found their way over the counter of the receiving teller. An entire absence of excitement and a very small number of visitors seeking to get cash were observable "We opened up today for business, which is going on just the same as before the fire, and everything is entirely satisfactory." This was the statement that President J. Dalzell Brown made at noon, after the banking house had been open three hours. 'Business men are making commercial deposits. The entire situation is evidently very strong. We pride ourselves on the appearance of our temporary quarters. The return of the banks to California and Montgomery streets shows that this is a banking and financial center. We have been notified by the San Francisco Surety Company that they will return and occupy their own old quarters next to us." The Savings and Loan Society opened in a temporary structure on the old site at Sutter and Montgomery streets. Cashier Bonnell said that there was no great demand for money. Depositors needed some coin for necessities and that was about all they took out of the institution. t The amount of business was not more P than was common on any business day before the fire. V b OUTLOOK IS EXCELLENT.


Article from The San Francisco Call, October 23, 1909

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Article Text

SAVINGS UNION TO HAVE NEW HOME Building Will Be Erected on the Northwest Corner of O'Far rell and Grant Avenue The San Francisco savings union, one of the principal savings banks of this city, was organized June 18, 1862, and the only interruption to its activities during an existence of over 47. years was the few weeks succeeding the disaster of April, 1906, when its banking house being destroyed, in common with the other similar institutions of the city, it was forced to await the construction of temporary quarters sufficiently extensive for its dealings with the public. Even during these few weeks, however, its activities were not suspended, for it maintained a headquarters where it was possible to relieve the most pressing needs of many of its depositors. It-being found impossible to rehabilitate its own building within any reasonable time, it reopened May 28, 1906. in what was Intended as temporary quarters at the northwest corner of California and Montgomery streets. IN RETAIL DISTRICT When the savings union came to consider the rebuilding of a permanent home, the question arose whether to locate on its former site or to seek quarters elsewhere. During its entire existence it had conducted business in California street between Montgomery and Kearny. For more than 40 years it had occupied its own building at the corner of California and Webb streets, a short distance below Kearny. To abandon a locality with which it had been so long identified and to move to another section of the city seemed a radical procedure, but the consideration that finally prevailed was that the business of a savings bahk was the retail business of banking, and that its clientele was drawn principally from those classes of persons attracted to the great centers of retail trade. It was soon decided that the only site that would serve would be one at the junction of two streets with the northwesterly line of Market street. Various such sites were considered and the one that met with most favor was the lot at the northwest corner of O'Farrell street and Grant avenue. Notwithstanding the existence of a lease with several years to run. the advantages of the location were such that the lot was purchased. As normal conditions became restored and business returned downtown, the lease became more valuable and the cost of its cancellation prohibitive. But the first of next month terminates the lease and construction will then begin on the building, a picture of which will be found on another page. It. shows some external alterations and improvements on the design first adopted last summer. The entire exterior of the three frontages on Grant avenue, O'Farrell street and Bagley place will be of granite. BUSINESSMEN DIRECTORS The directorate of the San Francisco savings union has always been drawn from men prominent in the business life of the city, many of them having been identified. with its civic. history. Under their administration the bank has gained in public confidence and esteem as well as in strength and resources. Its total assets aggregate $26,000,000. Its paid up capital stock is $1.000,000 and its surplus and reserve $1.277,000. The directors are Lovell White, president; W. C2 B. de Fremery, C. O. G. Miller and John S. Drum. vice presidents, and Wakefield Baker, Jacob Barth, Fred H. Beaver, Henry C. Breeden, William G. Irwin, William A. Magee and John F. Merrill.