14422. Columbus State Bank (Columbus, NM)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
November 5, 1920
Location
Columbus, New Mexico (31.828, -107.640)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b7bd86a5

Response Measures

Public signal of financial health, Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Receiver appointed later; president offered personal assets to cover depositors.

Description

Articles report a run/heavy withdrawals that caused the Columbus State Bank to fail to open on Nov 5, 1920. The bank was closed/suspended and did not resume operations; a receiver was appointed Feb 1921 (and referenced again in 1922). Cause appears to be heavy withdrawals combined with inability to call loans and local economic outflows, so classified as bank-specific adverse information (draining of funds/inability to meet withdrawals).

Events (3)

1. November 5, 1920 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals drained funds; bank unable to call loans and meet deposit outflows (army/postoffice withdrawals and local business depression mentioned).
Measures
President J. L. Greenwood offered to turn over personal holdings to satisfy depositors; nearby First National exhibited $100,000 in cash to prevent contagion.
Newspaper Excerpt
On account of heavy withdrawals from its funds, the Columbus State bank failed to open this morning.
Source
newspapers
2. November 5, 1920 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank failed to open and was closed temporarily/indefinitely due to drained funds and inability to call loans; directors decided to close pending reorganization.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Columbus State Bank ... closed its doors today because of heavy withdrawals.
Source
newspapers
3. February 22, 1921 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Bank Examiner James B. Read ... stated he had been appointed receiver for the Columbus State Bank, which closed its doors early in November.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (12)

Article from El Paso Herald, November 5, 1920

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WITHDRAWALS CLOSE BANK AT COLUMBUS Columbus, N. M., Nov. 5.-On account of heavy withdrawals from its funds, the Columbus State bank failed to open this morning. Its liabilities are $200,000. In order to guarantee depositors that they would suffer no financial loss, the president of the bank, J. L. Greenwood, who was elected member of the legislature Tuesday, stated that he would turn over all his personal holdings if necessary, until all depositors were paid. The state bank examiner is on his way here. Little excitement marked the run on the institution. A. F. Kerr, vice president of the El Paso Bank and Trust company, is president of the First National bank of Columbus. When told of the condition of the Columbus State Bank, Mr. Kerr took $100,000 in cash and came to Columbus to prevent a run on the First National. The cash was exhibited, and no alarm was occasioned.


Article from The Evening Herald, November 5, 1920

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STATE BANK CLOSES AT COLUMBUS, N. M. Liabilities Are Placed at $200,000; President to Meet Claims EL PASO, Texas, Nov. 5.-The Columbus State Bank, at Columbus, N. M., closed its doors today because of heavy withdrawals. The liabilities are placed at $200,000 by J. L. Greenwood, its president, who has announced that he will turn over his personal holdings to satisfy all claims. Greenwood was elected a member of the state legislature Tuesday. A. bank examiner is on his way to Columbus. A. F. Kerr, vice president of the City Bank and Trust company of this city, is also president of the First National Bank of Columbus. Fearing that the run on the State Bank might cause trouble at the First Na-


Article from The Columbus Weekly Courier, November 5, 1920

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State Bank of Columbus Closes (Continued from Page 1, Column 6.) Junbus State Bank was hardest his of all. State Bank Examiner On Way to Columbus El Paso bank connections of the Columbus State refund help to Mr. Greenwood's personal appeal and there was no other action to be taken except to close The bank until such time as a reorganisation may be effected. At present all the officials are dumfounded and apparently no plan has been proposed which will_permit of an early opening. if ever. A rush telegram was dispatched to the State Banking Department on to and Columbus. an examiner Upon is his arrival his way and examination of the assets that after it is possible an conditis will be so clarified that the depositors will be mightily cheered. Unquestionably Mr. Greenwood has the sympathy of all. Successful business men today offered help to Mr. Greenwood in the way of loans amounting to thousands of dollars, but Mr. Greenwood's ane swer to all WAS in effect that the damage had been done and financial aid was useless. A grocer in the postoffice block offered $10,000 cash if it would be of any assistance to him. Another offered all he had. 82.+ 200. Mr. Greenwood called at the Courier office shortly after 8 e lock Friday morning and announced the Columbus State Bank had closed its doors. Asked as to the reasons he stated that for his connections in banking negotiations help El Paso with had failed and that the constant withdrawals of deposits had so drained the bank that closing was inevitable. He further stated that he had holdings worth between 840,000 and $50,000 and that he would turn these over to secure depositors against any loss and that no one would lose a dollar if he could prevent it. Sympathy. Confidence, Assurance From All. Nine out of ten patrons of the effect out all would bank said come in that right everything and that the loss of what they had in the bank might inconvenience theat temporarily but that they "should worry." John Dalton had $8,200 in the bank and he smiled and asked the reporter to have a fresh cigar. is The pitiful part of the closing that there are numerous citizens in Columbus who had their "all"their life's savings in the Columbus State Bank and the strain of losing all they have in the world is a trying one, W. C. Franklin heard the news last night and wisely foreseeing there was proceeation for a "run" on the First National Bank, he imin Kerr. president, mediately got in touch El with Paso, A. and Mr. Kerr, heeding Mr. Franklin's fears. had half-a-dozen suitcases filled with bundlesre of bills and hurried to Columbus, arriving in time to decorate the bank's desks with enough currency to equal all their deposits. As a result there was no run on the First National Bank. The scene in front of the Columbus State Bank was far different, although at no time was there crowd. Many anxious-faced customers turned townward and hastily inquired the reason. and be said for the good of Columbus and faith in Mr. Greenwood that every attempt to restore confidence was the rule and got the exception,


Article from Deming Graphic, November 9, 1920

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WITHDRAWALS CLOSE BANK AT COLUMBUS Columbus, N. M., Nov. 5.-On necount of heavy withdrawals from its funds, the Columbus State bank failed to open this morning. Its liabilities are $200,000. In order to guarantee depositors that they would suffer no financial loss, the president of the bank, J. 1. Greenwood, who was elected member of the legislature Tuesday. stated that he would turn over all his personal holdings if necessary, until all depositors were paid. The state bank examiner is on his way here. Little excitement marked the run on the institution. A. F. Kerr. vice president of the El Paso Bank and Trust company, is president of the First National Bank of Columbus. When told of the condition of the Columbus State Bank. Mr. Kerr took $100,000 in cash and came to Columbus to prevent a", run on the First National. The cash was exhibited. and no alarm was occasioned. El Paso Herald.


Article from New Mexico State Record, November 12, 1920

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LUNA The hunting party composed of 0 H. Cooper, A. B. Daniels, D. S. Weatherred. Postelle Cooper, Ruswill Cooper and Henry Foster were the first of the deer hunters to return home. They arr ved in Deming from the Black Range country on Saturday evening and were the proud possessors of seven fine bucks.-Deming Headlight. At a recent meeting of the directhis of the Columbus State Bank 1 was decided to close the bank. temperarily at least. owing to the constant heavy withdrawal of deposits and the inability of the bank to call its loans. The Columbus State Bank. the oldest bank in this city increased ts capital stock from $15,000 to $25,000. last January and a dividend of 10 per cent was paid stockholders and the opinions of all concerned were the effect that the bank's future was assured. The large army and postoffice withdrawals and the local business depress on there during the summer worked havoc with the bank's promising future. Extensive improvements and alterations are being made in the building formerly occupied by the Deming Mercantile company, on Gold avenue, and two popular young business men of the community, Morris Nordhaus and Wells Rutherford, will soon open P first class grocery business there, to be known as the Mercantile Grocery company. With the payment of $62,500 to Charlie Cotton of the United Land & Water Co last Moi lay. the city of Deming became the mum cipal owner of the local water works plant, and will operate same 11) future. A. W. * Pollard ced for it Cotton in the ransier and City Attorney A. A Temke for Deming. The sale of the $100,000 water works bonds recently voted had preiouslv been arranged by sale to the United States National Bank of Los Angeles, and O. M. Soudan, the X president of that institution. was Diesent when the transfer was made As these bonds were sold at par and accrued nterest approximately $40.000 will be available for betterments. 35, Tom McCarty, manager under the former ownership, has been retained as manager under the municipal control and will continue to build "D he efficiency of this plant in the ame satisfactory manner in which IF, has given the plant the reputation of being one of the best in Fir La he southwest-Deming Headlight.


Article from The Columbus Weekly Courier, November 12, 1920

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But the man gruffly told her to take a back seat and to take a half dollar out of the silver. She did. And the show never looked bêtter and the music never sounded half as well to this couple before. The truth is the show was punk, but it" wasn't to this couple on that night! The news of the Closing of the State Bank was heard in Deming in an hour, and Deming bankers had nothing but kind and hopeful words. John O'Leary of O'Leary's Corner, Deming, a new subscriber to the Courier, says he would sooner be J. L. Greenwood of Columbus and broke than a lot of people with money that he has met in his travels. Two colored women went to the rear of the Columbus State Bank and knocked oa the door Monday morning while the bank examiner was there Mr. Greenwood stepped out and asked what was wanted and one of them said she had a roll


Article from The Columbus Weekly Courier, November 19, 1920

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CONFIDENCE NOT MISPLACED. There was a bank closing in Columbus some days ago, but there was no panic, as invariably follow such events in small towns and even in large cities. The First National for-itled itself with huge bundles of currency, and the depositors of the Columbus State fortifled themselves with a confidence borne of close personal relationship and knowledge that "Greenwood was above suspicion." Facts, substantiated by figures and by dollars, have since then proven that this confidence was not 'misplaced. Bank Examiner Read has said so. And he has also said that Mr. Greenwood used rare judgment in proteeting his depositors by closing the bank when he did. Bank Examiner Read also unbosomed himself of a few pertinent remarks, but this is part of another story which is in preparation.


Article from New Mexico State Record, February 11, 1921

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STATE HAVE S IN CARRIEDARE s (By Smith) Guthrie t business , unfavorable In spite New of Mexico make gains through in de have total 1920. e posits report condition and encouraging to resources of features This of is f state just been by James o one the shown calendar of in the the banking sixth department. annual filed with Gov The re B e - has Mechem the report the Merritt state C. bank account practical- The of d port trade has o Read, that stagnationen on coming general no shows new money This has resulted unlavorable 0 ly the state. extremelybut this confor the been into condition has state banks, dealt with banks in a cred sus, the the year 1 : pended charters were became itable dition Only manner. two business of during issued state members to 10 new of i while eight system. : banks and reserve was created, banks the federal the department state There are now When 1915, there were of 429,909. and on Nov. under the in having resources 78 state call banks, of the comptro 17, 1920, of the currency, total of $27,295,325. the had ler reached New Charters fol were Ten issued to The Bank Charters institutions: the First new Roswell Loving lowing of Commerce, bank, Loving; Grenville Bank the the Farmers of Roy, Las State bank, the bank, : State bank, Vegas and Roy; State the the Las Clovis; Farmers the State Citizens Farmers Stockmens State State bank, Mountainair, the bank, Moriarty; Vegas; Clayton; the Home State have bank, Mt. Dora. state banks federal reThe bank, The following members of the Citizens Santa bank, become system Capital City bank, and Saving: Aztec serve the Trust Stockmens Fe; State the the First Term bank, bank, Corona Lovington the Mount the State torial bank. State bank; bank, Mountainair Portales: the tainair Security State bank, at become in First The State Bank of the SpringeNational First bank the of has Springer. reference to report changes says: several With banks, the Applications have been banks to sys There Other Reserve state filed reserve several becom. anas plications of the federal has been taken State members of no final action federal reserve whose under tem, but yet by the banks on $25,000. their authorities capital stock 1920, was have in January stock 1, to at section least 8 of amend the New compliance capital Mexico with banking act, Savings as bank ed. The increased Roy Trust its and capital stock Stockmens from bank, of $15,000 Roy, to Farmers $50,000. and nded its arand ticles stock to Bank "The of incorporation. Estandation, increasing Trust its art capital The Farmers Maxwell, amended its company, incorporation, and Merchant State Vegas icles name of bank to the of Farmers Maxwell Savings articles bank "The Las amended its commercial Las Vegas, to do Originally, a under bank banking incorpora business. the business accounts. of the its charter, to savings was limited Two Suspinsions Only the Columbus time State at the "On bank Nov. is 4, Columbus, 1920. present A closed Wield doors, and of Mr. bank examiner hands yet been the state not will special deputy it has bank determined reopen At this writing whether whether the it shall be able to to liquidate the Mountainsir be required 16. 1920, closed On Dec. Mountaination the bank State bank the affairs a crecial deput doors and hands of I believe the ban are in bank examiner time this its affairs state within a short straighten out be able to the state bank in and During reopen." the increase year of There $4 094,767 is an in showed an of resources. decreases 17 10 items of $301,333 The in principal bonds item offset other items. was in liberty three decreases to $186,153. almns $20,000,000. of and amounts banks had on as deposit follows: De de- t These divided time deposits, in The was $2,250. deposits 000. posits. mard $6,505,Septroximately y Banks leads in Counties in number, is next with county Torance Socortr seven in with Union six, state Colfax, each, banks, while Mora and Miguel Dona have Ana, t to have five and San and Vafour each. Lincoln. none. Taos newspaper. has no o ti R lencia have kind. nor a and finan- t cial bank As conditions to of general any of the the business report state says: have difficult dur et to banks many credit of S the year it is to problems ing problems "The and that faced these the During the in managements so well met. liberally of their va- of s war money funds have been banks gave making the to the in success51 time and drives for the production the at rious war supporting same time de ful. and At the severe sea P of of foodsturienced foodstuffs. experienced and a very unustial the winter livein state son of drought which crippled disastronely in conditions most 1920 has V stock growers The year growers; and to crops many their Lee nmost stock, instanavatable bring and good various returns to relieve later the bid on ta th c1 w pa fair to could be used stood behind them during which which had seasone S banks winfavorable Not Maxine Products


Article from Deming Graphic, February 22, 1921

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RECEIVER FOR COLUMBUS Bank Examiner James B. Read. following his return from Columbus today, stated he had been appointed receiver for the Columbus State Bank, which closed its doors early in November. The bank examiner added energetic steps would be taken for the collection of the collectible part of the bank's outstanding indebtedness as hastily as he found "consistent with prudence and good business methods." "At this time I cannot determine the value of the nominal assets of the bank," he said. "I cannot, therefore, now determine what percentage of the liability of the bank will be ultimately paid. Neither can I say how long it will take to collect the assets, but the first dividend will be paid at the earliest moment humanly possible." Mr. Read appointed G. W. Rutherford of Deming as assistant receiver. He was for years connected with the Bank of Deming and Mr. Read said. capable of handling the Columbus bank's affairs.-Sant - Fe New Mexican.


Article from New Mexico State Record, July 1, 1921

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# L.UNA The Columbus Theatre has closed its doors for the summer. This was decided upon as the theatre has barely been paying expenses for the past few weeks, and as the house is now owned by the Columbus State bank the receivership does not think it advisable to use the funds of the bank in keeping the house open through the summer months at a possible loss, even though it pays well during the winter.


Article from The Evening Herald, February 10, 1922

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Deming Man Named Receiver of State Bank at Columbus , (Special to The Herald) SANTA FE. Feb. 10 State Bank Examiner James B. Read today Was advised by District Judge 16. R. Ryan that he had appointed A. W. Pollard Deming. as receiver of the Columbus State bank which closed late in 1920. following Read's resignation as receiver Ryan wrote Read: "I desire at this time to express my appreciation of the very efficient service you have rendered as receiver of the bank. a service which has made for the benefit of the depositoral and all Interested in the affairs of the bank."


Article from The Snowflake Herald, February 24, 1922

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Southwest News From All Over New Mexico and Arizona (Western Newspaper Union News Service.) A. W. Pollard, Deming, has been appointed receiver of the Columbus State bank. The First Baptist church at Las Vegas was badly damaged by fire of unknown sanitarium at was fire The totally Balboa origin. destroyed by Roswell which started from the heating plant in the basement. Judge Frank J. Duffy of Nogales was elected president of the Arizona Bar Association at its annual meeting in Nogales. Col. R. E. Twitchell, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Santa his to as as Fé, the has directors, transmitted president resignation and head of the Fiesta organization. county jail at Mora, Mora county, was recently. Las The asked burned Vegas was to send its fire department owing to an of city it was not there, fires in but that epidemic thought advisable to leave the city without fire protection. Traveling proclivities of many Arizona state and county officials came in for censure by Sidney Spana of Holbrook. In a speech, he declared expenses were not auby law and had such thorized traveling to be borne by the taxpayers. mine, which The has Inspiration near"Miami, been closed nown for a period over ten months, has The operations. centrator, of second company's huge resumed conlargest plant of its kind in the United States, has been placed in active operation. At a big meeting held in the Moyenear Clovis, N. poultry clubs were ard Hill pig vicinity, and M., formed standpurpose of An effort will also to stock. for advertise the breeding pure-bred be made and find a market for pure-bred Poland China hogs. Fire of undetermined origin destroyed the auditorium and United States Indian at The rooms ium Albuquerque. of the were gymnas- school under one roof, separated by a fire wall. was placed at by SuReuben D. perintendent The loss $40,000 Perry. There has been considerable discussion in Phoenix of late relative to the advisability of increasing the term of county and state elective officers of Arizona from two to four years and movement is now on foot to have such a bill introduced in the special session. A navajo Indian has confessed to the murder of Frank Lewis, an Indian trader, April 23, 1921, according to an announcement by Sheriff Roberts of Roberts the is one of three Albuquerque. dian, how plans who says held, told Inwere made to kill Lewis, rob his store and then burn everything. An important farm bureau was at Bowie President held recently, meeting with C. S. Brown of Tucson, Dr. J. B. R. Adamson of and ty County Agent Secretary C. Ellis, Willcox, Counex-Senator Charles F. Roberts atM. Winsor to order. Mr. tending. meeting of T. Roberts called was the one the principal speakers. recognition by a government Formal foreign of the heroism in action of Lieutenant Frank ous ace, came in the posthumus Arizona Luke, Jr., form fam- of a award of the Italian Groce d Guerra. The decoration, accompanied by a certificate of award, was transmitted by the War Department to Colonel H. A. Hanigan of the Arizona National Guard, with instructions that they be presented to the late flyer's father. A man who had registered as Verne Plum of Chicago, was found in a room a of downtown hotel dead at Phoenix. He was shot the a revolver lay at stated he was head A search note and "tired through his of side. the for gold and for food to fill his All marks of identification had stomach." been removed from his clothing. He was about 38 years old. Farm loans by the state of Arizona will be discontinued until $580,000 erroneously loaned has been repaid to various funds. It was announced by the State Loan Board, governor, the secretary of and the the comprised state of state treasurer. It may require several years to repay the amount, it was explained, as only the proceeds from the sale of state lands can be used for this purpose. The state's plight, it was declared, is due to the action of the old in Department money to the crediting State interest Land permanent fund instead of to the institutions as specified in the enabling act. This will necessitate a transfer of funds, as soon as there are sufficient on hand to make a change in the accounts. Harry S. Ross, former state treasArizona was accuitted