19694. City Savings Bank (Providence, RI)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Unsure
Bank Type
savings bank
Start Date
February 16, 1877
Location
Providence, Rhode Island (41.824, -71.413)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
16fa13ee

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Court injunction prevented paying or receiving deposits; trustees sought a disinterested commission and permitted loans on deposit books to accommodate needy depositors.

Description

Depositors began heavy withdrawals after disclosure of large holdings of Sprague notes (failure of A. & W. Sprague / related firms). Trustees obtained a court injunction restraining payments and receipts (temporary suspension). Articles express hope to resume in a few months but also fear of receivership; no clear evidence of reopening or final closure in the provided articles, so outcome is unsure.

Events (2)

1. February 16, 1877 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Withdrawal panic triggered by disclosure that the bank held large amounts of A. & W. Sprague (Sprague) paper and related firms' indebtedness; failure of Sprague concerns revealed exposure.
Measures
Trustees advised depositors not to dispose of passbooks; arranged loans on passbooks to near full value; applied for appointment of disinterested commission to examine the bank; sought court permission to temporarily retain assets and suspend payments until interest restored deficiency.
Newspaper Excerpt
This news caused a number of the heaviest depositors to withdraw their accounts
Source
newspapers
2. February 28, 1877 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Court injunction obtained by trustees (legal restraint) preventing the bank from paying out or receiving deposits while assets are retained pending restoration of interest/condition; effectively a suspension of operations.
Newspaper Excerpt
An order has been issued for the continuance, until further notice by the Supreme Court, of the injunction preventing the City Savings Bank, of Providence ... from paying out or receiving deposits
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The New York Herald, February 17, 1877

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Article Text

CRIPPLED SAVINGS BANK. THE CITY SAVINGS BANK OF PROVIDENCE A SUFFERER BY A. & W. SPRAGUE--LEGAL STEPS TAKEN TO REPAIR THE LOSS. PROVIDENCE, R. I., Feb. 16, 1877. Another savings bank has come to grief, the City Savings Bank of Providence. When A. & W. Sprague tailed the bank had a large amount of their paper, but not enough in the opinion of the directors to impair its standing. Since that time they have received six and a half per cent per annum on the Sprague notes, but owing to the non-payment of the last dividend the bank trustees have asked a temporary injunction restraining them from receiving or paying out deposits until the accruing interest shall make good the deficiency. Depositors are advised not to dispose ot their books. To accommodate those who are in want arrangements are in progress by which they may obtain loans on their books to nearly their full value. The trustees think that al the most "there will be a temporary loss of interest, and we expect in a few months 10 be able to pay and receive deposits as usual." They further state that the Court permits them to temporarily retain all their assets until the in. terest on the same shall restore the existing deficiency. which they believe is not over seven per cent. AN EXAMINATION TO BK HAD. Yesterday the trustees made application to the Gov. ernor for the appointment of a disinterested commis. sion to examine into and report concerning the condi. tiou of the bank. The Governor appointed Royal Tatt, Alexander Farnum and William Binney, who have accepted, and who have already begun their task. DEPOSITORS ALARMED. When Albert Gallup, of New York, of the firm of Hoyt, Sprague & Co., recently failed he furnished a list of creditors in which be gave not only the entire indebtedness of the latter firm, but also a large amount upon which the City Savings Bank was in part, 11 not tully, secured by real estate mortgages This news caused a number of the heaviest depositors to withdraw their accounts, and the trustees recognizing that the smaller depositors might be obliged to bear the extra burden of the suspended paper, determined to take action to protect them as above stated. FINANCIAL CONDITION OF THE BANK. Last November the State Auditor, in his report, stated that the City Savings Bank had on deposit $1,981,282 20, the liabilities being placed at $2,015,878 08 and the resources at the same figure. The number of depositors was 2,818, including 613 who had deposited $1,000 and upward. 458 of $500 and under $1,000, and 1,747 of less than $500. It is believed that a year's suspension of interest will restore the bank to a sound basis. It is teared that the institution will eventually fall into the hands of a receiver. and this fact. in view of the developments of the Franklin Institution for Sav. ings, by the exorbitant charges of the receiver. causes the depositors to be very despondent as to the final result of such a move. Further developments will be watched with peculiar interest.


Article from Chicago Daily Tribune, March 8, 1877

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Article Text

Possible Bull Movement in Stocks-Black Hills Gold. The Produce Markets Moderately Active and Irregular---Provisions Again Weak. Wheat and Barley Stronger-Corn Love Other Breadstuffs Steady. FINANCIAL The new business that comes to the banks to not heavy, The supply of Board of Trade paper is much less than last month, although some is brought forward every day. The morcaulite ap. plications for loans are not numerous, bnt are more frequent than in February The banks. as rule, report their discount lines tolerably well filled, with, however, sufficient funds at their dis posal to handle whatever first-class paper is of fered. Rates of discount are 8@10 per cent at the banks to regular customers. On the street, rates were 7 per cent and upward. New York exchange was quoted at par between banks. The clearings were $3,100,000. BLACK HILLS GOLD. The Union National Bank has on exhibition two bottons of gold received from Stebbine, Post & Co., bankers In Cheycone and Deadwood. The "bottons weigh together 230 ounces Mtroy, and are valued at 500. They are the result of twenty- five days' run by an arastra on ores taken from the Father Deamer mine In the Black Hills, owned by Nichols, Haven & Coleman. FRENCH SPECIE MOVEMENT. Something Ilke-nn approximate Idea of the movement in and ont of the precious metals with regard No France In 1870 may be had from some recent >statistics published by the Government of that country. The total Importa of gold In bull. 100 and coin are pat at 509, 582. 000 francs. and of silver 1212.203.320 france; the exports of the former were 04,700,000 france, and of the latter, 60,720,080. These figures are said by the Paris correspondent of the London Economial to be in. exact. The preparation of the tables from which have obtained these Ogures is said to be so slovenly that serious errora of additions have been let ellp. The statistics. after all allowance for their Inaccuracles, above that the specio hoards of France are still growing, and explain the late action of the Bank of Frauco to discourago further RCcumulations. OPPRESSIVE SUSPENSE IN THE LONDON STOCK MARKET. The foreign stock market is absolutely stagnant. Home investing business a standstill, and the inter- Bourse arbitrage dealing in almost entirely stopped. There was drop in prices just before the close. in sympathy with fall In Paris, but there was next to bothing done. Egyptian stocks close very flat, and we have heard some is distinct statements professing to account for the fall, but could not authenticate any of them. The fall is said to have began here in their case, only that its doing so may simply mean that the French dealers tried to sell here the morning while their own market was undisturbed. There is still some foreign demand for Russian bonds, but the Felling here, email though It may be, seems always to mas! ter and they close weak. There was something done in Hungarian bonds In the morning on favorable news about the bank dimculty. Peravian bonds were also firmer, Influenced by the news of the Antwerpdecielonagainat Messra. Dreyfur Nearly all these gave way again before the close, however, and Turkish 1871 bonds were particularly flat. The same brokers are selling them now by whose purchases they were run up some months ago, and there is positively no mar. ket to well upon- even a speculative one-At the moment. A dull and appressive suspense bange over every one, and compels all to panee. The Bourves at Vienna and Berlin appear, however, to have been exceptionally firm. but. As they have few dealings here just now, their drinness WITH not felt appreciably as a support.-London Times, Feb. 20. THE PENNSYLVANIA A ANTISSTOCK UAMOLING' BILL The railroad Inflnence of Pennsyl is credit with the origination of the bill pending In the Pennsylvania Legislature for the suppression of onlew of stocks for futuro delivery. In this way the companies hurt by the recent break-down of their stocks wish to revengo them olves on the stock brokers, The latter announce that If the bill becomes law they will contest Its constitutionality, and. failing In that, will take their operations in " futures across the river to Camdon, N.J. RAVINGS-DANK NOTES. The report of the Committee appointed to exam. Inc the condition of the lately suspended German Savings Bank of Morrisania, N. Y., discloses deOciency of $48,115.50 that may possibly become $98,357.82. The Chairman stated that the bank, If allowed to continue. could pay 75 per cent of its deposits at the end of a year, but, If shut up, not more than 53 per cent. The Committee courteous. ly expressed the opinion that the failure was due to the mismanagement of former. not the present, officers, An agreement was signed by the deposStore to allow the bank, provided the Attorney General consented, to continue in business, with their deposits, for one year without interest, the end of which time they were to receive 75 cents on the dollar of their deposits. Au order has been isened for the continuance. until further notice by the Supreme Court. of the injunction preventing the City Savings Bank, of Providence. oue of the Spragne Institutions, from paying out or receiving deposits, The Receiver of the Cranston Savings Bank has paid back 07 per cent to depositors, The Indebtedness of the bank remaining is 3732. 021. and the bank holds property of the face value of 8880, 546, of which 8778,900 consists of Sprague notes, worth 25 per cent, and $92.000 land, MUNICIPAL FINANCES OF NEW TORK. The report of the Finance Department of Now York City for the month of February to not an encouraging document. The total debt of the city, deducting the sinking fund, has Increased sinco the 1st of January from $110,811,310 to 8121, 647,731. The City reasory had on hand In cash on Feb. 2H. $204, 402, but the wide departure of its finances from cash basis is shown by the Net of stocks and bonds issued in the first wa months of the year. The total was $2,808,008, of which no less than $2,174,700 La for current expenace." With such a tido running against them In the very midst of an uproar of reform, the citizens of New York may well begin to look on the future with gloom. III boding apprehensions are expressed that the city may be on the eve of bankruptcy. STUEKE TO un A BULL MOVEMENT IN STOCKAY The New York World, In its financial collion of Monday, puts Itas probable that: demonstration in favor of higher prices has been arranged by the speculators who have recently depressed prices. It says that the changes In management in the Rock Island and Northwestern Hallroads appear loit to be part of programme for bull movement, though Union Pacific alone has made any marked advance within the week. The speculators who have talked Rock Island down and sold It short, on the trustworthy Information supplied yould a must by this time be ascortaining the uses to which they have put themselves: and the crowd of deal. ers who go to leading speculators for points' have fresh Illustration to show for whose beueft these points" are given. GOLD AND GREENBACKS. Gold was 1004 In greenbacks. Greenbacks were 31603 cents on the dollar In gold. FOREIGN EXCHANGE Sixtydays. Sight. Sterling.