19004. Citizens Bank (Philadelphia, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
December 2, 1874
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (39.952, -75.164)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
83308abb

Response Measures

None

Description

The Citizens' Bank (state-chartered) suspended payments on Dec 2, 1874 citing heavy withdrawals. Within a day the board resolved to wind up affairs and seek a receiver (Dec 3). Subsequent reports cite large loans to shaky firms and alleged forgeries by the Kuhn brothers, indicating bank-specific adverse problems leading to permanent closure. No clear discrete depositor 'run' (as a standalone event) is described beyond heavy demands/withdrawals, so this is classified as a suspension followed by closure/receivership.

Events (2)

1. December 2, 1874 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Large loans ($90,000) to a Philadelphia firm and a St. Louis firm said to be shaky; later reports of alleged forgeries by the Kuhn brothers that deprived the bank of funds; general stagnation of trade cited but primary issues were poor loans/fraud.
Newspaper Excerpt
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2.-The Citizens' Bank, an institution chartered by the State, suspended payment of checks to-day. President Wiegand states that the bank will resume business to-morrow, and gives as the reason of suspension that the receipts from depositors had fallen off, while the demands of depositors were heavy.
Source
newspapers
2. December 3, 1874 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
The Board of Directors of the Citizens' Bank held a meeting today and resolved to wind up its affairs with the aid of a receiver. The bank has discounted liberally and the notes have not yet matured, but are said to be perfectly good. The President states that the personal liability of the stockholders to the extent of their shares fully guarantees all liabilities of the bank.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (15)

Article from New-York Tribune, December 3, 1874

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FINANCIAL NOTES. ST. LOUIS, Dec. 2.-The New Chamber of loan of $480,000 with the Connecticut Mutual Life Insurance Company. the latter receiving 20-year bonds bear ing eight per cent interest. This insures the speedy completion of the ne Chamber of Commerce now in process of erection on Third-st., between Plue and Chestnut-sta. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2.-The Citizens' Bank, an institution chartered by the State, suspended payment of checks to-day. President Wiegand states that the bank will resume business to-morrow, and gives as the reason of suspension that the receipts from depositors had fallen off, while the demands of depositors were heavy. CINCINNATI, Dec. 2.-At a meeting of the Board of Railway Commissioners, held at the Grand Hotel to-day, it was decided that mileage on eastward bound freights. between common points, should be calculated by the shortest routes, and the rates should be made accordingly. HARTFORD, Dec. 2.-All the Hartford Fire Insurance Companies, except the Phenix-now that the Chicago authorities have taken steps to secure better protection against fire-will probably resture writing policies in that city.


Article from The Wheeling Daily Register, December 3, 1874

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Republican Congressman Shoots his Democratic Competitor. LOUISVILLE, December 2. - A special to the Courier-Journal from Mt. Sterling, Kentucky, says that it is reported there to-day that John D. White, Republican Congressman elect from the 9th Kentucky district, shot and killed Harrison Cockerell, his Democratic competitor in the late election, in Estille county, yes. terday. The canvass between the men was very bitter and personal, and a few since Cockerell published a card making very severe strictness upon White. It is probable that this card precipitated the difficulty. Estille county is remote from telegraph, and the mails are very irregular, and it is impossible to get further particulars. A Maniac's Devotion. TORONTO. December 2.-In the Provincial Lunatic Asylum, yesterday. a female patient named Mrs. Newell. an t English emigrant. afflicted with the noif tion that her five children's souls would - not be saved unless she herself died some I terrible death, set fire to her clothing and then knelt in devotion, while envelh oped with the flames. The fire was exa tinguished, but the patient died this e morning after great agony. e Bank Suspension. of PHILADELPHIA. December 2. - -The is Citizens Bank, an institution chartered - by the State, suspended payment of thecks to-day. President Wiegand says of that the bank will resume business tomorrow, and gives as a reason of the juspension that the receipts from deposilors had fallen off, while the demands of 1, depositors were heavy.


Article from The Portland Daily Press, December 3, 1874

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Bank Suspension. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 2.-The Citizen's Bank, an institution chartered by the state, suspended payment of checks to-day. President Wil gard states that the bank will resume business to-morrow, and givesas the reason for suspension that the receipts from depositors had falleu off, while the demands of depositors were heavy.


Article from Public Ledger, December 3, 1874

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NEW YORK Anniversary of the Reformed Episcopal Church-The Suspended Citizens' Bank of Philadelphia-Meeting of American Civil Engineers-Grand Lodge of Colored Masons-Funeral of Mayor Havemeyer-Operatives' Strikes.


Article from Daily Kennebec Journal, December 3, 1874

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PENNSYLVANIA. I Philadelphia, December 2. The Citizens' Bank, an institution chartered by the State, suspended payment of checks to day. The President states that the bank will resume business to-morrow, and gives as the reason of suspension that the receipts from depositors had fallen off while the demands of the de positors were heavy.


Article from The Daily Gazette, December 3, 1874

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ANOTHER BANK SUSPENSION.-In - Philadelphia, yesterday morning, the Citizens' Bank, at Second and Race streets, closed its doors and announced a suspension of business. It is understood that the disaster is the direct result of the general stagnation of trade.


Article from National Republican, December 3, 1874

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SUSPENSION OF 4 PHILADELPHIA BANK. Philadelphia, Dec. 2-The Citizens' Bank, an institution chartered by the State, suspended payment of checks to-day. Prestdent W legand says saysthat that the bank will resume business to-morrow, and states, as the reason of the suspension, that the receipts of depositors had fallen off, and the demands of the depositors were heavy.


Article from The Portland Daily Press, December 4, 1874

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The Suspended Philadelphia Rank. NEW YORK, Dec. 3.-The paid up capital of the suspended Citizen's Bank, Philadelphia, was only $100,000, and the suspension is said to be due to the loan of $90,000 to a Philadelphia firm on their own paper and that of a St. Louis firm, be th of which are said to be in a shaky condition. The President's action came to the knowledge of the directors and resulted in their disapproval and a resolution to suspend.


Article from The Wheeling Daily Intelligencer, December 4, 1874

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Resolved to Wind Up. PHILADELPHIA, December 3. - The Board of Directors of the Citizens' Bank held a meeting today and resolved to wind up its affairs with the aid of a receiver. The bank has discounted liberally and the notes have not yet matured, but are said. to be perfectly good. The President states that the personal liability of the stockholders to the extent of their shares fully guarantees all liabilities of the bank.


Article from Alexandria Gazette, December 4, 1874

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The Board of Directors of the Citiz ins' Bank of Philadelphia yesterday resolved to wind up its affairs by the aid of a receiver. The bank, it is said has discounted liberally, and the notes taken have not yet matured, but are said to be perfectly good. The President states that the personal liability of the stockbolders to the extent of their shares fully guarantees all liabilities. The failure has created quite an excitement in financial circles and the institution has been ruu down by parties interested, who are auxious to know the cause of the embarrassment, and whether it will entangle them in any pecuniary difficulty.


Article from Daily Kennebec Journal, December 4, 1874

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FENNSYLVANIA. Wilkesbarre, December 3. M. W. Leftus, mayor of Scranton, was to-day arrested for perjury. He waived examination, and gave bail for his appearance at the January term of the criminal court. Philadelphia, December 3. The paid up capital of the suspended Citizens Bank of this city, was only $100,000, and the suspension is said to be due to the loan of $90,000 to a Philadelphia firm on their own paper and that of a St Louis firm, both of which are said to be in a shaky condition. The president's action came to the knowledge of the directors and resulted in their disapproval and a resolution io suspend. This afternoon while workmen were employed in demolishing the old stores at the intersection of 9th and Market streets, on the site of the new post office, a wall fell and buried feur men. They were all taken out alive, but three were found to be seriously injured. Rev. Thomas Cooper, who has been preaching as an independent Congregational preacher in the 23d ward (Frankford), was arrested to-day for an alleged attempted outrage upon the daughter of one of his parishioners while pastor of the Heman Presbyterian church.He was held in $5,000 bail.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 4, 1874

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THE SUSPENSION OF THE CITIZENS' BANK OF PHILADELPHIA. PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 3.-The Board of Directors of the Citizens' Bank held a meeting to-day and resolved to wind up its affairs with the aid of a receiver. The bank has discounted liberally, and its notes have not yet matured, but are said to be perfectly good. The President positively states that the personal liability of the stockholders to the extent of their shares fully guarantees all the liabilities of the bank, which makes the depositors perfectly secure. The failure of the bank created quite an excitement in financial circles, and has has been run since the announcement the institution down by parties interested, who are anxious to know the cause of the embarrassment, and whether it will eutangle them in any pecuniary difficulty.


Article from Chicago Daily Tribune, December 9, 1874

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MONEY AND COMMERC FINANCIAL. TURSDAY EVENING, Dec. The orders for currency to-day wore below light figures of yesterday. Some of the ba received more currency than they were ca upon to send out. The movement has evido parsed its climax. New York exchange was firm at par to 25c count between banks for $1,000. The ord from country banks for remittances of Now x exchange East are large. The funture of the Anancial situation that cites most attention is the decreased movem of currency to the country for boge. with its e sequences in the firmer price of exchange, : the failing in clearings. The latter were $9,800,000. nearly a million loss than yestord The decrease la attributable to the cline in operations at the Stock-Ynr The worthless stock rushed in there the hope that the packers would t good and bad at the ruling pri remains unsold. The uncortainty of the mar continues; packers are seriously indisposed take the risk of packing at present prices,-all which has its effect on the business of the ban The deman 1 for accommodations was son what more unive with the banks to-day th yesterday. Discount lines are as high as banks care to have them in most casos, thon there 18 no lack of funds to enti first-class outside applications. Rates discount are 10 por cent a year to regular c tomers; outside borrowers are able to obt the funds they need at a elight concession short time on the best security. Street ra BTO 8@18 per cout; real estate loans are 116 per cent. What in known as the Franc cs Involving about a million dollars, y argued in the Supremo Court yesterd In 1810 Congress by law fixed the value of francat 18 d-tentins cents. In 1873 a law " passed directing the Secretary of the Treasu to ascertam the value of a franc in pure met and to declare its value by proclamation, a that beleaiter this should be regarded as t true value. It WSB ascertained that the co value of a franc WHO 19 and 3-tenths cents, n proclamation was accordingly made. TI change very seriously nifected the dution on Il ports from France, and a claim WHB made by i porters that the law of 1873 did not repeal t act of 1846. The change ID the law has nda about $2,000,000 10 the enstoms revenue, 11 the Supreme Court is called 01633 10 doc. whether the law of 1816 was repoated by t later act. The 7 per cent consolidated mortgage box of the Chicago, Burnington & Quincy Raitro nro soon to be placed on call at the Now Yo Stock Exchauge. The total deut of the City of New York on t 1st inst. WAB $117,778,658, or less singing tu of $36,783,355, loaving as the real debt of 1. City $121,015,802. The Citizens' Bank of Philadelphia is to wound up by a Receiver. The President says I cied.tors will be paid in full. The question of a dividend by the Woste Union Telegraph Company bas been referred the Executive Committee to the regular hal of too Board of Direo OFR ,


Article from The Anti-Monopolist, December 10, 1874

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-The Citizens' bank of Philadelphia, an institution operating under a State charter, suspended payments yesterday, but for twenty-four hours only its president says. -Lewis Jarvis was yesterday found guilty of the murder of Samuel J. Jones. the amateur detective, at Oyster Bay, June 27th, 1873, and his confederate. Albert Jackson, jointly indicted with Jarvis, is now on trial. -The Jersey City Presbytery declares Rev. John S. Glendenning innocent of the seduction of Mary Pomeroy and of all the counts in the indictment against him.


Article from The Daily Gazette, December 28, 1874

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The Citizens Bank: FLIGHT OF LIQUOR MERCHANTS. We have already published the facts in the Chronicle concerning the alleged forgeries committed by the Kuhn Brothers, liquor dealers, at Third and Race streets, the effect of which was the suspension of the Citizen's Bank. It now appears that both Myer and Moses Kuhn have fled to Brazil with a very large fortune, including $96,000 belonging to the Citizens' Bank. Their credit being first-class, they also succeeded in negotiating notes with the name of Mr. Tellera wealthy merchant as endorser, to the amount of $40,000, which he will have to pay. They also obtained about $10,000 from Mr. Myer Seidenback, an affluent Market street merchant it is said, and smaller sums from other parties. It is said that the assignment made of their property, for the benefit of the Citizens' Bank, will prove of but little benefit, - Phila. Chronicle.