4190. Armitage State Bank (Chicago, IL)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
June 9, 1931
Location
Chicago, Illinois (41.850, -87.650)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
975cebf2

Response Measures

Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Receiver appointed and liquidation/receivership proceedings initiated.

Description

Armitage State Bank was one of twelve Bain chain neighborhood banks that closed June 9, 1931 after heavy withdrawals triggered by the closing of several other Chicago banks. A receiver (Gilruth) was appointed July 16, 1931 and liquidation/receivership followed, indicating permanent closure.

Events (3)

1. June 9, 1931 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals triggered by the closing/suspension of several other Chicago neighborhood banks; panic spread among local banks.
Measures
Bank was closed (suspended operations) along with other Bain chain banks to stop withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt
Closing of the Bain banks followed the suspension of business at six other neighborhood banking institutions yesterday. Heavy withdrawals were made on the banks...
Source
newspapers
2. June 9, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Suspension/closing was taken in response to heavy withdrawals caused by runs on this and other local banks; action to protect depositors and stem withdrawals.
Newspaper Excerpt
Twelve outlying Chicago banks... were closed today because of heavy withdrawals following closing of several other Chicago banks. The banks which closed today are Armitage State Bank ...
Source
newspapers
3. July 16, 1931 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Gilruth Appointed Bain Bank Receiver ... State Auditor Oscar Nelson has pointed Gilruth ... for the twelve banks the John Bain chain, all of which closed. Mr. Gilruth ... liquidation proceedings ... ready for presentation to the court.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)

Article from The Washington Times, June 9, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

HEAVY DRAIN ON DEPOSITS BLAMED Bain Institutions on South Side Have $15,860,000 e in "Vaults; 6 Closed Yesterday CHICAGO, June 9 (I.N.S.). I welve outlying Chicago banks, In all of which John Bain, financial leader, is chairman of the board, were closed today because of "heavy withdrawals following closing of several other Chicago banks." The 12 banks, as of record March 25, have total deposits of $15,860,000, total cash resources of $1,239,000, and total capital, surplus and undivided profits of $6,306,737. 6 Closed Yesterday Closing of the Bain banks followed the suspension of business at six other neighborhood banking institutions yesterday. Heavy withdrawals were made on the banks in spite of the statements of financiers that two huge mergers of downtown banks, accomplished early yesterday, had "cleared up" the banking situa. tion in the city. The banks which closed today are Armitage State Bank, Auburn Park Trust and Savings Bank, Brainerd State Bank, Bryn Mawr State Bank, Chatham State Bank. Chicago Lawn State Bank, Elston State Bank, Ridge State Bank. Stony Island State Savings Bank. West Englewood Trust and Savings Bank. West Highland State Bank and the West Lawn Trust and Savings Bank. All On South Side All of the institutions are on the South and Southwest Side. Dramatic action by officers was necessary to check runs at one or two other neighborhood banks this morning. The State Savings Bank and Trust Company, which was an affiliate of the Foreman group. today was acquired by the Liberty Trust and Savings Bank.


Article from Dziennik Dla Wszystkich, June 10, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Bank Założony Przez Smulskiego Przeszto Dwadzieścia Pięć Lat Temu Oraz 20 Innych Zostato Zamkniętych Dyrekcja Oświadcza, Le Bank Będzie Wypłacalny 90 Dniach. Tłumy Przed Bankami Nie Mogą Wyciągać Pieniędzy. (Depesza Własna) rano zamknał swe podwoje "The North Western Trust and Savings Bank", który został założony niemal éwieré wieku temu przez Jana F. Smulskiego. Tysiące depozytarjuszów stoi dziś przed bankiem, domagając się wypłaty deponowanych sum, lecz bez skutku, gdyż bank jest W rękach urzędników stanowych wszelka wypłata depozytów Zamknięcie banku spowodowane było przez nagly "run" na bank dniu wezorajszym. Gdy dziś run trwał W dalszym ciągu władze stanowe objely bank posiadanie wstrzymały wypłaty. Dyrekcya Banku wydała oświadczenie, ze jest pewna, ze wszelkie należytości będą wypłacone W zupełności W przeciągu 90 dni kiedy spodziewają się, iz kwidacya będzie dokonana. Chodzą pogłoski, iż śladem banku Northwestern pójdą inne banki chicagoskie. Bank North Western byt pierwszym bankiem polskim W Ameryce i należał do W ostatnich dwóch dniach zamknięto 20 banków Chicago. A dzis oprócz Banku Northwestern zytow do ostatniego dolara. gdyby wymagala tego konieczność.Ale zaden Bank ,bez względu na to jak wielki bogaty, nie może jednym dniu czy tygodniu wy dac wszystkich depozytów, jesli chce normalnie sie zystować, wha tow znajdowała sie W kasie banku. Reszte zdobywa sie sprzedazy bondów, zwrotu pożyczek innych wpływów, które przychodzą normalnie, biegiem czasu, lecz nie jednym dniu lub godzinie. dlatego wyjątkowej sy tuacji, jak obecna, prawo pozwala ograniczenie natychmiasto wej wyplaty depozytów na pewien okreslony czas. To wlasnie czyni sie obecnie W naszym Banku. Tymczasem, aby ulzyc rodzinom wogóle osobom, pozwalamy na wyciąganie pewnej sumy oszczedności, po trzebnej dla normalnego życia domowego wedlug uznania urzędnikew bankowych. Zatem dla Waszego własnego dobra prosimy Was wsrystkich cierpiiwość wspólprace dzisiaj." Następujące banki zostaly zaFirst North Western State Bank, Second North Western Bank Inland State Bank. wszystkie trzy tak zwane Smulskiego banki. Cheltenham Trust Company, Industrial State Bank, Sheridan State Bank, South Side Trust, Washington Park National, Armitage State, Auburn Park Trust Company, Breinard State Bank, Bryn Mawr Bank, Chatham State Bank, Chicago Loan Bank, Elston State Bank, Rich State Bank, Stone Illinois State Bank, West Engleton State Bank, West Highland State Bank, West Lane State Bank. Jest wiadomem, 12 W Banku Northwestern mialy depozyty najwieksze polskie organizacye, jak N. Zwiazek Polek, Zjednoczenie inne. Wszystkie pieniadze Konsulatu Polskiego Chicago lokowane byly W banku Smulskiego. Dziennik dla Wszystkich rozmowie Henclem, skarbnikiem Związku N. zyt ZNP. W Northwestern Banku innych zamknietych nie prze wyższał sumy $25,000 ze to sume spodziewają sie odebrać W calości po Sa pogłoski, iz Zjedn. P. R. K. zdołało wyciagnac większą czesc swoich depozytów przed zamknię ciem Banku North Western, tak, dzie sie bez straty. Do tego czasu Dziennik nie mógł sie skomunikować zarządem Związku Podowiedzieć się 0 stanie ich depozytów W zamkniętych bankach. Dzis calem Chicago panuje chaos thumy ludzi przed kazdym bankiem, nie tylko tak zwanym Loup, ale mieściu. Wszedzie domagaja sie wyplaty depozytów. Nawet kolosalny First National Bank, wezoraj uratował tak zwane man Banks" przechodzi


Article from South-Side News, July 16, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Gilruth Appointed Bain Bank Receiver Will Establish Headquarters West Englewood Trust and Savings Bank State Auditor Oscar Nelson has pointed Gilruth, 100 for the twelve banks the John Bain chain, all of which closed Mr. Gilruth, after posting $1,700,000 that headquarters the will be established the West Trust and Savings bank, 1620 West 63d street, most easily accessible of the chain. has further been announced that for the banks will appointed that each will obliged liquidate and meet individually. Mr. Gilruth, statement made Monday, liquidation proceedings group will ready for presentation court by the He stated that until then no assets what found the closed institutions by State Auditor Nelson be made public. The Bain banks listed assets claimed deposits closed. The banks this group Armitage State bank, Auburn Park Trust Savings bank, Brainerd State bank, Bryn State bank, Chatham State bank, Chicago Lawn State bank, State bank. Ridge State bank, Stony Island Savings bank, West Trust Savings bank West Highland State bank and Lawn Trust Savings bank.


Article from Chicago Tribune, August 18, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

of the situation. He summoned Mr Bain to his office and there, in the presence of Mr. Gilruth and Attorney Massena, demanded that he retract the statement in the newspaper. With tears in his eyes, the 63 year old banker is said to have argued his theories of bank and defended his in his banks, asserting that when they closed there was of assets to meet the deposit liabilities of 14,500,000. In contravention of this view, Mr. Gilruth included in his statement a declaration that upon his appointment as receiver he found cash of slightly more than to meet the deposit liabilities. Other resources, he said, consisted of the $2,000,000 Bain debts: another $2,000,000 in bank buildings and furnishings to other uses: and slightly more than $7,000,000 in estate loans. The remainder the assets, carried the books at slightly above $10,000,000 in value, included real estate holdings and real estate bonds, many of which were in defaut, the receiver asserted. Finds Assets Frozen. In short," the receiver summed up, the fact is that with the exception of the cash item and a relatively amount the remaining assets, the resources of the banks are tightly frozen and will require and patient if anything like their book is to be realized.' The declared it would be his policy to the position of the banks plainly to the depositors from time to time, adding that for the present he found it to predict what percentage of the assets the depositors would realize upon. The receiver intends to pursue the policy of stating the facts plainly to depositors from time to time, so far as he consistently do 80 with regard to his duty to liquidate the assets of the banks to the best possible and in the economical manner, the declared. Statement Covers Bank Chain. While it is true that each bank will be liquidated as an independent unit and some of the banks may be in better others, the similarity of makes this statement applicable to each situaMr. Gilruth listed the Bain debts of more than $2,000,000 as follows: John Bain John Bain, 993,574.40 John Bain R. E. Impr. 47,500.00 The Lews company 257,600.00 John 43,045.67 Robert 24,092.26 Total In support of his opinion that none of the $2,000,000 is collectible, Mr. Gilruth cited the condition of the Bain companies as follows: 'John Bain, Inc., is in receivership because of alleged Chief among its assets are nineteen properties, carried on the books at $6,060,000. and with $4,015,000 in bonds outstanding against them, leaving an to the books, of $2,045,000. A competer has advised the receiver that the present value the properties, instead of being $6,060,000, is only or a little more than one-half the amount of bonds outstanding on them. The Lews company is the record owner of nearly 25 per cent of the stock of the twelve closed banks. The receiver not with to its other assets or but believes it is that the company cannot pay what It owes the banks and also to liability If. as matter of fact, it can do Probe May Be Ordered. Grand jury the Bain bank management is possible, It was learned. State's Attorney Swanson, learning of Mr. Gllruth's statement declared that if the facts were established as alleged, he would order an investigation by his assistant, Henry Ayes, the prosecutor in charge of the state's attorney's bank bureau. The fact that Mr. Bain was fifteen years a member of the south park board and south side political leader of the Swanson forces in the party would in no way impede the investigation, Mr. Swanson was as saying. The original Bain bank-the West Englewood Trust and Savings at 1624 West 63d street, was founded in 1906. Mr. Bain, previously the proprietor of small real estate office in the neighborhood, incorporated the bank in partnership with Edward Barry, William Blumer, E. L. Schweder, and Michael Maisel. Builds Up Bank Chain. By launching banks in the then sparsely settled neighborhoods and, in some cases, by acquiring banks that failed, Mr. Bain built up the chain. On last April 12 Mr. Bain. observing his twenty-fifth anniversary as banker, was tendered a banquet attended by 400 employes and associates at the Shoreland hotel. Referring on that to the depression, Mr. Bain reaffirmed his confidence in the soundness of the instituhis name. On the day the banks closed John H. Bain, echoing his father's sentiments, pledged that the Bain banks would pay off 100 per cent. is just an outgrowth of the situation and the general uncertainty which was aroused that he said. pay out 100 cents on the dollar and there will be a substantial equity the stockholders.' Twelve Banks Involved. The list Bain banks is as follows: Armitage State, 3400 Armitage Tngs, 734 West 79th street: Brainerd State, 8640 South Ashland avenue; Bryn Mawr 2110 East 71st street; Chatham State, 7850 Cottage Grove avenue: Lawn State, 3150 West 63d street; State, 4332 Elston Ridge State, 7048 South Western Stony Island State Sav Ings, 68th and Stony Island avenue; Englewood Trust and Savings, 1624 West 63d street; West Highland State, 7900 South Ashland avenue, and West Lawn Trust and Savings, 63d street and Crawford avenue. TRUCK MILLIONS THROUGH CROWDS TO SAVE BANKS Toledo Depositors Paid as Guns Hold Back Rush. Toledo, O., Aug. 17.-[Special] Glant trucks, bearing men heavily armed with rifles and tear gas bombs, today trundled into the downtown district of Toledo carrying eleven million dollars in cash. The money had been sent to the Toledo Trust and the First National bank, which, had opened before their usual hours to pay off depositors who were worried over the closing of five other banks within 48 hours. Stay Open to Pay Depositors. The banks remained open after closing hours, still paying out all depositors who sought their money. The lines of depositors began to dwindle when it was seen that the banks. with the aid of the federal reserve bank, the Cleveland and Detroit bankers, were ready to meet all demands. It is estimated that 150,000 of Toledo's 290,000 residents had savings or checking tied up in the five closed banks which officials insist are solvent. The banks are the Commerce Guardian Trust and Savings bank, the Ohio Savings Bank and Trust company, the Savings Bank and Trust company, the American bank, and the Point Place State bank. The five have combined resources of and deposits of around $80,000,000. Their closing came at the expiration of the 60 day withdrawal notice which they posted when the Security Home Trust company closed two months ago. Reserve Funds Are Tied Up. The closing notices nied by that the action was taken to protect depositors. Officials of the American bank said it could have met normal but its reserves were tied up with two of the closed banks. The Spitzerrorick Trust and Sav ings bank and the West Toledo National remained open as usual, as did the Morris Plan and Industrial banks. Immense crowds filled downtown streets in front of the closed banks and their As the gold bearing trucks drove up to the curb before the banks open the depositors and the crowd of curious were hustled back guards presented firearms and tear gas Hundreds Jam Lobbies. While hundreds jammed in the lobbies of the two open banks, officials went tl crowd and directed porters to ice water to women suffering from the heat. Elderly women were to chairs and clerks assigned to their places in the line. Extra electric fans were placed at vantage points and other efforts made to assist those who had stood in line for hours to reach the tellers' cages. Business leaders and officials took steps to make funds available immediately to small depositors. The county commissioners asked courts to suspend foreclosure proceedings for year providing interest on mortgage loans is met, and the treasurer appealed to the state tax commission to extend the tax paying period. 6 Nebraska Banks Close. Lincoln, Neb., Aug. 17.-(P)-Six Nebraska state banks today failed to open their Gov. Charles W Bryan and E. H. Luikart, secretary of the state of trade and said the closings were the result of bank in Omaha. The six banks had deposits of


Article from Chicago Tribune, November 3, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

NEW JURY OPENS DRIVE TODAY ON BANK DEBTORS Stuyvesant PeabodyForeman; Bain Group First. Before a new grand jury headed by Stuyvesant millionaire sportsman and coal magnate, State's attorney Swanson will embark today on a. campaign against delinquent debtors of closed banks. Chief Justice Harry M. Fisher, swearing in the jury in the Criminal court yesterday, refrained from issuing any special instructions on the bank situation, but cautioned the jury to leave minor offenses for settlement in the Municipal court and devote their attention to greater crimes on which evidence may be presented to you.' The judge then appointed Mr. Peabody foreman. Bain Banks Come First. Mapping his program for the four weeks of the new jury's term, Prose cutor Henry E. Ayers, bank specialist of Mr. Swanson's staff, announced his first move would be to complete the of evidence concerning the closed Bain banks. Subpoenas will be issued to bring testimony from the cashiers of two of the Bain group, Hugh Leslie of the Brainerd bank and Irvin Larsen of the Armitage bank, Mr. Ayers said It is likely that John Bain Jr., son of the head of the chain, will also be subpoenaed, Mr. Ayers said. Bench warrants have been issued against all three by Judge William J. Lindsay, in whose court several of the Bain banks are now in receivership. Regarding the pursuit of delinquent debtors, Mr. Swanson said it was his purpose to compel all bank receivers to furriish his office a list of such debtors, them before the grand jury and possibly invoke the statute covering the concealment of assets if the debtors prove recalcitrant. Used In One Court. A modification of this plan has recently been employed by Judge Michael Feinberg, who forced Terry Druggan, notorious beer peddler, to pay up part of his unsecured obligations to west side bank and wrung from Druggan's attorney promise that the balance would be met as soon as possible. Summing up the results of his efforts to date from June 1, when he first undertook general probe of the ninety closed banks in the county, Mr. Swanson revealed that the grand jury has returned seventy-three indictments, naming fifty-seven officers, employes and other defendants. Six assistant prosecutors, thirty-two auditors. two investigators and two stenog-