Binghamton Savings Bank - Binghamton, NY

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: savings bank
Start Date: February 20, 1903
Location: Binghamton, New York (42.099, -75.918)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 16f08c3a

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

A small, localized run occurred on Feb 20, 1903 driven by a misunderstanding of a 'Closed - Lincoln's birthday' sign among recent immigrants ('Slavs'); withdrawals (~$30,000) but the run did not spread and the bank remained open. OCR corrected minor truncation in Article 1 ('did not extend to other').

Events (1)

1. February 20, 1903 Run

Cause: Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details: A depositor misread or did not understand a sign that the bank was 'Closed' for Lincoln's birthday; he told fellow Slavic immigrants, who believed the bank had suspended and withdrew funds.
Random Run: Yes
Random Run Snippet: Depositor misread 'Closed - Lincoln's birthday', told countrymen; withdrawals
Newspaper Excerpt: When the bank opened yesterday morning the Slavs were on hand in force and during the day drew out nearly $30,000.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

1. February 20, 1903 Waterbury Democrat Waterbury, CT

Article from Waterbury Democrat, February 20, 1903

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Article Text

BANK WAS CLOSED. Ignorant Depositor Started Run on Binghamton Bank. BINGHAMTON, N. Y., Feb. 20.-On Lincoln's birthday a member of the local Slav colony went to the Binghamton Savings bank to get some money on his pass book in ignorance that it was a legal holiday. On the door of the bank was a card, on which in large letters appeared the word "Closed" and under in smaller letters "Lincoln's birthday." The Slav immediately told his countrymen of his failure to get money, and since then the Slavs have been in a ferment. That night a meeting was held on Chenango street, and the Slavonian leaders advised their fellow countrymen to draw their money. When the bank opened yesterday morning the Slavs were on hand in force and during the day drew out nearly $30,000. Their action created only amusement among the other patrons of the bank and the run did not e cend to other

2. February 28, 1903 The Times Dispatch Richmond, VA

Article from The Times Dispatch, February 28, 1903

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Article Text

# SHE WANTED HER # SHARE OF MONEY Negro Woman Writes to Bank for Pension Under the Hanna Bill, (Special to The Times-Dispatch.) BINGHAMTON, N. Y., February 27- President Charles Gennett, of the Bing- hamton Savings Bank, received a letter from Anna Harris, of No. 30 Morris Street, Hackensack, N. J., asking him to forward to her mother the amount due her as an ex-slave under the law passed by Senator Hanna, giving all ex-slaves a bounty on Lincoln's birthday. The origin of this remarkable request arose from printed accounts of a run on the Binghamton Bank caused by the Slaves who, unable to read a sign an- nouncing the bank would close on Lin- coln's birthday, thought it had suspended. The Harris woman evidently confused Slay with slaves, and wanted her share of the cash.