237. First National Bank (Prattville, AL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
9055
Charter Number
9055
Start Date
May 28, 1931
Location
Prattville, Alabama (32.464, -86.460)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
c9a5466f

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
13.9%
Date receivership started
1931-06-01
Date receivership terminated
1935-09-23
Share of assets assessed as good
19.3%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
55.3%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
25.3%

Description

The First National Bank of Prattville failed to open (suspension) reported 1931-05-28; subsequently a liquidating agent/receiver was in place and the bank is described as closed with legal action against officers. No run is described in the articles. Liquidating agent W. G. Roper was found mortally wounded (suicide), and bank officers were bound over on federal charges.

Events (5)

1. March 4, 1908 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. May 28, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Bank failed to open due to 'frozen assets' and related financial difficulties; state bank examiner notified.
Newspaper Excerpt
second bank suspension within a year occurred Thursday when the First National bank, of Prattville, failed to open its doors. Officials of the institution assigned the closing to frozen assets. The state bank examiner was notified Thursday morning.
Source
newspapers
3. June 1, 1931 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. June 4, 1931 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Liquidating Agent Of Closed Prattville Bank Found Mortally Wounded ... agent of the closed First National ... was found mortally wounded ... liquidating agent of the closed First National Bank here, who was found mortally wounded ... letter found on Roper's person dispelled doubts of his taking his own life. Roper said ... financial difficulties and expressed regret over his decision.
Source
newspapers
5. June 11, 1931 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Allen Northington, president, and Ed Northington, vice president, of the closed First National Bank of Prattville, bound over Federal Grand Jury ... on charges of violating the national banking laws. The Prattville bank was closed last week.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)

Article from The Birmingham Post, May 28, 1931

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Article Text

BANK AT PRATTVILLE FAILS TO OPEN DOORS Ala. (Special.) second bank suspension within a year occurred Thursday when the First National bank, of Prattville, failed to open its doors. Officials of the institution assigned the closing to frozen assets. The state bank examiner was notified Thursday morning. Experiments with tangerine juice as a beverage are being made in Florida.


Article from Birmingham Post-Herald, June 4, 1931

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Article Text

FOUND IN ROOM OF DIRECTORS Pistol Discovered Beside Victim, In Prattville After Failure AFFAIRS OF HOUSE LATELY TAKEN OVER Muffled Explosion Is Heard By Persons Near Building June W. Decatur. about agent National Bank here which the First week Wednesday was found in the directors room mortally Roper lived about two hours after was found by Ernest an assistant in liquidating bank The two men arrived late Wednesday, after Roper had conferDecatur formerly of Decatur. comptroller of cur- Officers investigated said Roper temple through right caliber automatic which the beside the Roper found at the directors Persons bank said muffled explosion about they thought nothing Ten entered the and found Roper Morrow told he reason Roper should take his Roper survived by his clothing last appointed liquiagent


Article from The Birmingham News, June 4, 1931

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Article Text

SUICIDE IS VERDICT IN DECATUR MAN'S DEATH FROM SHOT Liquidating Agent Of Closed Prattville Bank Found Mortally Wounded coroner's Thursday returned verdict of suicide for W. G. Roper, 40. Decatur, agent of the closed First National who wounded the diWednesday night on dispelled the doubts his taking his own life. the letter addressed his Roper he had cided to his nancial and decision. The text the letter not public Roper here from Deca tur accompanied Ernest Moralso short time before was found with hole temple, slumped over the He lived hours ter he was found, but did not regain The body was sent to Decatur for burial.


Article from The Sand Mountain Banner, June 11, 1931

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Article Text

IN RECEIVER DEATH Letter Found On Person Dispels Doubts Of Killing Prattville, Ala., June A coroThursday returned in the death Roper, of Decatur, Ala., liquidating agent of the closed First National Bank here, who was found mortally wounded in the Vednesday night. letter found on Roper's person dispelled the doubts to his ing his own In the letter dressed to his wife, Roper said had decided to his life cause of financial difficulties and expressed regret over his dicision. test of the letter was not made public.


Article from The Sand Mountain Banner, June 11, 1931

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Article Text

BANK RECEIVER IS SHOT TO DEATH Pistol Discovered Beside Victim In Prattville After Failure Prattville, Ala., June Roper, of Decatur, Ala., about 40, liquidating agent for the First National Bank here which Bank here which closed week ago, Wednesday night was found in the directors' room mortally wounded. Roper lived about two hours row, also of Decatur, who acafter he was found by Ernest Morcompanied him here as an assistant in liquidating the bank. The two men arrived late Wednesday, after Roper had held conference with J. W. Pole, formerly of Decatur, comptroller of currency. Officers who investigated said Roper was shot through the right temple with .32 caliber automatic pistol, which was found on the floor beside the man. Roper was found at table in the directors' room. Persons near the bank said they heard muffled exlosion about 8:10 m. but thought nothing of it. Ten minutes later Morrow entered the bank and found Roper wounded. Morrow told officers he knew of no reason why Roper should take his own life. Roper is survived by his wife, who lives in Decatur. He was member of clothing firm in Decatur and only last week was liquidating agent.


Article from The Sand Mountain Banner, June 11, 1931

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Article Text

HEADS OF CLOSED PRATTVILLE BANK JURY Allen Northington and Aid Are Bound Over: Bonds Are Posted Montgomery, Ala., June len Northington, president, and Ed Northington, vice president, of the closed First National Bank of Prattville, bound over Federal Grand Jury Thursday fol lowing arraingment before the United States commissioner here on charges of violating the national banking laws. The two men wavied preliminary hearing and their bonds were set at 10,000 each. The bonds were made a few minutes after their arraingment. The Prattville bank was closed last week.