16184. Mercantile Bank (New York, NY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
October 13, 1857
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
3d1a45be

Response Measures

Full suspension

Other: Suspension likely placed the bank in receivership per NY state constitution (noted in sources).

Description

Contemporary dispatches (Oct 13–14, 1857) describe heavy withdrawals from Mercantile Bank followed by its suspension as part of the widespread 1857 panic in New York. Under NY law then, suspension placed banks in receivership (article 2 notes this equivalence). No reopening is reported in these articles.

Events (2)

1. October 13, 1857 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Large, city-wide panic and heavy withdrawals from multiple New York banks during the 1857 financial crisis.
Measures
No specific remedial measures for Mercantile Bank described in these articles (only payments of specie until reserves fell).
Newspaper Excerpt
MERCANTILE BANK. The Mercartile has nearly $60,000 less of specie in its coffers.
Source
newspapers
2. October 14, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
Suspension occurred amid widespread suspensions of many New York banks during the October 1857 panic; dispatches list Mercantile among banks that suspended specie payments and thus entered receivership under state law.
Newspaper Excerpt
The Mercantile Bank... have also suspended.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from New-York Daily Tribune, October 14, 1857

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Article Text

Their loans were reduced $17,000 yesterday, and the specie $45,000. Bills receivable during the balance of this month, $500,000. LEATHER MANUFACTURERS' BANK. The Leather Manufacturers' Bank has closed its doers. MERCHANTS' EXCHANGE BANK. This Bank, located at No. 185 Greenwich street, suspended specie payments at 20 mnutes before 11 o'clock yesterday. During the time it was open, a large amount of specie was demanded and paid-our reporter could not learn the exact amount. The run upon this institution was mainly by depositors, and aton ded with much the same features as those already relat ed of the other banks. MANHATTAN BANK. The h 'ank of the Manhattan Company lost $140,000 in specie. MARINE BANK. The Marine Bank alosed its doors in the forenoon, in consequence of in in junction laid upon it by some of its stockholders. The hank needed only $40,000 to carry it through. Although it had ample security none of the Banks would land a dollar. It had NewYork stocks, but could not 2. aise $10,000 on $19,000 worth of them. MARKET BAN. 8. A very large crowd gathered 4 bout this back (located at the corner of Beekmen an d Pearl streets) as early as 11½ o'clock, and their effort to effect an entrance were 80 pressing that five polie emen found plen ty of employment in keeping the door ways passable. Depositors were present in strong force, and deposits were passed out to a great extent. But still 1 they came, and the stream of gold that passed from b ehind the deeks of the paying-tellers was dried up about 1 o'clock p. m. A notice was then stuck a, on the door, that the bank had suspended specie pey ment, but would remain open for the payment of notes. This gave great dissatisfaction to many among the crow outside, and some of them behaved 30 badly that the Police deemed it necessary to interfere to prevent a disturbance. MECHANICS' BANK. The Mechanics' Bank experienced a considerable run, commencing soon after 10. To checkholders they paid out notes as long as they lasted. Then they were compelled to pay everything in specie-in which about $130,000 was paid. MECHANICS AND TRADERS' BANK. The Mechanics' and Traders' Bank, in Grand street, paid every dollar up to 3 o'clock, the closing hour. MERCANTILE BANK. The Mercartile has nearly $60,000 less of specie in its (offers. MERCHANTS' BANK. The Merchants' Bank, out of nearly & million of speeie, paid $160,000. They paid out more bills than ever in any one day before. METROPOLITAN BANK, The Metropolitan Bank paid out something lover $200,000. NORTH RIVER BANK. This bank, one of the oldest in the city, whichris located at the corner of Greenwich and Dey streets, expèrienced a heavy run, in common with the other banks in that part of the town on Monday. During that day they paid out $50,000 in gold and silver. Yesterday morning the doors were opened, but a bulletin was immediately placed outside announcing to & large and anxjous crowd that they had suspended specie payment. This was received with ill humor by the congregated expectants of gold in exchange for their checks, but the announcement soon had the effect of diminishing the crowd. It may with truth be said that this institution has been run upon for more than a week, as they have for the past ten days been paying an average of $5,000 a day in specie to depositors. NASSAU BANK. The Nassau Bank paid out $80,000 in specie, paying straight through. NATIONAL BANK. The National Bank paid out some $43,000 in coin, which leaves it $458,000. BANK OF NEW-YORK continued to pay demands until ? o'clock, when the run became 50 great that they ran out of gold and were compelled to occupy the remainder of the time in certifying checks. The doors were kept open until 31 o'clock. Over $300,000 in cash and bills of other banks was paid out.


Article from The Caledonian, October 17, 1857

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Article Text

Bank Suspensions in New York. The intelegence from New York yesterday was of a sombre character. No less than fifteen of the banks of that city, two of them of a million capital, have been obliged to suspend specie payments. According to the Constitution of that State, any bank which suspends is placed in the hands of Receivers. Such suspension is equivalent to a failure. The following are the dispatches received upon the subject: A despatch to the Merchants' Exchange says, the Ocean, Marine, Riverand Merchants Exchange have suspended specie payments; and there is a heavy run upon the Republic Bank. Other banks are also beset by the public. The St. Nicholas, Citizen's Bull's Head. Irving and Pacific Banks have also suspended. The following are their respective capitals: St. Nicholas, $750,000; Citizen's, $400,000; Bull's Head, $178,300. Pacific, $422,000. The Mercantile Bank. capital $1,000,000. and the New York Exchange, capital $130,000, have also suspended. A despatch to Merchants' Exchange from New York, savs that there has been a great run upon the American Exchange Bank, Wall street, which is almost impassible. Mr. Leavitt. former President of the bank, addressed the crowd, assuring them of the solvenev of the bank, and of their ability to pay all demands against them. Our regular correspondent telegraphs as follows:NEW YORK, October 13, The St. Nicholas, Marine, Pacific, Irving, Merchants' Exchange, North River. New York Exchange, Citizens and Ocean Banks suspended to-day. Telegraphic despatches from New York announce the suspension of four additional banks, the Market, with a capital of $100,000000. and the New York Exchange, with a capital of $1000,000. The bank of New capital $2,000,000, and Bank of Broadway. capital $500,000. There seems to be a want of confidence in the banks by the community of New York, in remarkable comparison to the feeling of confidence in this city. An exchange broker of this city received a telegraphic despatch from his correspondent in New York to immediately draw all his funds from the New York banks. A number of the banks that have suspended are small and weak. The total capital of the suspended banks is a little short of TEN MILLION DOLLARS. LATEST.-Our despatches received at a late hour last night, state that all the New York Banks have resolved to suspend specie payments so far as paying it over their counters is concerned.-Boston Traveller, Oct. 14.