Commercial National Bank (Philadelphia, PA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
360401599
Episode Type
Suspension β†’ Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
36040 national
Charter Number
3604
Start Date
March 4, 1933
Location
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
779b6f06485b1787

Response Measures

None

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
50.0%
Date receivership started
1934-05-22
Share of assets assessed as good
42.3%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
53.4%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
4.3%

Description

Bank was closed under the March 1933 Pennsylvania banking holiday and subsequently did not reopen, later being in receivership.

Events (4)

1. December 17, 1886 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. March 4, 1933 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Statewide bank holiday declared by Governor Pinchot (March 4 and March 6, 1933) in response to nationwide banking moratoriums.
Newspaper Excerpt
I hereby declare a bank holiday throughout Pennsylvania on Saturday, March 4, 1933, and Monday, March 6, 1933.
Source
newspapers
3. May 22, 1934 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
4. * Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
the Commercial National Bank ... failed to reopen after the 1933 crash ... receivers and national bank receivers elsewhere to recover approximately $6,356,000 in deposits which were paid in full when the bank failed to reopen after the 1933 crash.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from Evening Star, March 4, 1933

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Article Text

# EARLY U. S. ACTION # PLANNED ON BANKS New York and Illinois Declare Holidays-Only Four States Unrestricted. (Continued From First Page.) Connecticut took similar action, bring- ing to 43 the list of States in which restrictions on withdrawals are opera- tive in some form or another. Only Montana, Colorado, North Da- kota and South Carolina remained without restrictions at noon today. Delaware's banks were open, but the State Legislature has already taken emergency action. These developments had brought from Representative Rainey, the next Speaker of the House, the prediction that "an extra session of Congress will be called at the earliest possible time." He said he felt that early next week, possibly Tuesday, would not be too soon. Pre- viously Rainey had told House mem- bers-elect to remain in Washington. Others at the Capitol said the session probably would begin Wednesday. The Federal Reserve Bank of New York was closed with all other bank- ing institutions of that State. The Federal Reserve Bank at Philadelphia also closed, under a holiday declared throughout Pennsylvania by Gov. Pin- chot. Later in the day the Minne- apolis Federal Reserve Bank suspended business. The closing of the New York Federal Reserve Bank meant the tying up of its huge gold reserve for the period of the holiday against withdrawal by either domestic or foreign agencies. In discussing the banking relief pro- gram, Senator Robinson said: "We do not know just when it will be completed, but it will be expedited all possible. The details can not be announced right now but you may be assured there will be no delay." Wagner Plans Action, Previously Senator Wagner, Demo- crat, of New York, had told newspaper men he would carry immediately to Democratic leaders an appeal for imme- diate emergency banking moves. In- formed at his hotel here of banking moratoria in New York and Illinois. Wagner said he would appeal this morn- ing to Democratic leaders to begin working out a program and some time this afternoon would call on Mr. Roose- velt with the same objective. A bank holiday, he said, "is the only thing to do" to meet the emergency of the banks themselves, but he added quick steps are necessary to enable them to reopen and continue opera- tions. Harvey Couch, Democratic member of the Reconstruction Finance CorpoΠ³Π°- tion, was the first White House caller this morning. He said after a brief conference with President Hoover he had discussed "matters incident to the banking situation," but declined to give details. Couch conferred last night with President-elect Roosevelt. Officials in Conferences. High officials both of the outgoing Republican and incoming Democratic administrations were in conference most of the night. Secretary of the Treasury Mills said afterward the Hoover administration would have no statement, but that governors of the Federal Reserve banks in Chicago and New York would have announcements. Demands Impossible. The hours between midnight and dawn saw banking officials in many States struggling with the problem, made acute by the flurrying of nervous- ness on the part of depositors. As a statement by the New York Clearing House Committee put it: "The unthinking attempt of the pub- lic to convert over $40,000,000,000 of deposits into currency at one time is, on its face, impossible." The statement added that the condi- tion clearing house banks is such that "they could, through the facilities of the Federal Reserve Bank, pay on de- mand every dollar of their deposits," but that withdrawals throughout the country as a whole have increased so that a "halt" is necessary "to enable the proper authorities to consider and adopt remedies to meet this situation, not for New York primarily, but for the Nation as a whole." Only a few States remained today in which restrictions on withdrawals had not been invoked. No Holiday in Virginla. In Virginia, Gov. Pollard said no general banking holidays would be de- clared because the State's laws already protect the banks and their depositors. In Maryland, the General Assembly early today approved the emergency banking legislation without a dissenting vote in either House. Gov. Ritchie signed it this morning, but said that the banking institutions of the State will not reopen Monday. The resources of the Reconstruction Finance Corporation earlier had been made available to hard-pressed, but solvent banks in States that have imposed moratoria on withdrawals. This was one of a number of de- velopments yesterday that included introduction of legislation to allow postal savings checking accounts and to confer upon the incoming admin- istration sweeping authority to main- tain the security of deposits. Reconstruction Corporation officials said their policy called for lending in- stitutions if the loans were well secured enough money to pay the percentage of deposits that could be withdrawn, provided the banks did not have the funds immediately available. It was emphasized this was not a new departure, but was simply the ap- plication of regulations decided upon for individual instances in the past to a situation spread into a number of States. Pinchot's Statement. Gov. Pinchot of Pennsylvania here for the inauguration issued the follow- ing statement: "Because of the declaration of a bank holiday in New York, Illinois and most of the other States, similar action in Pennsylvania has become unavoidable. "Were our banks to remain open, the demands upon them would impose an impossible burden. "Therefore, upon specific recom- mendation of Gov. Norris of the Phila- delphia Federal Reserve Bank, I hereby declare a bank holiday throughout Pennsylvania on Saturady, March 4, 1933, and Monday, March 6, 1933." Exchange Statement. A statement issued by the Govern- ing Committee of the New York Stock Exchange said: "The Governing Committee at a meeting held this morning in order to give full effect to the banking holiday declared by the Governor of the State of New York directed: "First, that the exchange be closed during such holiday: "Second, that members and firms registered on the exchange be pro- hibited from making any contracts for the purchase or sale or the borrowing or lending of any securities, and also from permitting their offices or facili- ties to be used for the purpose of mak- ing or carrying out any such contracts; "Third, that all deliveries be suspend- ed on all member contracts, except on such contracts as may be cleared by or settled through the Stock Clearing Corporation, and that in such cases deliveries shall be made as the Stock Clearing Corporation shall direct


Article from The Daily Courier, March 4, 1933

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Article Text

GOVERNOR ORDERS TWO-DAY HOLIDAY FOR STATE BANKS By International Nows Service. PHILADELPHIA, March 4.-Governor Gifford Pinchot. from his temporary residence at Washington, D. C., today proclaimed mandatory twoday hollday for all Pennsylvania banks. The proclamation issued at 8:30 this morning through Dr. William D. Gordon, State Secretary of Banking, directs all banks in the Commonwealth to remain closed Saturday and Monday. George W. Norris, governor of the Federal Reserve Bank in Philadelphia at whose behest leading Philadelphia financiers assembled in the early Lours the morning to consider decisive action, said the step was made necessary by the growing list state bank holidays. Although it was believed Penneylvania banks could have remained open under the emergency legislation passed by the Legislature last Monday, of holidays by the governors of New York and Illinois and several other states early today precipitated the crisis, Norris explained. "Because of the declaration of bank holiday in New York, Illinois and other states similar action in Pennsylvania has become unavoidable," the Governor declared in his "Were our banks to remain open the demands on them would impose an impossible burden." "Therefore, on the specific recommendation of Governor George W. Norris of the Philadelphia Reserve Bank, hereby declare bank hollday throughout for Saturday, March 5, and Monday, March 6," the proclamation concluded.


Article from Evening Star, September 19, 1937

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Article Text

cover a part of secured deposits paid in full. BY WILLIAM S. TARVER. Decrees holding the Secretary of War and the United States Board Fleet to Merchant Corp. Shipping liable the receiver of the insolvent Commercial almost $1,200,000 National representing Bank collateral for given by secure be ment the deposits, before bank to are expected large Govern- week to signed the end of the by Justice Oscar R. Luhring of District Court. The 2 claims are among 10 brought in local courts by the Commercial and District National Bank receivers and national bank receivers elsewhere to recover some $6,356,000 in Government deposits which were 1933 paid tutions in failed full when to reopen the financial after the insticrash. The accounts were in the names of the Secretary of War as trustee for Philippine Islands funds and for Panama Canal Zone revenues, the United States Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corp., the Inland Waterways Corp. and the alien property custodian. Reclaimed 100 Cents on Dollar. Although general depositors received only a portion of their savings, the Government officials and agencies sold the ample collateral they had required the banks to give them and reimbursed themselves 100 cents on the dollar. The receivers, some of whom had consented to payment of the governmental accounts, now claim the banks had no banking to and, laws right the post under the the collateral, Federal therefore, pledged securities never ceased to be the property of the banks. Two claims, totaling $713,000, by the Commercial and District National Bank receivers already have been alclaims the to more two lowed, banks and amounting additional slightly by than $1,917,000 still are pending before the court. Depositors of the two defunct inof whom almost stitutions, have abandoned of hundreds their hope savings, of will recovering any more receive should rebe a substantial successful ceivers' legal conclusion, dividends battle brought a total the to since of more than $3,831,000 is involved. An additional $2,524,000 is claimed by the Bank of Pittsburgh, National Association, the Guardian National Bank of Commerce of Detroit and the Commercial National Bank of Philadelphia. Claim Interest From Sale Date. From all these claims, however, must be deducted dividends already paid to in case of Nato 75 cent. which tional by Bank the the banks amount general the District per creditors. per cent the case of the other the receivers are to Commercial. and 60 contend On they the in entitled hand, date of into considinterest eration the collateral, from deductions the taking in of conversion principal resulting from dividend payments. Thus, the two claims covered in the week of War Woodring $791,000 decrees expected against and about this Secretary $409,000 are against for the Merchant Fleet Corp., but deductions because of dividend payments will reduce them to $364,000 and $163,000, respectively, or a total balance of approximately $527,000. To this, however, must be added interest. Rhodes Initiated Contests. The battle on behalf of the general depositors against the preferred Government creditors was first taken up by Thomas E. Rhodes, who had an account it 27, closed February in the Commercial 1933. Through when he suit in to recover to mately Attorney District $1,500,000 Hugh Court Obear, improperly brought approxi- paid the the AttorMerchant General Fleet Corp., to the ney as successor Alien Property Custodian, and the controller of currency. Taken into the United States Court of on a motion to The pellate Rhodes Appeals court continued held his fight. had dismiss, apthe bank acted assets to but that the deposits properly collateral by in pledging the controller, secure given to secure Merand Alien was without todian chant Fleet deposits Property author- Cusity of law. then was had a whether The question the depositor right raised to suit first on controller to mand bring the the without making take such deaction. The Court of Appeals held he case was taken the The had. ultimately to Supreme Court, which affirmed the Court of Appeals. How much time will be required to of all the with any Lawyers be dispose estimated finally for cases assurance. cannot the receivers say, however, to be out of the year. they must Court hope in another Then District they wait for the appellate court the reach to cases act, ultimately with probability will that the Su- the preme Court.


Article from Evening Star, September 24, 1937

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COLLATERAL SUIT IS WON BY BANK Justice Holds War Secretary and U. S. Unit Liable to Commercial Receiver. BACKGROUNDInvestigation of Commercial National Bank after banking moratorium disclosed that institution posted collateral to insure the accounts of certain Government depositors. Counsel for the unprotected depositors immediately filed 10 suits against the favored clients to recover the money received by them from their protected accounts. Justice Oscar R. Luhring of District Court today signed decrees holding the Secretary of War and the United States Shipping Board Merchant Fleet Corp. liable to the receiver of the Commercial National Bank for $1,204,140.49, representing collateral given by the insolvent bank to secure Government deposits. Since the Commercial has paid general depositors 60 per cent dividends, the actual balance owed the receiver, under the two decrees today, is $531,619.66, plus interest. Assistant United States Attorney Harry L. Underwood, who represented the Secretary of War and the Merchant Fleet Corp., said he would appeal the two cases. The receiver was represented by Attorneys George P. Barse, general counsel for the controller of the currency; Brice Clagett, Charles E. Wainright, George B. Springston and the law firm of Sherley, Faust & Wilson. Signs Similar Decree. At the same time, Justice Luhring signed a similar decree in a suit brought by the receiver of the Commercial National Bank of Philadelphia. The bank's proveable claim against the Merchant Fleet Corp. was fixed at $10,863.80. Since the closed institution has paid a 30 per cent dividend to depositors, that proportion of the claim must be deducted, leaving a balance of $7,604.60. The three claims were among 10 brought in District Court two years ago by the Commercial and District National Bank receivers and National Bank receivers elsewhere to recover approximately $6,356,000 in deposits which were paid in full when the bank failed to reopen after the 1933 crash. General depositors, on the other hand, received only a portion of their deposits-60 per cent in the case of the Commercial and 75 per cent for the District. The Government accounts involved (See SUIT, Page A-3.)