14881. Home Trust Company (Brooklyn, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
October 27, 1907
Location
Brooklyn, New York (40.660, -73.951)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b2e129c5

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Borrowed from banks or large institutions, Books examined

Description

Articles (Oct 27 and Oct 29, 1907) describe heavy withdrawals and a long line of depositors at the Home Trust Company in Brooklyn during the Panic of 1907. The bank met demands, closed the day with more cash, and arranged connections with Manhattan institutions for added resources. There is no mention of a suspension, reopening, or receivership for this bank in the provided texts.

Events (2)

1. October 27, 1907 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
General financial panic/strained currency conditions in New York and Brooklyn (Panic of 1907), plus local suspensions of nearby institutions increasing depositor nervousness.
Measures
Met withdrawal demands during the day; later established connections with Manhattan institutions to increase available resources.
Newspaper Excerpt
One of the institutions which withstood heavy withdrawals successfully were ... the Home Trust, of which former Borough President J. Edward Swanstrom is president. The line of depositors at the latter institution extended ... When the doors were closed at noon many had not been able to reach the paying teller's window. In spite of this the bank closed the day with more cash on hand than when it started, according to Thomas P. Peters, one of the directors.
Source
newspapers
2. October 29, 1907 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Continued depositor nervousness amid broader banking troubles in Brooklyn and Manhattan (suspensions of other banks), sustaining withdrawals and lines at the bank.
Measures
Established connections with Manhattan institutions to secure additional resources and meet demand.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was only one institution which had a line at the paying teller's window worthy of notice at the opening of banking hours. This was the Home Trust Company. But by noon the officials of the trust company had established connections with Manhattan Institutions, which gave it more resources than it needed.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from New-York Tribune, October 27, 1907

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Article Text

CONFIDENCE IN KINGS. Depositors Pick Up Courage as Demands for Cash Are Met. Almost every banking institution in Brooklyn was obliged to withstand exceptionally large withdrawals yesterday. But they did it successfully, and the leading financiers in that borought last night expected that the tension so relieved by to-morrow rapidly. It was a of the institutions which in some instances said would the tion the strength strain, would they be confidently improve which that reached tribute the withstood situa- the to proportions of runs. In spite of the fact that Saturday is always a heavy withdrawal day in many of the Brooklyn banks, because of the many pay rolls that have to be made up, some of the banks reported that their deposits had exceeded the withdrawals for the day. The suspension of one small state institution, the Terminal Bank, had little effect on the general situation. In the middle afternoon there was a conference of trust company presidents in the Brooklyn Club. Most of the trust companies were represented. It was stated that they had met for the purpose of exchanging experiences during the day. It was thought that some of the companies might ask for assistance, but not B single request of that character was made. This may be taken to indicate that every institution expects to be able to meet all demands on Monday. The Brooklyn institutions have always felt the lack of some central body like the New York Clearing House. and there had been some talk that steps might be taken to form some co-operative organization along clearing house lines in Brooklyn. This subject was not taken up yesterday, however. SAVINGS BANKS PAY SMALL SUMS. All of the Brooklyn savings banks put into effect the rule making it necessary for depositors to give notice-some sixty, some ninety days-before they could make withdrawals. All the banks, however, allowed depositors who could show they had need of the money to get $25 or $50 without giving notice. This rule was evidently a wise one, because there were several hundred persons at the larger savings banks and large numbers in proportion at the smaller banks who wanted to withdraw their money. Many of these people went away, however, without asking for their deposits when they were convinced that they were perfectly safe and that it would be folly to lose their interest by removing their capital. On the advice and at the request of the New York Clearing House all the Brooklyn banks and trust companies will on Monday pay by check on the Clearing House or on Clearing House banks, wherever it is possible so to do. There was a suggestion that the trust companies should take some concerted action in refusing to pay any person more than a proportion of his account, but this was frowned on as as being unnecessary. The state bank examiners were busy yesterday on the books of the borough and the Brooklyn banks and in the Williamsburg and Jenkins trust companies. J. W. Scofield was in charge of the First National Bank of Brooklyn as receiver. The directors of the Borough Bank were in session from 2 o'clock in the afternoon until long after 6 o'clock. It is understood that the affairs of the bank have been found in such shape that it will be impossible to resume business on Monday, as one of the officials had announced they had hoped to do. TERMINAL BANK CALLED SOLVENT. The suspension of the Terminal Bank, at No. 91 Sands street, the announcement of which was made before the banking hours, was not unexpected, as it was affiliated with the Williamsburg Trust Company, its clearing agent and depository, which suspended on Friday. The institution is said to be perfectly solvent, but unable to get ready cash. William P. Reld, the president, is a vice-president of the Williamsburg Trust, and Frank Jenkins, president of the latter, is a director. The Terminal Bank has a capital of $25,000, deposits of $94,000 and a. surplus of $26,000. Two institutions which withstood heavy withdrawals successfully were the Nassau Trust, of which Andrew T. Sullivan is president, and the Home Trust, of which former Borough President J. Edward Swanstrom is president. The line of depositors at the latter institution extended down toward Clinton street, from the middle of Montague street, half a block. When the doors were closed at noon many had not been able to reach the paying teller's window. In spite of this the bank closed the day with more cash on hand than when it started, according to Thomas P. Peters, one of the directors. "The conditions have greatly improved," he said. "We are hopeful that the people may be patient and reasonable at this critical time," said Mr. Sullivan, president of the Nassau Trust Company. "Our concern, and I believe all of our local institutions are in a sound and solvent condition. The funds of their depositors are safe and will be paid in full. The unusual pressure on all the banking institutions must be injurious to all." An official of the Franklin Trust Company, which has felt the currency stringency less than many of the Brooklyn institutions, said last night: "It was the usual Saturday with us, although there were some withdrawals of cash due to the general unrest and evidences that cash is being locked up in safe deposit vaults


Article from New-York Tribune, October 29, 1907

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Article Text

BOROUGH BANK INQUIRY. Examiners Still Busy Finding Cause of Troubles. Bank examiners have 80 far been unable to reach the bottom of the tangled affairs of the Borough Bank. in Brooklyn, which suspended on Friday coincidently with the suspension of the International Trust Company, of Manhattan, and the Brooklyn Bank, a branch of the International Trust Company Paul Grout, of counsel for the institution, .d after R protracted meeting of the directors yesterday afternoon: "The bank examiners are still busy on our books. Until they have made a report we shall make no statement." This declaration was repeated in reply to several questions regarding a number of stories about the financial methods of the suspended institution. Howard C. Pyle, a Brooklyn real estate man, who started aspetition yesterday among the depositors, expressing their confidence in the bank's management and agreeing to leave their money on deposit for six months, said that this action was taken to forestall the possibility of the appointment of a receiver It is felt that A receivership would be distinctly against the best interests of the depositors. Of the 4,250 depositors not more than a score had signed the petition yesterday, but a meeting of the depositors has been called for 11 o'clock to-morrow morning. It will be held in The Assembly, in Pierrepont street, and at that time some action will be taken to conserve the best interests of the depositors, who represent some $2,500,000 of deposits. It was stated on the day the bank suspended that some $2,000,000 had been drawn out within a week. The Oriental Bank, of Manhattan, suddenly ceased to clear for the Borough Bank about five days before the suspension of the latter. There was a story yesterday that about $500,000 of cotlateral which the Borough Bank was supposed to have on deposit with the Oriental had been found not up to the standard and that this had something to do with the suspension. At the Oriental Bank it was said in connection with these stories: "The International Trust Company does not owe anything to the Oriental Bank and the Borough Bank has only a small loan. amply secured by satisfactory collateral. The Oriental stopped the clearing privilege of the Borough Bank because the balances of the Borough were not up to the requirements of the Oriental Bank.'' Regarding two loans, said to be of $140,000 each, said to have been made to two directors of the International Trust Company from the Borough Bank or the Oriental Bank, representatives of the latter institution said they knew nothing of such loans. William Gow, who organized the International Trust Company and owns a controlling interest in the Borough Bank, was quoted yesterday as saying that the International owed money to the Borough. He refused to go into details. Discussing the possibility of the Borough Bank being able to pay its depositors in full, one of the directors said with emphasis: "The directors will have to see that the depositors are paid. I shall insist upon it." He declared that he personally had not borrowed a dollar from the institution. An Alderman who Is running for re-election in one of the South Brooklyn districts has $10,000 tied up in the Borough Bank. This crippled him so seriously that he had to go to a savings bank yesterday to get some of his nest egg. He was allowed to take $150, and will now be able to carry on his campaign. Of the money tied up in the Borough Bank $83,000 is deposited by the city in the form of certified checks given to the city by contractors as bonds for the fulfilment of contracts. The city will be responsible for this money. Confidence was restored in financial circles in Brooklyn yesterday. The uneasiness which was plainly evident on Saturday had been replaced by assurance that the Brooklyn banking institutions were perfectly sound and that it was the part of folly to withdraw money on deposit in them. It was said to be almost certain that the First National Bank of Brooklyn, the Williamsburg Trust Company and the Jenkins Trust Company would reopen within a few days, or as soon as the bank examiners had made their report. In a majority of the institutions the receipts in cash for the day were far ahead of those taken out by depositors. There was only one institution which had a line at the paying teller's window worthy of notice at the opening of banking hours. This was the Home Trust Company. But by noon the officials of the trust company had established connections with Manhattan Institutions, which gave it more resources than it needed. In the morning the depos-