14905. Nassau Trust Company (Brooklyn, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
October 26, 1907
Location
Brooklyn, New York (40.660, -73.951)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
8a3c7424

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Multiple contemporaneous articles (Oct 26, 1907) report a moderate run on the Nassau Trust Company in Brooklyn; the bank met demands and paid depositors promptly and did not suspend. The run appears driven by runs/closures of other Brooklyn institutions and the wider 1907 panic rather than by misinformation about this bank.

Events (1)

1. October 26, 1907 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Runs and suspensions of other Brooklyn banks and trust companies during the 1907 panic prompted depositors to withdraw from Nassau Trust Company.
Measures
Paid off depositors promptly; officers asserted institution was solvent and would pay every depositor.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was a little run on the Nassau Trust Company at 9 o'clock, but all comers were being paid off with dispatch.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (7)

Article from Evening Star, October 26, 1907

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SITUATION IN BROOKLYN. Trust Companies Met Demands Promptly. Special Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK. October 26.-The Brooklyn trust companies paid off their depositors as quickly as the demands were made on them. As for the savings banks, some of them took advantage of the do days' and some of the 60 days clause and only in case of need made payments of $50 or less. The Home Trust Company, at 184 Fulton street, started to pay off depositors this morning who went there in a little greater force than usual. At 11 o'clock there were about one hundred in line. but nothing approaching a panic was to be observed either there or anywhere else in the borough. At the Germania Savings Bank, 375 Fulton street, not more than twenty-five people were in line at 11 o'clock. The bank had taken advantage of the 90 days' clause and made small payments where they were absolutely required. The Brooklyn Savings Bank, at Pierrepont and Clinton streets, also took advantage of the 90 days' clause. There were about two hundred persons in the line outside this bank at one time this morning The Dime Savings Bank. Remsen and Court streets, put the 60 days' clause in operation, making payments on the same basis as the Germania and the Brooklyn. There were fifty in line there when the institution opened. There was a little run on the Nassau Trust Company at 9 o'clock. but all comers were being paid off with dispatch. The Terminal Bank of Brooklyn, a small state institution. with a capital of $100,000 and deposits of about $240,000, suspended payment today.


Article from Evening Star, October 26, 1907

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NOW UNLI Worst of the New York Bank Run Has Subsided. , WITHDRAWALS DECREASE Some Belated But Timid Ones Still Stand in Line. SAVINGS BANK *PRECAUTIONS Criticism of the Managers Is Tempered With Commendation-Restoring Confidence. Special Dispatch to The Star. NEW YORK October 26 With the marked abatement yesterday in the runs on the trust companies, which have been paying out money to timid depositors since Wednesday morning. the officers of the concerns looked today for a continued diminution that would bring the request for withdrawals down to the normal Of course there were the usual though smaller. crowds awaiting the opening of the doors this morning and the same crowds assurance was given that all demands would be paid. At the offices of the Trust Company of America. where only $2,000,000 wa paid out yesterday, as compared with $12,000,000 on Wed esday and $9,000.000 on Thursday, the officers were confident that the flurry, so far as the run was concerned, was about over. The reformation of the line at the company's offices at 37 Wall street began less than two hours after the close of business yesterday. The first man took his stand in front 0° the door at 4:45 and at 6 o'clock he had nineteen to keep him company. Two young women, numb rs 22 and 24 in the line, went on picket duty at 10 o'clock last night. At the Colonial branch of the trust company. as on Thursday night, the number of all-night vigilants was much smaller than at the company's headquarters. Five stuck it out from last evening and two of these spent the night in the corridor within the revolving doors. Both were said to be bankers' representatives. At 6:20 o'clock this morning there were only fifteen in line. At the Lincoln Trust Company's 5th avenue entrance there were several of those who failed to get admitted when the doors swung shut yesterday afternoon who remained in their places all through the afternoon. being joined late in the evening by a few more, while this mornIng at sunrise the line was considerably lengthened "Deposit Brokers." At the Dollar Savings Bank, 147th street and 3d avenue, where a run started several days ago. a line of some length formed early this morning Several men who called themselves "brokers" went down the line offering to take over the accounts of any anxious ones at 90 cents on the dollar, spot cash. but they found few takers At the Harlem Savings Bank, where the officers announced yesterday that they would take advantage of a thirty days notice, "as a protection to the depositors, there were only a few persons collected Following the suspension of some small Brooklyn banks because of the lack of ready cash in the present financial situation. there were depositors at the doors of some of the trust companies and banks there this morning prepared to withdraw their accounts One line formed outside the Union branch of the Mechanics' and Traders' Pank in the Temple Bar building. This bank has ten branches distributed throughout the borough. The line began to form outside the bank at 8:30 o'clock. when between thirty and thirty-five persons took their places before the doors. Another line formed outside the Nassau Trust Company's building at Fulton street and Red Hook lane As early as 7:45 o'clock there were a few persons in front of the doors. The depositors also gathered outside the Brooklyn Savings Bank, at Pierepont and Clinton streets the second largest bank in Brooklyn, There was a rush of depositors to that bank yesterday afternoon. and this morning at o'clock ther were between fifteen and twenty persons outside its door. The executive committee of the clearing house association this morning issued a call for meeting of the full association to be held at 12 o'clock to decide whether or not to issue clearing house certificates James T. Woodward. chairman of the clearing house committee, said that the situation today depended largely upon developments among the Brooklvn banks. Soon after arriving at the subtreasury this morning Secretary Cortelyou had a conference with George W. Perkins of J. P. Morgan & Co. Mr. Perkins subsequently said "The atmosphere is fast clearing up. as any one can see. Mr. Perkins was asked if he thought this would be the last day of the financial difficulty He replied: "I think it is. James Stillman this morning after the conference at the clearing house. said: "The situation has been saved by the of the heroie Treasury action Secretary of the who has been so ab.y assisted by the whole-hearted co-operation of Mr. Morgan.


Article from The Washington Times, October 26, 1907

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Brooklyn Bank Runs Continue : Flurry Dying Out BROOKLYN, N. Y., Oct. 26.-Although there is a run of moderate sized proportions on at the Nassau Trust Comnanv. Broadway and Bedford avenue,


Article from The Barre Daily Times, October 26, 1907

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Throughthe Heroic Action of Secretary Cortelyou WITH AID OF J.P. MORGAN Although One Brooklyn Bank Closed This Morning, Things Were Generally More Quiet in Financial Districts Today. New York, Oct. 26.-The Terminal Bank of Brooklyn closed this morning. It was a depository of the Williamsburg Trust company. Although there is a moderate run at the Nassau Trust company, things are generally quiet in the Brooklyn financial district. After leaving the clearing house committee, James Stillman, president of the National City bank, said there was nothing new yet about issuing clearing house certificates and it may be that the association will deem it unnecessary. The general situation is much improved. It has been saved by the heroic action of the secretary of the treasury, George B. Cortelyou, and the whole-hearted co-operation of J. P. Morgan. The institutions which closed their doors yesterday, with the sums due the depositors were: The United States Exchange bank, Harlem, $600,000. International Trust company, about $100,000. The Borough bank of Brooklyn, $4,000.000. The Brooklyn Bank, $2,300,000. Williamsburg Trust company, Brooklyn, $7,500,000. The First National bank of Brooklyn, $3,500,000. The First National bank of Brooklyn, the Williamsburg Trust company and the International Trust company were allied institutions. None of these companies had any important business connections with the larger banks which are representative of the city's financial affairs.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, October 26, 1907

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Today's Telegraphic News. The Financial Situation Improving. New York, Oct. 26 -If the Clearing House Association acts on J. P. Morgad's advice it will resort to the issuance of clearing house certificates to check drains on New York banks. The Clearing House committee is in session now footing up the amount withdrawn from New York institutions through shipments to the interior or by local depositors who prefer hoarding their money until the present period of the panic is passed. Should the total seem great enough to warrant a resort to the expedient suggested by Mr. Morgan, a meeting of the full association will be called immediately to authorize the issuance of the certificates. The certificates are really loans, amply secured and guaranteed by the banks accepting them. During occasions of stringency they are issued and taken up after a return of the money market to normal conditions. The adoption of such measures do not imply that the banks are in distress, but that more currency is needed than is immediately available. It is an effective precaution against the exhaustion of cash supplies in the financial institutions. Depositors again gathered at the opening hour today at the doors of several of the banks and trust companies from which there have been heavy withdrawals. The numbers were somewhat lessened, but to be sure that they were in time, a number of persons arrived long before dawn and a few were even on hand before midnight. Gold aggregating $5,000,000 is on the way from London to this port and is expected to arrive Monday. It is being imported by the National City Bank. Another bank is known to be planning to import $1,000,000 in gold. The line was still intact today at the Lincoln Trust Company which is paying all comers. Great delay is caused, however, by the necessity of examining accounts and going over the books when checks for balances are presented. J. Pierpont Morgan is suffering from a bad cold, but was at his office as usual this morning. The weekly statement of the associated banks issued today shows the following changes : Reserves on all deposits, decrease, $12,415,950; reserved on deposits other than United States, decrease, $9,012,755; loans, increase, $10,864,737; specie, decrease, $8,925,330; legal tender, decrease, $8,973,500; decrease, $1,939,400; circulation, decrease, $214,100; total loans, $1,087,711,000. The banks now show a deficit of $1,233,300 below the legal requirements last year. There was 8 surplus of $5,673,675 and two years ago of $12,430,925. Brooklyn, N. Y., Oct. 26-Although there is a ruo of moderate sized proportions on at the Nassau Trust Company, Broadway and Bedford avenue, Williamsburg, things generally are quiet around the financial section of the eastern district. The officers of the bank assert that the institution is perfectly solvent and will pay every depositor. Everything is quiet around the doors of the suspended First National and the Williamsburg and Jenkins Trust Com. panies. The Terminal Bank, of 81 Sand street, Brooklyn, closed its doors this morning. This bank was a depository of the Willismsport Trust Company. Pittsburg, Pa., Oct. 26.-After a short meeting of the board of directors of the Pittsburg Stock Exchange it W38 decided not to open the exchange today. Secretary Charles J. Holman when asked if he thought the exchange would be open Monday replied that be could not say. It js believed here that business will be suspended until the financial turmoil is entirely quieted. Providence, R 1., Oct. 26.-At a meeting prolonged far into this morning, the Clearing House Committee decided to come to the assistance of the local banks whenever called upon. The committee today recommended in the certification of checks such checks should be made payable only through the Providence Clearing House, The financial situation here today is decidedly more reassuring, and it is believed that the action of the Clearing House committee will prevent all danger


Article from New-York Tribune, October 26, 1907

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con G. Jenkins, sr., president of the First National Bank of Brooklyn, said before he was taken sick that his bank was perfectly solvent, but would not open again until it had sufficient money to meet all demands. BOROUGH AN INTERNATIONAL BANK. The Borough Bank of Brooklyn was organized in 1902. Howard Maxwell, its president, was one of the organizers of the International Trust Company, which started business on October 2. All arrangements had been made to turn the Borough Bank over to the International Trust Company, but the formal transfer had not been made. About five days ago the Oriental Bank. of Manhattan, which had been the clearing agent for the Borough Bank, refused to act any longer in that capacity, as it had learned that the Borough Bank had been losing deposits rapidly. It was a great surprise, however, to most of those interested in the Borough Bank when its officers issued the following statement yesterday: The unusual demands of depositors during the last few days, amounting to $1,500,000, have exhausted the bank's supply of cash. The Banking Department is expected to make and complete an examination of the bank at once. When it is completed, a statement of its condition will be made. There was a meeting of the directors of the bank. starting at 5 o'clock yesterday and lasting for three hours. When it was completed. Paul Grout. acting as counsel, refused to answer any questions, and said that no statement of any kind would be made Among the depositors with the Borough Bank is ex-Senator William H. Reynolds, the realty promoter. It may be that building and realty operations of a number of operators on Long Island may have to be curtailed Mr. Reynolds said that he had personal accounts and the account of the Montauk Theatre in the Borough Bank. He denied that he had borrowed money from the bank. There was a report. however, that it had discounted the notes of many contractors and politicians in Brooklyn. This was denied by the officials, The connection between the International Trust Company of Manhattan, which opened for business at Broadway and Fulton street, Manhattan, on October 2. and the men in control of the Borough Bank and the old Brooklyn Bank, now a branch of the International Trust Company, can best be shown in the following lists of directors: DIRECTORS COMPARED Borough Bank: Howard Maxwell, president: Herman Wischmann, vice-president; William S. Hurley, vicepresident: Arthur D. Campbell, cashier; directors, William J. Buttling, Robert J. Cuddihy Warren T. Diefendorf, John J. Fitzgerald, William Gow, William S. Hurley, A. D. Campbell, Gustave A. Helm, David B. Hutton, Albert E Kleinert, Charles E. Levy, Thomas F. Martin, Howard Maxwell_ and Hermann Wischmann. International Trust Company: Howard Maxwell, president: Henry E. Hutchinson, Nelson B. Burr. John S. Jenkins and Oliver M. Denton, vice-presidents; J. F. Bouker, secretary; directors, Henry E. Hutchinson, president of the Brooklyn Bank; Howard Maxwell, president of the Borough Bank: William Gow, a director in the Borough Bank: Oliver M. Denton, vice-president of the Brooklvn Bank: William S. Hurley, Robert J. Cuddihy and David B. Hutton, directors in the Borough Bank: Nelson B. Burr and John S. Jenkins. directors in the Brooklyn Bank; Stanley E. Gunnison, Charles F. Darlington, M. B. Spratt and Archibald C. Shenstone. William Gow was one of the leading organizers of the International Bank, which has a capital of $500,000 and surplus of the same amount. In closing the doors of the institution the announcement was made that it had been unable to get cash, and had closed for the benefit of its depositors. No official statement was made. Mr. Gow was seen after the meeting of the Borough Bank directors, but refused to talk at length about the situation. He said he did not know that any politicians had been accommodated by the Borough Bank. He would not discuss the details of the financing of the International Trust Company. BROOKLYN AN OLD BANK. The Brooklyn Bank, which was organized in 1832, is one of the oldest financial institutions in that borough, and had always been regarded as extremely conservative. Henry E. Hutchinson was elected president in 1890. Within two years the interests that formed the International Trust Company had obtained control of the Brooklyn, and it was no surprise when two weeks ago it was announced that the Brooklyn Bank had been absorbed by the young trust company, and would be continued as one of the trust company's branches. Mr. Hutchinson, as vice-president of the trust company, remained in charge. On Thursday the Brooklyn Bank paid out some $300,000 to depositors, but Mr. Hutchinson had no idea it would be necessary to suspend. When he reached the bank yesterday morning he was astounded to find the notice of suspension, signed by Thomas M. Halsey, cashier, on orders from the International Trust Company, on the door. Up to the time of its merger with the International Trust Company, the Oriental Bank had acted as its clearing agent. The Brooklyn Bank had furnished the payrolls for about sixty manufacturing concerns Not being able to furnish this money, it was thought best to suspend. There were a large number of industrial concerns on the books of the First National, and the Williamsburg and Jenkins Trust companies, and thousands of Brooklyn workmen will go without their wages this week. It is feared there may be trouble at some of the factories to-day. Throngs of depositors gathered at the doors of all the closed institutions, but there was no great amount of excitement. Following the closing of the Williamsburg Trust Company and the other institutions in the Eastern District there was a rush to make a withdrawals from the Nassau Trust Company, o o at Broadway and Bedford avenue, but everyp body got all the money he asked for. One of that its balances


Article from New-York Tribune, October 27, 1907

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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