19496. Anthracite Trust Company (Scranton, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
September 11, 1931
Location
Scranton, Pennsylvania (41.409, -75.662)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
5cfc3b3d

Response Measures

None

Description

State Banking Department took possession of Anthracite Trust Company and closed it (notice posted on the door) on Sept 11, 1931. The articles describe runs at other local banks following this closing, but do not describe a depositor run on Anthracite prior to its suspension. A subsequent criminal case (Apr 1932) shows a teller pleaded guilty to embezzlement linked to the closed institution. I classify this as a suspension by government action that led to permanent closure.

Events (2)

1. September 11, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
State Banking Department took possession of the Anthracite Trust Company because of a 'seepage in deposits' and to conserve interests of depositors; bank was closed and taken over by the department.
Newspaper Excerpt
Another Scranton bank, the Anthracite Trust company, has been taken over by the state banking department... The closing of the Anthracite Trust company was announced in notice posted on the door shortly before while stood outside waiting for the bank to open.
Source
newspapers
2. April 9, 1932 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Miss Louise Thomas, former teller the closed Anthracite Trust company, will be sentenced May 23 on charges of embezzlement... pleaded guilty to embezzling $10,703.30 of the company's funds.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

Article from The Times-Tribune, September 11, 1931

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Article Text

TWO KILLED, MANY INJURED, IN FILM PLANT EXPLOSION State Banking Department Takes Over Anthracite Trust To Protect Its Depositors President Mears Issues Statement In Which He Declares Assets of Company Are Sufficient To Pay All Deposits In Full. Another Scranton bank, the Anthracite Trust company, has been taken over by the state banking department. In consequence of the Anthracite failure, unusual activity, amounting in some instances to runs, developed at most of the central city and suburban banks. As this edition went to press, all withdrawal demands were being paid on presentation by the central city institutions except the Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust company, which at 2 o'clock put into force the sixty-day notice rule. This applies only to savings deposits. Commercial business will continue in the normal course. A number of suburban banks had availed themselves of the privilege of asking their depositors to give them sixty days' notice of intention to withdraw savings accounts. Suburban institutions enforcing the sixtyday rule included the Keystone bank, the Electric City bank, the West Side bank, the Hyde Park National bank, the Minooka State bank, the Green Ridge bank, the Pine Brook bank, the North Scranton bank and the Providence bank. The closing of the Anthracite Trust company was announced in notice posted on the door shortly before while stood outside waiting for the bank to open. The banking department that its action was necessary because of a seepage in deposits. president of the institution, issued statement this morning in which he declared that the assets of the company are ficient pay the depositors in At the bank the following statement was given by the bank examiners to the press. Due to the seepage in deposits, became to the Trust company. Pennsy this special meeting of the board of the institution. held early in the morning, the direcconcurred in the action the secretary of liam in taking possession of business property of the This course was deemed necessary to conserve the interests all concerned and avoid preference depositors. Gorden stated that the AnthraTrust has no affiliation with any other bank in John W. state bank in charge of the closed the secretary of banking President Mears' Statement. President Mears likewise issued statement to the press in which he avers that "owing unusual heavy which began urday up to and yesterday, the directors, at held last night, decided that the best of the depositors would be served by remaining assets of the company sufficient to the depositors full," Mears his state. ment. the way affects the trusts or tates being handled by the trust partment. This has kept and apart from the department. Neither are the holders of or dividend by the in any way as are by Mr. seen by The declined the formal statement issued by the of the content point to Mr. affairs of the trust depart(Continued on Page 35)


Article from The Times-Tribune, September 12, 1931

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Article Text

Following the closing of the Bosak State Bank and the Anthracite Trust Company, doubt of the stability of the remaining banks filled the minds of the public, producing on Friday an hysterical situation. The Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Company paid out continuously all day large amounts of money to its depositors. We were glad to reassure our depositors and satisfy their worries with the payment of this currency. this city and it will continue to render ever increasing service to the community. This bank has been for many years a member of the National Federal Reserve System. It was recently thoroughly examined by representatives of this system, as well as by the State Banking Department. This examination showed the bank to be in very satisfactory condition at that time, and that condition has not changed. We wish to call the public's attention to the fact that our last published balance sheet was an excellent statement and reflected the market value of securities as of the close of business on June 23rd, 1931, which was a low point in market quotations. We, the Directors of the Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Company, wish the public to know that we as individuals have never doubted the stability of this institution and that we have every confidence in its future. E. L. MERRIMAN Treasurer Paragon Plaster & Supply Co. URBANE A. NOBLE Treasurer Co. HOMER J. NORTHUP Farmer. JOSEPH'F. O'HORA Plumbing Fixtures and Supplies. F. L. PECK President United States Lumber Co. President Mississippi Central R. R. Co. GEORGE PHILLIPS Geo. Phillips & Co., Wholesale Jewelers. M: J. RAFFERTY Coal Operator. EDWIN H. SHAFER Treasurer Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Co. SETH W. SHOEMAKER Vice President Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Co. DAVID SPRUKS President David Spruks Co., Wholesale Grocers. AUGUSTUS M. STORR Wholesale and Retail Grocer. JAMES T. SWEENEY Contractor. LOUIS G. SYLVESTER Formerly President Scranton Button Co.


Article from Altoona Tribune, April 9, 1932

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Article Text

PLEADS GUILTY SCRANTON, Pa., April (A) Miss Louise Thomas, former teller the closed Anthracite Trust company, will be sentenced May 23 charges of embezzlement. In criminal court today Miss Thomas pleaded guilty embezzling $10,703.30 the company's funds. Pending sentence the commonwealth to investigate port that others than Miss Thomas benefited through her speculations.