479. State Bank (Little Rock, AR)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
January 1, 1843*
Location
Little Rock, Arkansas (34.746, -92.290)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b4091ca3

Response Measures

None

Description

The articles indicate the State Bank of Little Rock was placed into liquidation by an act (Jan 31, 1843) and went into the hands of receivers; assets were collected and the bank did not resume normal operations as a going bank. No contemporaneous bank run is described. This matches a suspension (by legislative/government action) that resulted in permanent closure/receivership.

Events (4)

1. January 1, 1843* Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Since the affairs of the bank passed into hands of receivers, appointed by the court there has been collected... Making a total of $2,082,185 from debtors to the bank, since the day of assignment.
Source
newspapers
2. January 31, 1843 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Legislative act (Jan 31, 1843) placing the State Bank into liquidation and vesting remaining powers in receivers.
Newspaper Excerpt
The act of 31st Jan. 1843, placing it in liquidation, did not destroy the corporate existence of the State Bank.
Source
newspapers
3. January 1, 1848* Other
Newspaper Excerpt
It was taken over by the Real Estate Bank Association and operated until 1848, when it again went into the hands of a receiver.
Source
newspapers
4. June 11, 1909 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
In 1843 the bank went into the hands of a receiver and the state lost heavily. It was taken over by the Real Estate Bank Association and operated until 1848, when it again went into the hands of a receiver. The building was sold by the receiver...
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (4)

Article from Arkansas Intelligencer, April 22, 1843

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Article Text

For the Arkansas Intelligencer. Financial Arrangement. Messre. Editors: I have just seen a gentleman who has spent a few weeks about the circles of Little Rock, and from him I have learned a few financial facts, worthy of mem. ory. These are the more important to the country, as they give certain indications that weare to have an in creased circulation of the "better currency." The first of these financial operations relates to the manner of paying creditors their dues. The last Legisture, under some pretext or other, sent William Field to New York, to superintend some law suit.On the return of Mr. F. he presented his account for five hundred dollars for services. Although, it would seem that, by the late bill "putting the State Bankinto liquidation" that admirable plan, by which the circula. tion of Arkansas Bank paper, was to have been so soon abolished-the Commissioners and Receivers ought long since to have entered upon the discharge of their duties; thereby superceding the old Directors; yet the old board, ordered Mr. Field to be credited with fifteen hundred dollars, on his notes due the State Bank-thereby settling that, if they had five hundred dollars to pay Field, he might have purchased fifteen hundred collars. All concernea in this matter certainly acted from disinterested motives; for I understand that Charles J. Bertrand, a director, rendered an account for about seventy days services to the Bank, on some like mission--at five dollars per day. This bill was tested by the same crucible: and Mr. Bertrand received a credit for thrice $350. Col. Hempstead, the Bank attor ney, a very conscientious man, presented and had allowed, an account, over and above his standing salery of five hundred dollars, for services rendered in the Supreme Court-these of course uot being embraced in his office of Bank attorney, which bound him to every service-and this five hundred dollars was multiplied by three, and the Col. received credit for fifteen hundred dollars. I was at first incredulous to these reports; but I have the statements upon too high authority to doubt that they are substantially correct. If however any of the gentlemen concerned will deny the state. ments, I shall be happy to correct any error in rela. tion to a matter which 1 have second handed. I have been surprised at the silence of the Little Rock press on the subject; and can only account for it upon the principle that, the Gazette does not wish to anticipate its Bank history. Since the above paragraph was written I have seen a gentleman, who says that, the Editors of Little Rock, have a shade of interest in this matter, which renders silence the better policy. The last Legislature contract. cd for the printing of the laws, and journals; and of course made the contract for par funds. But after the division of the specie on hand, among the members, there was little left to pay for the printing of their proceedings; so the Legislature left the executive officera o manage his matter as they best could. The Governor's cabinet are more ingenius than Capt. Ty ler's. They can get along without his ExcellencyThey soon rectified the Arkansas money--somewbat after the manner of the bank operation, with this dif ference; that the Auditor uses a different multiplier Mr. Colby for instance certifies an account of thousand dollars, according to contract-the Auditor multiplies by 21-thus for a thousand dollars, he receives a warrant of $2,500. Now Judge Brown, the other day, a man whose services at a single riding, are more laber. ious, expensive than a pleasure trip to New York, was compelled to receive a quarter's salary, in Arkansas Real Estate Bank bills at par. Yet there is as much law for paying him two and a half for one, as there is for paying a printer or any other creditor of the Government. I am curious to know when the Bank circulation is to be consumed at this rate. I have looked over the Bank laws in vain, to learn by what authority of law, these proceedings are had I am told that all the money in the Treasury is ex. hausted. but that the balance of the surplus revenue is placed at the disposal of the Treasurer. And pray what authority does this givo to the keeper of the cash in Bank, to pay out worthless rags at any price? If the money is received as a deposite-ar not depositors to be paid in the kind of funds deposited? If viewed as a part of the Bank capital, is there any law for with drawing that capital in irredeemable funds? Col. So vier'anotion of financiering was neverso abused as this. And by what authority are Arkeneas bills paid out by the Bank? Ought not the cancel hammer to have UNO. passed over them long since?


Article from The Arkansas Banner, August 27, 1845

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Article Text

UNDERHILL vs. STATE BANK. Error to Pulaski. The act of 31st Jan. 1843, placing it in liquidation, did not destroy the corporate existenee of the State Bank. It only, as designed, restricted the corporate powers of the Bank, and vested those left to it in Receivers, instead of boards of directors as originally, which the Legislature possessed the power to do. The Bank may yetsue, and be sued, plead and be pleaded, as a corporation.-Affirmed.


Article from The True Democrat, April 28, 1857

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Article Text

In Arkansas bank notes In slaves 47,323 In real estate 566,255 In real estate and negroes In Chicot county scrip 2,482 9 swamp land scrip $1,895,323 30 Since the affairs of the bank passed into hands of receivers, appointed by the court there has been collected In Real Estate Bank bonds and $81,827 In State Bank and coupons In Real Estate Bank specie and other par funds $186,861 Making a total of $2,082,185 from debtors to the bank, since the day of assignment. amount be added the specie estate, the State bonds, other under the deed of 2. 1842, be found that the that has passed into the hands of the trustees receivers, of notes bills discounted.) $2,263,056. The total collect by the trustees an receivers, exceeds the amount that notes and bills when the bank was put liquidation: but so great was the delay of of the debtors in making payments, that amounts due by those who paid in full swelled greatly by increments of interest, others made only partial payments, all. In consequence of this, still due to the bank, for principal of discounted, the sum of hundred twenty-tive thousand, seven hundred -four dollars. Of this sum, notes the amount of four hundred aud thousands, eight hundred and lars are judged by the receiver to be ninety-nine thousand, six hundred and dollars, to be doubtful; and four hundred ve thousand, two hun Ired and dollars to be good. On the good debts, hundred and forty thousand, four hundred fifteen dollars are due for interest. Ifthe interest on the bad and doubtful debts be ded in the estimate, the whole amount still bank for principal and interest of and bills discounted, 18, one million, and hundred and fortv thousand dollars. Of amount, supposed, about six hundred sand may be collected; namely, five dred and fifty-tiv thousand, six hundred ninty-three dollars, for the principal and est of the notes and bills, classed as good, re-idue for principal and interest of part notes classed as doubtful and worthless, In addition to these notes and bills, the has town lots, and upwards of eigh. v-three thousands acres of land: namely thousand and fourteen acres of lands, taken In payment of debts, or bought the trustees under decrees of foreclosure execution, and twenty-two thousand dred and ninety seven acres of other land, tained in like manner. It has also the lots in the town of Washington, (bought site for a banking house,) and the banking house and lots in the city of Little Rock. Without investigations in the different CORDties, it is impossible to fix a value on these lands, but if we suppose them to be worth, average, as much as the stock lands valued at, under oath, nineteen years aggregate value is one million, three hundred sixty five thousand dollars. If we suppose their average value to be only half that officially given, their aggregate value is six hundred and eighty-tw thousand dollars. I addition to these, there are one hundred and forty-six thousand and eighty-six the lands pledged by stockholders for the ment of their shares of stock. If they the worth officially affixed to them by the commissioners, their aggregate value is two million, three hundred and eighty-four thousand dollars Supposing the lands taken in payment debts, those purchased by the trustees under decrees of foreclosures and execution, and th remaining stock lands, to be of the average worth dec lared by the commissioners, the aggregate value of the real estate secured and pledge ed for the payment of the debts of the bank about three million, seven hundred and fortynine thousand dollars, or one million, eight hundred and seventy four thousand dollars, if the lands be of only one-half the value which they were officially rated nineteen years ago There are a few other assets, namely, Checot county scrip of the face value of fourthousand hundred dollars, swamp land scrip of value of two thousand, four hundred and eigh dollars, about five hundred dollars specie, and five per cent. bonds, amounting with the interest on them to ten thousand hundred twenty five dollars. These are not part of those that were issued to procure capital for the bank: but some of those by the State for money borrowed from bank for State purposes, soon after the bank commenced operations. If we include the notes and bills discounted of every description, and the interest thereof suppose the lands to be of the average worth they were hen valued by the comms sioners, and if we add the miscellaneous the gross value of whatever is secured pledged for the redemption of the bonds the discharge of the other liabilities of the bank is five million and six thousand dollars. If we suppose that only six hundred then sand dollars will be collected on account what is due for notes and bills discounted, that the lands are of only half the worth affixed to them by the commissioners, the net value of whatever is or may be made available the discharge of the debts of the bank, is two million. four hundred and ninety-t thou sand dollars. The debts due by the bank, at this time, cepting those due on the bond account, are little importance. The notes in circulation have all been redeemed, with the exception of notes amouting to fifteen thousand, two hundred and eighty dollars, most of which, it is presumable have been lost or destroyed, and which cannot The consequently be presented for payment. amount due to depositors and on miscellaneous accounts is eighteen thousand, three hundred and sixty-nine dollars. The whole of the out of standing obligation of the bank, exclusive what is due on the bond account, is only thirty three thousand, six hundred and forty-nine dollars. Of the one thousand, five hundred and thirty bonds that were sold to procure capital fo bank, three hundred and seventy have been re deemed, leaving outstanding one thousand,one hundred and sixty bonds for one thousand lars each, amounting with the interest on them, dead


Article from The Forrest City Times, June 11, 1909

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Article Text

Old State Bank Building Sold. A contract has been closed here whereby H, F. Auten purchases the property at the southeast corner of Center and Markham streets from the Mutual Life Insurance Company for $40,000. The lot faces 70 feet on Markham street and 150 feet on Center street. The old State Bank building, built by the state about 1836, now occupies the site. The old structure is one of the relics of the early days and for years was a storm center for the state. The building was erected as a home for the State Bank at about the same time the state house was built. At that time banks were at a premium in Arkansas. Bonds were issued by the state, and the bank, capitalized at $1,000,000, was to be operated by officers elected by the General Assembly. Banks were established in other cities in the state, but the one here was considered the head of the system. In 1843 the bank went into the hands of a receiver and the state lost heavily. It was taken over by the Real Estate Bank Association and operated until 1848, when it again went into the hands of a receiver. The building was sold by the receiver and was bid in by Gen. Albert Pike and Thomas W. Newton. Thomas Newton died before the war, but the building continued to be held by his heirs and General Pike until 1863, when the Federals occupied Little Rock and confiscated Pike's inter. est in the property, but left untouched that of the Newton heirs. It was sold at auction and bid in by C. C. Bliss. After the reconstruction, General Pike recovered his interest after a long law suit, and continued to hold it until 1880 or 1881, when it was sold to the Mutual Life Insurance Company.