1151. Rocky Mountain Savings Bank (Denver, CO)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
savings bank
Start Date
July 17, 1893
Location
Denver, Colorado (39.739, -104.985)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
7ba81c7a440e9118

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles describe a run/panic in Denver in July 1893 that caused the Rocky Mountain Savings Bank to fail to open (suspend), the bank subsequently reopened after the 1893 panic (certificates issued to depositors), and then on 1895-08-06 the bank made an assignment for the benefit of creditors (closed/receiver). Bank name spelled consistently; bank is a savings bank (state-level savings).

Events (4)
1. July 17, 1893 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
General panic in Denver (financial squall July 17-18, 1893) produced runs on multiple banks including the Rocky Mountain Savings Bank.
Measures
Bank failed to open its doors during the panic; later (after the panic) certificates were issued to depositors when it reopened.
Newspaper Excerpt
To a greater or lesser extent there was a run on every bank in town.
Source
newspapers
2. July 17, 1893 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Closure/failure to open during the July 1893 Denver panic; part of general distrust and runs across the city.
Newspaper Excerpt
The People's, Colorado and Rocky Mountain savings banks failed to open Monday morning.
Source
newspapers
3. August 6, 1895 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The Rocky Mountain Savings bank closed its doors today, the assignment being made to Earl M. Cranster for the benefit of creditors. ... a demand was made upon the bank for $28,000 county funds on deposit in it and it was unable to pay.
Source
newspapers
4. * Other
Newspaper Excerpt
This bank closed during the panic of 1893, but subsequently reopened, a certificate being issued to depositors.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)
1. July 22, 1893 The Bessemer Indicator Pueblo, Bessemer, CO
Article from The Bessemer Indicator, July 22, 1893

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Article Text

PANIC IN DENVER. Three National, Three Savings and Three Private Banks Close on the 17th and 18th. The financial squall struck Denver a hard blow Monday and Tuesday. The first sign of a wreck was seen when the People's, Colorado and Rocky Mountain savings banks failed to open Monday mornIng. This caused an increase in the distrust of other banks which has been growing for some time, and during the day small runs commenced on the Union bank. The statemente published in the evening payer by several national banks were not calculated to restore confidence in them, and it was evident that there would be more trouble for them the next day. The directors of the Union national and Commercial nati onal were evidently of that opinion as they did not open their doors at all, and the National Bank of Commerce after sustaining a run for twenty minutes closed. On the doors of the Union bank the following notice appeared The Union national bank is In the hands of the comptroller of the currency. We have paid to our depositors, in round numbers, a million dollars in the past few months, and have $1,600,000 in assets to meet our remaining liabilities, and which amount to about $500,000. We have realized on assets as rapidly as possible, and enough loan payments have been promised the last of the week to enable us to take care of depositors again. If then paid. and the comptroller assents, we shall then reopen. In the meantime every depositor may be fully assured that be can by no possibility lose a dollar of his deposits. R. W. WOODBURY, President. The Union bank is one of the oldest in the city and has done a large business, but apparently the depositors have recently lost confidence in its soundness. Large amounts of money have been withdrawn from this and other banks and placed in safe deposit vaults in which all the boxes are said to be full at the present time. The National Bank of Commerce has liabilities of $700,000 and assets of $1,500,000. Ex-Governor Cooper is president. The Commercial National reports liabilities at $435,000 and assets at $750,000. Three small banks. the Capital, the Mercantile and the North Denver, closed their doors as a result of the large banks closing. They have small liabilities. To a greater or lesser extent there was a run on every bank in town. In several instances it was hardly visible and was over almost before it began. it otherr it lasted until the hour at which the banks closed. There was a big run on the German National. First National, City National and State National, but the run had about ceased on them at night, and it looked as though they would pull through. The bank officers claimed that the run was participated in by check holders and small depositors and that they could weather the storm all right. The failure of the banks carried down a number of business houses. The largest of these was the McNamara Dry Goods Company, which was attached by the Union bank for $70,000. Other claims against the firm aggregate $255,000. The John Mouat Lumber Company also assigned

2. July 28, 1893 The State Herald Holyoke, CO
Article from The State Herald, July 28, 1893

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Article Text

A PANIC IN DENVER, Three National, Three Savings and Three Private Banks Close on the 17th and 18th. The financial squall struck Denver a hard blow Monday and Tuesday. The first sign of a wreck was seen when the People's, Colorado and Rocky Mountain savings banks failed to open Monday morning. This caused an Increase in the distrust of other banks which has been growing for some time, and during the day smáll runs commenced on the Union bank. The statements published in the evening payer by several national banks were not calculated to restore confidence in them, and It was evident that there would be more trouble for them the next day. The directors of the Union national and Commercial national were evidently of that opinion as they did not open their doors at all, and the National Bank of Commerce after sustaining a run for twenty minutes closed. On the doors of the Union bank the following notice appeared: The Union national bank is in the bands of the comptroller of the currency. We have paid to our depositors, in round numbers, a million dollars in the past few months, and have $1,600,000 in assets to meet our remaining liabilities, and which amount to about $500,000. We have realized on assets as rapidly as possible, and enough loan payments have been promised the last of the week to enable us to take care of depositors again. If then paid, and the comptroller assents, we shall then reopen. In the meantime every depositor may be fully assured that he can by no possibility lose a dollar of his deposits. R. W. WOODBURY, President. The Union bank is one of the oldest In the city and has done a large business, but apparently the depositors have recently lost confidence @ its soundness. Large amounts of money have been withdrawn from this and other banks and placed in safe deposit vaults In which all the boxes are said to be full at the present time. The National Bank of Commerce has llabilities of $700,000 and assets of $1,500,000. Ex-Governor Cooper is president. The Commercial National reports liabilities at $435,000 and assets at $750,000. Three small banks, the Capital, the Mercantile and the North Denver, closed their doors as a result of the large banks closing. They have small liabilities. To a greater or lesser extent there was a run on every bank in town. In several instances it was hardly visible and was over almost before It began, it otherr it lasted until the hour at which the banks closed. There was a big run on the German Na. tional, First National, City National and State National, but the run had about ceased on them at night, and it looked as though they would pull through. The bank officers claimed that the run was participated in by check holders and small depositors and that they could weather the storm all right. The failure of the banks carried down a number of business houses. The largest of these was the McNamara Dry Goods Company, which was attached by the Union bank for $70,000. Other claims against the firm aggregate $255,000. The John Mouat Lumber Company also assigned.

3. August 7, 1895 The Herald Los Angeles, CA
Article from The Herald, August 7, 1895

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Article Text

A DENVER BANK ASSIGNS Could Not Produce $28,000 of Public Money The President Makes a Statement as to the Causes of the Closing of the Institution DENVER, Aug. 6. The Rocky Mountain Savings bank closed its doors today, the assignment being made to Earl M. Cranster for the benefit of creditors. No statement of assets and liabilities has as yet been made. Last week a demand was made upon the bank for $28,000 county funds on deposit in it and it was unable to pay. This bank closed during the panic of 1893, but subsequently reopened, a certificate being issued to depositors. The president is Frank Woodbury. son of R. W. Woodbury, president of the Union National bank, which suspended last week, and the two institutions were intimately associated in business. F. S. Woodbury, president of the Rocky Mountain Savings bank, this afternoon made the following statement in regard to the failure: "The troubles thac have crowded upon us during the past seven business days. beginning with the failure of the Union National. followed by the agitation over the county treasurer's affairs and accompanied by damaging rreports in some of the newspapers have simply broken us down. **We have paid off all the deposits except about $58,000; some of the stockholders are responsible men of means. and it is my intention to devote all my personal efforts to help the depositors until all are paid. 1 therefore consider it absolutely certain that every claim will ultimately be satisfied. "None of the officers or employees of the bank have ever borrowed a cent from the institution."

4. August 10, 1895 Red Lodge Picket Red Lodge, MT
Article from Red Lodge Picket, August 10, 1895

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Article Text

ANOTHER DENVER BANK CLOSES The Rocky Mountain Savings Concern Made an Assignment. Denver, Aug. 6. -The Rocky Mountain Savings bank closed its doors today, an assignment being made to Earl M. Cranster for the benefit of creditors. No statement of assets and liabilities has yet been made. Last week ademand was made upon the bank for $28,000 of the county funds on deposit in it and it was unable to pay. This bank was closed during the panic of 1893 but subsequently reopened, certificates being issued depositors. The president is Frank Woodbury, a son of R. W. Woodbury, president of the Union National bank, which suspended last week, and the two institutions were intimately associated in business. F. S. Woodbury, president of the Rock Mountain Savings bank, this afternoon made the following statement in regard to the failure: "The troubles that have crowded upon us during the past seven business days, beginning with the failure of the Union National, followed by the agitation over the county treasurer's affairs and accompanied by damaging reports in some of the newspapers, have simply broken us down. We have paid off all the deposits except about $58,000. Some of the stockholders are responsible men of means, and it is my intention to devote all my personal efforts to help the depositors until all are paid."

5. August 10, 1895 The Silver Blade Rathdrum, ID
Article from The Silver Blade, August 10, 1895

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Article Text

ANOTHER DENVER BANK CLOSES The Rocky Mountain Savings Concern Made an Assignment. Denver, Aug. 6.-The Rocky Mountain Savings bank closed its doors today, an assignment being made to Earl M. Cranster for the benefit of creditors. No statement of assets and liabilities has yet been made. Last week a demand was made upon the bank for $28,000 of the county funds on deposit in it and it was unable to pay. This bank was closed during the panic of 1893 but subsequently reopened, certificates being issued depositors. The president is Frank Woodbury, a son of R. W. Woodbury, president of the Union National bank, which suspended last week, and the two institutions were intimately associated in business. F. S. Woodbury, president of the Rock Mountain Savings bank, this afternoon made the following statement in regard to the failure: "The troubles that have crowded upon us during the past seven business days, beginning with the failure of the Union National, followed by the agitation over the county treasurer's affairs and accompanied by damaging reports in some of the newspapers, have simply broken us down. We have paid off all the deposits except about $58,000. Some of the stockholders are responsible men of means, and it is my intention to devote all my personal efforts to help the depositors until all are paid."