Farmers & Merchants Bank (Kinston, NC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
66010871576
Episode Type
Run โ†’ Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
trust
Bank ID
6601087 routing
Routing Number
66-0108
Start Date
April 21, 1931
Location
Kinston, North Carolina (35.263, -77.582)

Metadata

Model
gemini-3-flash-preview (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
fef79ad9c86c945d

Response Measures

None

Description

The bank initially weathered a severe run on April 21, 1931, using unusual distractions like fire alarms and a brass band, but ultimately failed to open on April 30, 1931.

Events (3)

1. April 21, 1931 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
The run was triggered by the failure of the National Bank of Kinston and the First National Bank of Kinston on the same day.
Measures
Used false fire alarms, a brass band, and soapbox oratory to distract and reassure depositors; also brought in cash reserves from Richmond.
Newspaper Excerpt
False fire alarms and soap box oratory were resorted to today in an effort to halt run on Kinston's one remaining bank after two others had closed.
Source
newspapers
2. April 30, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
The bank eventually suspended operations following the earlier run and the closure of all other local banks.
Newspaper Excerpt
Kinston... was left without banking facilities today when the Farmers and Merchants' bank failed open. A notice posted at the entrance said the bank had been closed by the directors for the protection of depositors.
Source
newspapers
3. September 27, 1932 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Depositors in the Farmers Merchants Bank here closed ago, dividend payment this fall been but nominal payment planned fall collections The bank suspended April, 1931 State bank examiner's office is in charge of its affairs.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (13)

Article from St. Louis Post-Dispatch, April 21, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ORATORS AND FIRE ALARMS FAIL TO STOP RUN ON BANK Kinston (N. C.) People Withdraw Money When Two of Three Depositories Close Doors. the Associated Press. KINSTON N. C., April False fire alarms and soap box oratory were resorted to today in an effort to halt run on Kinston's one remaining bank after two others had closed The false fire alarms, rung in hope they distract crowd depositors gathered at the Farmers Merchants Bank. failed to draw the crowd's interest. Neither did the distant playing of brass band which was brought into action. Chamber of Commerce pleaded from soap boxes for depositors to leave their money with the bank. The bank was meeting all demands this afternoon. The began when the National Bank of Kinston failed to open this morning and an hour later the First National Bank closed. The banks listed condition March as follows: First National Bank. capital and prof. its, deposits, H. H. McCoy, president: W. B. Harvey. vice and cashier National Bank of Kinston. capital, $120,000: surplus and profits, $54.000: deposits. $1,105,000. W. P. Tingle, cashier.


Article from The Crowley Post-Signal, April 21, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Unusual Methods Are Used To Stop Run On North Carolina Bank By The Associated Press. Kinston, N. C., April 21.-False alarms and soap box oratory were resorted to today in an effort to halt a, run on Kinston's one remaining bank after two others had closed. The false fire alarms, rung in hopes they would distract a crowd of depositors gathered at the Farmers and Merchants Bank, failed to draw the crowd's interest, neither did the distant playing of a brass band which was brought into action. Chamber of commerce representatives pleaded from soap boxes for the depositors to leave their money with the bank. The bank was meeting all demands this afternoon.


Article from The Journal, April 21, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

False Fire Alarms, Soap Box Oratory Fail To Halt Run On North Carolina Bank Kingston, April (AP) fire alarms oratory to today in one had closed. The false in hopes would distract gathered Farmers Merchants bank, failed the crowd's interest. Neither did the distant playing brass which was brought into action. Chamber Commerce representatives pleaded from for the depositors to leave money with the bank. The bank meeting all dethis afternoon. The the National Bank Kinston failed open this and an hour the First National Bank closed.


Article from Evening Express, April 21, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

False Fire Alarms And Box Oratory Fails To Stop Run Kinston, N. C., Bank Meets All Demands After Two Others Close KINSTON, N. C., April 21 (A. False fire alarms and soap box oratory were resorted to today in an effort to halt run on Kinstons' one remaining bank after two others had closed. The false fire alarms. rung in hopes they would distract crowd of depositors thered at the Farmers and Merchants Bank. failed to draw the crowd's Neither did the distant playing brass band which was brought into Chamber of Commerce representatives pleaded from soap boxes for the is depositors to leave their money with the bank The bank was meeting all demands this afternoon. The when the National Bank of Kinston failed to open this morning and an hour later the First National Bank closed.


Article from The Greensboro Record, April 21, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

TWO BANKS AT KINSTON CLOSE Run Made on Third But Funds Are on Hand to Pay Off All Withdrawals KINSTON, April banks closed here today and officers of the only remaining one turned to drastic steps to save it in the face of run which brass band, soap box orators and false fire alarms failed halt. The National bank of Kinston, faced with poor collections, was dered not to open today the by tional bank examiner minutes after opened the First National, facing heavy run posted notice was closing "for the protection of depositors.' similar run was in progress the Farmers Merchants bank, which, however. was still withstanding the inroads of withdrawals at noon. large crowd gathered at Kinston's principal corner during the morning. Speakers, representing the chamber of commerce and interests vantage points and sought to allay the fears of depositors, but apparently without effect Officials the First National bank insisted its affairs "in excellent condition" and blamed the closing on the of depositors. Thomas president of the National Bank of Kinston, said depositors his bank would lose little. Tingle 18 cashier of the National bank W. H. McCoy is president. W. Harvey, vice president and cashier, of the First National. Figures published by the banks give their condition as of March 31 follows: First $125,000: surplus profits deposits $1,167,000. National Bank of surplus and profits deposits Today President Heath said deposits were and that funds due the bank totaled about $700,000.


Article from The Salisbury Post, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Kinston Bank Holds Out Against Kinston, April Directors the First National bank here. which closed yesterday when fired faced run after the National flee Bank Kinston suspended, who considering mobile and no escaped. nouncement was expected for day so least. The Farmers and Merchants bank. remaining financial beaten. stitution. appeared definitely weathered storm which about it following yesterclosings. remained open throughout augmented cash reserve night peared be doing normal busitoday. The National Bank of Kinston ordered closed by the national bank examiner because of "frozen count


Article from The Oshkosh Northwestern, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

RUSES FAIL TO HALT THE RUN ON THE BANK Kinston, N. C.-(P)-False fire alarms and soap box oratory were resorted to Tuesday in an effort to halt a run on Kingston's one re maining bank after two others had The false fire alarms. run hopes they would distract a crowd depositors gathered at the Farmers and Merchants bank failed to draw the Neither did the distant playing of . brass band which was brought Chamber of commerce representatives pleaded from soap boxes for


Article from Chattanooga Daily Times, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

FRANTIC EFFORTS FAIL TO CHECK RUN ON BANK KINSTON, N. C., April 21 fire and today effort to halt run Kinston's remaining bank after others had closed. false fire alarms, rung in hopes they would distract crowd depositors gathered the Farmers and Merchants failed draw interest. did playing brass band, which was brought action. of commerce representatives pleaded from for the depositors to leave their money with the bank meeting all demands this run began when the National Bank Kinston failed morning later the First National bank closed.


Article from The Charlotte Observer, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

KINSTON BANKS CLOSE IN PANIC False Fire Alarms Ring and Band Plays When Run on Remaining Bank Starts. KINSTON. April distant band played and false fire alarms rang In an effort to distract them, depositors stormed the Farmers and Merchants bank of Kinston today after two others had closed. but found all their demands met. Tonight the bank's officers ex. pressed belief the run was over. The banks closing were the National bank of Kinston and the First National bank of Kinston Upon orders of the national bank examiner. who said he found its assets "frozen," the National bank of Kinston did not open this morning. Runs started on the other banks and 48 minutes later the First National closed. PLEAD ON SOAP BOXES. Chamber of Commerce representatives stood on soap boxes before the Farmers and Merchants bank and pleaded with the depositors to leave their money in the bank, the only remaining financial institution in the city. They also arranged for the band to play and for the fire alarms to be turned in. Approximately in deposits were tied up with the closing of the two banks. Officials of the First National said its affairs were in excellent condition and blamed the closing on the hysteria of depositors. Officers planned to seek to reopen SMALL LOSS SEEN. W. Heath, president of the National bank of Kinston, said the depositors would lose very little through the bank's closing. He said its officers were considering the possibility of reorganizing and reopening it. The bank was capitalized at $120,000. On March 31 its officers reported it had deposits of $1,105,000 and surplus and profits of $54,000. J. P. Tingle is cashier of the bank. The First National bank's deposits, as of March 31, were reported to be $1,167,000. with surplus and profits of $77,000. It was capitalized at $125,000. Officers of the Farmers and Merchants bank said deposits during the last hour of business today were greater than withdrawals. They said they had "considerable sum" in cash on the way here from Richmond for use if there were heavy withdrawals tomorrow.


Article from Fort Worth Star-Telegram, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

FALSE ALARMS FAIL TO HALT RUN ON BANK KINSTON, N. C., April 21 fire alarms and soap box oratory resorted to today in an effort to halt run on Kinston's one remaining bank after two others had closed. The false fire alarms, rung in hopes they would distract crowd of depositors gathered the Farmers and Merchants Bank, failed to draw the crowd's interest. Neither did the distant playing of a brass band which was brought into action. Chamber of Commerce representatives pleaded from soap boxes for the depositors to leave their money with the bank. The run began when the National Bank of Kinston failed to open morning and an hour later the First National Bank closed.


Article from The News and Observer, April 22, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

One Fails To Open; Another Shuts Doors Because of Heavy Run Kinston, April was black Tuesday for Kinston. was the most hectic day in the city's recent history. The National Bank of Kinston, oldest local financial institutions. failed to open for business. Depositors swarmed down on the National Bank and Farmers and Merchants Bank runs. The was forced to close. latter weathered the storm. Excitement rife; ruled Queen Gordon Streets, where all three in stitutions are Crowds Harangued. Business leaders chamber of commerce rallied quickly. "Soapboxers" harangued the crowds effort to stem the runs. False alarms were rung from points the business district effort divert them. Even band played, parading through the streets. milling depositors continued the Farmers Merchants and First National. minutes after opening, latter went directors posted notice closed door the effect business been pended protection of depositors. Harvey, executive stated examination First National's affairs night showed to excellent dition without liability against directors stockholders. In Good Shape. Will Allen, ident the and said state institution better shape the winter. Farmers Merchants been regarded locally sort financial gibraltar. the orators who addressed Among the crowds from the curbsides Fred Sutton, member of islature: Rouse, former several business Plato Collins, tary the chamber commerce. department store manager funds before the crowd's entered bank deposit them. Stranger Lends Hand. Hawaiian broke the speakstranger, staying temporarily,' money in these banks. going there." the managers chain stores in the city had confer red agreed not day. made cent during their usual deposits. The mayor made appeal the public This carried extras. midst paper officers the First citement National announced they would close (Please Turn to Page Two.)


Article from The Berkshire Eagle, April 30, 1931

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

LATE NEWS BRIEFS 200 EMPLOYEES REPORTED KILLED OR INJURED RIO DE JANEIRO. hundred employees the naval laboratory at Nichtheroy killed injured today when an explosion wrecked the plant. The plant employed 400. NORTH CAROLINA BANK FAILS TO OPEN C.-Kinston, town population, was left without banking facilities today when the Farmers and Merchants' bank failed open. notice posted at the entrance said the bank had been closed by the directors the protection depositors." short time ago the city's other two banks closed their doors. 5000 WORKERS ON STRIKE; OTHERS MAY FOLLOW COVENTRY, thousand workers went strike today protest against reduction by Courtauld's, Ltd., two pence an hour in the wages of spinners. Workers in other factories were reported to be planning The manageannounced that the wage cut had been under for about two years become necessary in order to meet foreign competition in artificial silk and yarns. HUNDREDS DYING OF THIRST AND of shepherd tribesmen and their flocks are reported dying of thirst and starvation in the deserts Southern Syria Central Arabia winter drought killed off vegetation and dried up wells. MAYOR WALKER TO STOP NEWSPAPER NEW Walker has decided that "racketeering" must cease. He ordered the department and the license yesterday revoke licenses any news dealer and to remove from the streets charging more than the regular The move made at the demand of newspaper ers charged that early editions being sold at greatly increased price in "the biggest news dealer racket in the nation." OPERATION NECESSARY TO SAVE KING'S SIGHT William Holland Wilmer, noted specialist, day told the King of Siam that an the cataract his eye was "absolutely necessary" to save the sight of that optic,


Article from The Virginian-Pilot, September 27, 1932

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

Louis Carner, Acute Appendicitis Victim, Brought Here In Plane Reports Louis Carner former Maury athlete and now dent and of the aviation William and Mary had crashed plane yesterday resolved itself last night into the formation that stricken with an acute of Norfolk college plane and operated on here Last night the young man resting comfortably. The to Norfolk was 28 minutes and the speed saved Carner's Carner well known football player Maury DEPOSITORS EXPECT DIVIDEND Kinston Sept. Depositors in the Farmers Merchants Bank here closed ago, dividend payment this fall been but "nominal payment planned fall collections The bank suspended April, 1931 State