3110. Baldwin National Bank (Kahului, HI)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
8207
Charter Number
8207
Start Date
April 12, 1917
Location
Kahului, Hawaii (20.872, -156.461)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
166205ea

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Localized run among the Portuguese community in Maui driven by an unfounded rumor that the U.S. government would seize funds of foreigners. The bank met withdrawal demands and did not suspend operations.

Events (3)

1. May 5, 1906 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. April 12, 1917 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
A rumor circulated among the Portuguese that the U.S. government was preparing to seize funds of foreigners, prompting many to withdraw savings.
Measures
Bank met withdrawal demands as they came; paid out cash from vaults to depositors.
Newspaper Excerpt
D. C. Lindsay, cashier of the Baldwin National Bank at Kahului, states that the demands on his bank will not amount to more than $3000 or $4000.
Source
newspapers
3. January 3, 1921 Voluntary Liquidation
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Maui News, April 13, 1917

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Article Text

Portuguese Make Run On Maui Banks Rumor Government Was About To Grab Their Savings Starts Small Panic-Canard Spread RapidlyBanks Not Inconvenienced Although the banks of the territory have probably more money than they every held before, Maui's banking establishments this week experimenced a real "run" on them. As a result there is now probably stuck away in old stocking and sugar bowls, or buried under grape arbors some $25,000 or $30,000 in hard cash which last week peacefully repused in burglarproof vaults. The "run" has been confined to the Portuguese, among whom a rumor became current last week that the United States government was preparing to seize all funds in banks in the name of foreigners. And the Maui Portuguese were not taking any chances. They began to present their saving books last Saturday in ones and twos, and when the banks opened on Monday they came in augmented numbers. No assurance satisfied them -they simply wanted their cash and wanted it quick. The Banks of Maui in Wailuku, and its branches in Paia and Lahaina met the demands as fast as they came, and thus somewhat took the edge off the "run". D. C. Lindsay, cashier of the Baldwin National Bank at Kahului, states that the demands on his bank will not amount to more than $3000 or $4000. The absurdity of the panic is heightened when it is remembered that even the property of German subjects in the United States will be perfectly safe so long as it owners obey the law. It has not been learned whether or not the infection also exists on other islands.


Article from Honolulu Star-Bulletin, April 13, 1917

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Article Text

ABSURD RUMORS CAUSE MANY TO DRAW SAVINGS (Special Star-Bullotin Correspondence) WAILUKU, Maui. April 12-A1though the banks of the territory have probably more money than they ever held before, Maui's banking establishments this week experienced a real "run" on them. As a result there is now probably stuck away in old stockings and sugar bowls, or buried under grape arbors some $25,000 or $30,000 in hard cash which last week peacefully reposed in burglar-proof vaults. The "run" has been confined to the Portuguese, among whom a rumor became current last week that the United States government was preparing to seize all funds in banks in the names of forçigners. And the Maui Portuguese were not taking any chances. They began to present their savings books last Saturday in ones and twos, and when the banks opened on Monday they came in augmenteu numbers. No assurance satisfied them-they simply wanted their cash and wanted it quickly. The Bank of Maul in Wailuku and its branches in Pala and Lahaina met the demands as fast as they came and thus somewhat took the edge off the "run." D. C: Lindsay, cashier of the Baldwin National Bank at Kahului, states that the demands on his bank will not amount to more than $3000 or $4000. The absurdity of the panic is height. ened when it is remembered that even the property of German subjects in the United States will be perfectly safe so long as its owners obey the law.