6277. First National Bank (South Bend, IN)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
126
Charter Number
126
Start Date
May 27, 1931
Location
South Bend, Indiana (41.683, -86.250)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
8bbb0b3a

Response Measures

Borrowed from banks or large institutions, Capital injected, Full suspension, Books examined

Other: Formed a state bank (First Bank & Trust) to liquidate/take over First National; assets taken over by that new institution as protection for depositors.

Description

Articles describe heavy withdrawals (runs) in late May/early June tied to distress at the affiliate Union Trust Co.; First National lent large sums but was forced to close in early June 1931 and its assets were taken over by the reorganized First Bank & Trust (state bank) for liquidation/protection of depositors. I infer the run led to suspension/closure and takeover rather than a simple temporary suspension/reopening of the same chartered national bank. Dates are from article narratives (closure reported as June 5, 1931).

Events (3)

1. May 27, 1931 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Runs were connected to frantic efforts to stop a run on the Union Trust Company (affiliate); heavy withdrawals from Union Trust and contagion affected First National.
Measures
First National lent multiple emergency loans (e.g., $50,000 on May 27, $125,000 next day, additional loans and a night loan of $79,824.15) and attempted mergers/negotiations to shore up funds.
Newspaper Excerpt
Withdrawals were heavy. On May 27 the bank had obtained loan of $50,000 from the First National bank... Then another loan this for $125,000 made the following day.
Source
newspapers
2. June 5, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Inability to meet heavy withdrawals and to raise required cash (examiner demanded large recapitalization); insolvency/liquidity exhaustion following runs and pledged collateral/loans between affiliated institutions led to closure and asset takeover.
Newspaper Excerpt
The next day the bank was forced close... The First National bank also was forced to close and its assets were taken over by the First Bank Trust company.
Source
newspapers
3. April 27, 1932 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Decided to form state bank to liquidate the First National for the protection depositors and to keep the institution open. ... By June when it came the nucleus of the First Bank & Trust company, he said, it was cash position. Mr. Morris described the First Bank & Trust company at the present time one of the soundest institutions in the state.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The South Bend Tribune, April 27, 1932

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Article Text

BANK LIQUIDATION CUTS ASSETS Continued Page bank following the suicide Arthur Hubbard, former president of the institution, last April and of hurried trip Chicago the following day, which was Sunday, to obtain in cash. special car was chartered and directors' meeting held en route Chicago, during which was to become president the institution. About cash turned by Erskine and Vincent Bendix, dition to large sum provided by Mr. Morris. The next day run on the bank by depositors took $350,000 from the vaults and the following day. Second Run Occurs. "About the middle of May secondary run more than the first, and during period of about four weeks was withdrawn. he said. "At that time negotiations started for the merger the First National bank and Union Trust company with the Citizens' National bank but time was against us the money was rolling out of the bank faster than we could make our plans. "On June ultimatum came from the national bank examiner that must raise $2,000,000 cash, $1,000,000 for the First National bank and another $1,000,000 for the Union Trust, before the merger would be sanctioned. "The directors met that night an all-night the worst nights have ever experiwe tried in every way to raise the $2,000,000 but was impossible. About o'clock in the morning decided to form state bank to liquidate the First National for the protection depositors and to keep the institution open." Tells of Moving. He described how at o'clock in the morning the Trust comwas to location the Associates building under orders banking examiners and the diana Trust company, which Mr. Morris had acquired controlling interest in on April was moved into the First National bank. When Mr. Morris and his assoclates the Indiana Trust company on April it was in tering condition and, according to him, could not have remained open two weeks longer because of frozen assets. By June when it came the nucleus of the First Bank & Trust company, he said, it was cash position. Mr. Morris described the First Bank & Trust company at the present time one of the soundest institutions in the state. 'And nothing is going to happen that bank, you can count that,' he added. Making Money. Because of recent retrenchments the institution is money, and its cash has increased said, $500,000. At the present nearly time the bank has $100,000 in govsecurities, $100,000 on call from New York banks and $125,in short time paper. said, the monthly Last June $10,800 and this payroll was been reduced to $4,600. Mr. Mor ris has not received any salary the bank since the first month from was president. in deposits the For First Bank & Trust has cash resources, including in cash and due from banks, governsecurities other bonds. The liabilities include in capital stock, surplus fund and profits, $56,724.16 in vested trust $32,066.62 trustee funds and in mortcertificates outstanding. gage Among its resources are in loans and discounts and real mortgage loans and mortgages certifisecurities cates.


Article from The South Bend Tribune, November 21, 1933

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Article Text

SUIT REVEALS FIGHT TO RUN ON BANK Recalls Frantic Efforts of Union Trust. HEAVY LOANS RECORDED Bingham Signs Order for Assignment to Protect Creditor Institution. The story of frantic but futile efforts to stop the run on the Union Trust company and prevent its closing June 5, 1931, is told for the first time today petition filed in superior court No. by the state department of financial institutions. Withdrawals were heavy. On it May 27 the bank had obtained loan of $50,000 from the First National bank, its affiliate. Then another loan- this for $125,made the following day On June directors got $50,000 more from the First National and on June more. Still was not enough. On the night of June the directors met the bank, calling in national bank The First National bank lent $79,824 15 more that night. That made total $379,824.15 withweek. But the next day the bank was foreed close. $686,000 in Oollateral. Two months later the whole debt was reduced to note for At that time, the petition asserts, the face value of mortgages given by the Union Trust company to its affiliate to secure these large loans totaled $553,000. Remaining collaterals held the bank totaled more than face value The petition lists mortgages which were pledged to the First National as security for the and asks that an assignloans, ment of record be permitted the creditor Judge protect Fred Bingham signed an order granting the petition. The First National bank also was forced to close and its assets were taken over by the First Bank Trust company However, agreement reached whereby the Union Trust liquidators would continue make collections on the mortthe other bank. gages assigned Mortgage Released. Today's petition records the details several of these collections. The First Church of the the Union Trust. The held by in the bank church had deposits The deposit covering to the note and was applied Similar action mortgage was taken in the case of Joseph Donahue, deposits were satisfy mortgage for other deposits notes but were not suffi to cient to pay off the entire obligations The petition shows the Manufactur Ing company has an unpaid bal of $13,616 after $14,145 in deposits were credited against Similarly, the Epworth Hospital, Training "which throughout the depression has been wholly unable liabilities, paid off meet its on its $11,000 note, leavbalance due of $5,916.61 offsets include $3,200 Other to Lulu Wahlen; $113.83 credited credited to Lester Anderson; credited to Clarence Hass, to Fred W $275.87 credited Knoblock, In all cases left and mortgages were not been released.