German National Bank (Covington, KY)

Episode Information

Episode UID
184701165
Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
18470 national
Charter Number
1847
Start Date
January 18, 1897
Location
Covington, Kentucky (39.084, -84.509)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
672208bcfafe101e

Response Measures

None

Events (3)

1. July 13, 1871 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. January 18, 1897 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Closure of the First National Bank of Newport prompted depositors in adjoining Covington to rush banks for withdrawals.
Measures
Banks in Covington tried to meet withdrawals and reassure depositors; officials sent out word that banks were solvent.
Newspaper Excerpt
Every bank in Covington, which adjoins Newport, had to meet a run today as best it could on short notice.
Source
newspapers
3. March 31, 1928 Voluntary Liquidation
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Birmingham State Herald, January 19, 1897

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Article Text

FINANCIAL. NEWPORT, KY., BANK FAILS. Cincinnati, O., Jan. 18.-The First National bank, of Newport, Ky., did not open its doors this morning. The news spread rapidly, and soon there was a crowd of excited depositors assembled in front of the bank, clamoring for an explanation. Officials sent out word that the bank was solvent, but had been forced to close for lack of ready money. Assurances were offered that no one would lose anything. Depositors, however, refused to be satisfied. Ugly rumors found expression, and excitement grew still greater when it became known that Comptroller Eckels and a national bank examiner of Washington were to be in Newport today. The capital stock of the bank is $200,000. John Trapp is president. A late and rather startling development is that Mr. John Trapp, ex-sheriff of the county, who was elected president of the bank a week ago to succeed Dr. Gunkel, refused to accept the office unless the bank's affairs were thoroughly examined. It seems that C. W. Nagel, who was elected to succeed Youtzey as cashier, had made sufficient investigation himself to warrant him in warning his friend Trapp that all was not as it should be. Therefore the bank has been without a president for nearly a week. Every bank in Covington, which adjoins Newport, had to meet a run today as best it could on short notice. Citizens rushed to their places of deposit by the hundreds as soon as they heard the news that the First National had not opened its doors in the morning, and drew their savings. Many heavy depositors were among them on the run. The bank will be reorganized. The deposits are about $370,000, and depositors will be paid in full. Director Spinks says the bank closed because of the recklessness of Cashier Youtzey and Director McCrackin.


Article from The Roanoke Daily Times, January 19, 1897

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Article Text

THE CROWD WAS CLAMOROUS. The First National Bank of Newport Closes Its Doors., Cincinnati, Jan. 18.-The First National Bank, of Newport, Ky., did not open its doors this morning The news spread rapidly and soon there was it crowd of excited depositors assembled in front of the bank elamoring for an expla nation. The officials sent out word that the bank was solvent, but had been forced to close down for the want of ready cash. The depositors, however, refused to be satisfied. Ugly rumors found expression, and the outery became still greater when it became known that Comptroller of the Currency Eckels and a national "bank examiner of Washington were to be in Newport to-day. The capital of the bank is $200,000. A late and rather startling fact developed is that Joseph Trapp, sheriff of this county, who was elected president of this bank a week ago, persistently refused to take charge until the bank was thoroughly investigated. Every bank in Covington, which adjoins Newport, had to meet a run to-day on short notice. Citizens rushed to their banks of deposit by the hundreds as they had heard of the news.