1376. Grand Valley National Bank (Grand Junction, CO)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
6137
Charter Number
6137
Start Date
January 10, 1914
Location
Grand Junction, Colorado (39.064, -108.551)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
43d3a1e2

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Public signal of financial health

Description

A light run occurred in January 1914 driven by false rumors. The bank met all withdrawals by shipping cash from Denver and paying depositors; there is no mention of a suspension or closure, so classify as run_only.

Events (1)

1. January 10, 1914 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
False rumors circulated (including an item at a women's lodge) that the bank had failed or closed, provoking small-depositor withdrawals.
Measures
Shipped cash from Denver; promptly paid every depositor who requested funds; displayed large piles of specie and banknotes to reassure customers.
Newspaper Excerpt
FALSE RUMORS CAUSE RUN; ... caused a slight run on the Grand Valley National bank yesterday and today. The prompt payment of every depositor who asked for his money, immediately relieved the situation, coupled with the fact that Cashier V. C. Talbert had safeguarded against a run by shipments of cash from Denver
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from The Daily Sentinel, January 10, 1914

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Article Text

FALSE RUMORS CAUSE RUN; IS MET WITH CASH Circulation of Rediculous Reports Are Promptly Met at Grand Valley Bank. MONEY FOR EVERY DEPOSITOR False rumors, industriously circulated by busy-bodies, either maliciously or thoughtlessly for the past few days caused a slight run on the Grand Valley National bank yesterday and today. The prompt,payment of every depositor who asked for his money, immediately relieved the situation, coupled with the fact that Cashier V. C. Talbert had safeguarded against a run by shipments of cash from Denver, so that every depositor could have been paid off without embarrassing the bank in any way. The withdrawals were confined entirely to the small depositors, the prominent men and corporations of the city who have big sums in the Grand Valley bank having every confidence in its safety. Altogether about $16,000 was drawn out yesterday, and almost as much was deposited during the day. Today very few withdrawals were made. as the depositors were completely reassured by the huge piles of gold. silver and bank notes which were in evidence on every hand. The officials of the bank have been making a rigid investigation of the source of the false rumors which started the withdrawals. and which apparently had been circulated freely from one end of the valley to the other. The nervous condition of the public, due in a large measure to the closing of the Mesa County National bank six weeks ago, was responsible in a large measure. as very little rumor is sufficient to start the people to worrying over their funds. One report has is that the original cause of the withdrawals was the payment of the checks of the Grand Junction Fruit Growers' association. which were distributed a few days ago. These were on the Grand Valley bank. and as the checks were for small amounts, there was a large crowd of people on hand having them cashed. This is believed to have started the report of the run. which as it gained circulation started withdrawals from the bank. One absurd report which was circulated at a meeting of a woman's lodge one night this week was to the effect that there had been a run on the bank, and it was compelled to close its doors at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Naturally this frightened a good many people. who fearful that the bank wouldn't open, withdrew their deposits. The Grand Valley National is in better condition to meet a 'run' than, I believe. any other institution in the United States," said V. C. Talbert, the cashier, this morning. 'If need be we can pay off every depositor. and still have money left to make a loan to the last man that draws out his money. When it first became apparent that these false rumors might cause a run, we promptly fortified the bank by shipping in money from Denver, and while a run such as this causes a temporary annoyance, we are able to meet every demand that can possibly be made upon the Grand Valley bank.'


Article from The Delta Independent, January 16, 1914

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Article Text

JUNCTION BANK GETS SMALL RUN BECAUSE OF RUMORS Reports reached Delta Saturday evening and Sunday morning that Grand Junction had had another bank failure. These were denied, however, by published statements in the newspapers of that city, explaining that a slight run had been caused by false rumors regarding the Grand Valley National bank. The Grand Junction Sentinel's report of the matter follows: "False rumors, industriously circulated by busybodies, either maliciously or thoughtlessly for the past few days, caused a light run on the Grand Valley National bank yeterday and today. The prompt payment of every depositor who asked for his money immediately relieved the situation, coupled with the fact that Cashier V. C. Talbert had safeguarded against a run by shipments of cash from Denver, so that every depositor could have been


Article from The Delta Independent, January 16, 1914

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Article Text

paid off without embarrassing the bank in any way. "Withdrawals were confined entirely to the small depositors, prominent men and corporations of the city who have large sums in the Grand Valley t bank having every confidence in its safety. Altogether about $16,000 was e drawn out yesterday, and almost as S much was deposited during the day. Today very few withdrawals were e made, as the depositors were completely reassured by the hugs piles of gold, I silver and banknotes which were in evidence on every hand. "The officials of the bank have been making a rigid investigation of the source of the false rumors which started the withdrawals and which, apparently, had been circulated freely from one end of the valley to the other. The nervous condition of the public, due in large measure to the closing of the Mesa County National bank six weeks ago, was responsible in a large measure, as every little rumor IS sufficient to start the people to worrying over their funds. "One report had it that the original cause of the withdrawals wsa the payment of the checks of the Grand Junction Fruit Growers association, which were distributed a few days ago. These were on the Grand Valley bank, and as the checks were for small amounts there was a large crowd of people on hand having them cashed. This is believed to have started the report of the run, which as it gained circulation started withdrawals from the bank. One absurd report which was circulated at a meeting of a woman's lodge one night this week was to the effect that there had been a run on the bank and it was compelled to close its doors at 2 o'clock in the afternoon. Naturally this frightened a good many people, who, fearful that the bank wouldn't open, withdrew their deposits. ''The Grand Valley National is in better condition to meet a run than, I believe, any other institution in the United States,' said V. C. Talbert, the e cashier, this morning. 'If need be, we can pay off every depositor and still have money left to make a loan to the ) last man that draws out his money.'"