19500. Electric City Bank (Scranton, PA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Unsure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
September 11, 1931
Location
Scranton, Pennsylvania (41.409, -75.662)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b8227320

Response Measures

Partial suspension

Description

Following the state takeover of the Anthracite Trust Company, heavy withdrawals developed and a number of local banks (including Electric City Bank) asked depositors to give 60 days' notice on savings. Articles date this activity to 1931-09-11. There is no article text showing a later reopening or permanent closure of Electric City Bank, so outcome is unclear.

Events (2)

1. September 11, 1931 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Run activity triggered by the state takeover/closing of the Anthracite Trust Company, causing heavy withdrawals at local banks including Electric City Bank.
Measures
Asked depositors to give sixty days' notice on savings withdrawals (invoked the 60-day rule).
Newspaper Excerpt
unusual activity, amounting in some instances to runs, developed at most of the central city and suburban banks ... Suburban institutions enforcing the sixtyday rule included the Keystone bank, the Electric City bank
Source
newspapers
2. September 11, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Invoked the 60-day notice rule for savings withdrawals to conserve position after runs following Anthracite Trust takeover.
Newspaper Excerpt
Suburban institutions enforcing the sixtyday rule included ... the Electric City bank
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 11, 1931

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Article Text

DIME BANK INVOKES 60-DAY RULE ON SAVINGS WITHDRAWALS Following a run on the Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust company, which started early this morning and was continuing unabated as the day wore on, the bank at 2 o'clock placed in operation the sixty-day clause covering withdrawal of savings account deposits. This statement was issued: The Dime Lincoln Trust at 2 o'clock this afternoon that they would take advantage of the carried in each passbook savings depositors requiring sixty notice before the withdrawal of The bank is solvent: It has of surplus and ample means to pay every obligation. and reserve of which 100 per cent. of all its preciations. distinct run on the bank was in operation today. in order to conserve its position. which ample to meet all ordinary demands, and to protect all and as was deemed expedient to take advantage of this clause. the hysteria dies any time before the expiration of the notice the sixty-day order may be RALPH A. which today availed themselves of the Other banks the city their depositors to give days' notice privilege of asking withdraw accounts included the Keystone of intention savings the West the Hyde Park Nabank. the Electric City State Ridge bank, the Pine the Minooka Brook tional bank. bank. the Providence bank and the North Scranton bank.


Article from The Tribune, September 12, 1931

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Article Text

Banks Invoke 60-Day Rule (Continued from Page Three) the heads of Lincoln company, the yesterday issued stateassuring their depositors that the banks are solvent Mr. Mears' Statement J. Farnham Mears, president of the Anthracite bank, said that assets of the company are to pay the depositors in full. The closing the company in no way affects the trusts or estates being handled by the trust department. This department always been kept separate and apart from the banking department. Neither are the holders mortgage certificates or dividend bonds issued the in any way involved, these are by specific mort- Mr. Mears explained that the directors of the bank, result of "unusually heavy withdrawals which began last Saturday and continued up and including decided the interests of the deposiconserved bank remained yesterday, Dr. William secretary of the and of yesterday assigning Examiner John take charge, expressed the While there was crowd of persons awaiting to the Anthracite bank there was disorder The state department's had been posted on the building. The on the Dime bank continued the day. at b'clock in the the officers decided that would be for the best interasts the if the 60day rule invoked. Amerman's Statement Ralph Amerman, president of the bank. issued the following statement at Trust company this afternoon announced they immediof the clause carried in each passbook savings depositors requiring days' notice before withdrawal deposits. The bank is has capital, 000,000 surplus and ample means to and of which is 100 per its less, run on the and in order its which ample ordinary demands, and protect all depositors and stockholders as well, was deemed expedient take advantage of clause. If the hysteria dies down any the expiration of the notice the sixty day order may be Earlier in the day. the following banks had the regulainto effect: Electric West Hyde Park National. Minooka Green Pine and The Anthracite has been one of the city's financial tions for past twenty opened in and majority of the officers today have been affiliated with almost since that time. bank regular 6 cent dividend on Sept. Its