702. Commercial Trust Company (Prescott, AZ)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
trust company
Start Date
November 25, 1925
Location
Prescott, Arizona (34.540, -112.469)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
c231addf

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles state the Commercial Trust and Savings Bank (Prescott) was closed by the state banking department on 1925-11-25 and placed in the hands of receiver Homer R. Wood. Multiple later articles discuss receivership actions and dividend payments to depositors, indicating permanent closure rather than a temporary suspension or reopening. Note: the prompt listed the bank as 'Commercial Trust Company' — OCR/articles show 'Commercial Trust and Savings bank'; I used the latter.

Events (3)

1. November 25, 1925 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Optimistic figures presented by Receiver Homer R. Wood, place the deficit at $167,099 ... expected to be of importance in the case of both the Jerome bank and the Commercial Trust and Savings bank at Prescott, which failed at the same time.
Source
newspapers
2. November 25, 1925 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Closed by the state banking department (ordered closed by regulator).
Newspaper Excerpt
the defunct Bank of Jerome, which was closed by the state banking department on November 25, 1925, ... establishing a precedent expected to be of importance in the case of both the Jerome bank and the Commercial Trust and Savings bank at Prescott, which failed at the same time.
Source
newspapers
3. June 4, 1926 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Approximately half a million dollars will be divided within the next few days among the 4,269 depositors in the three defunct banks of Yavapai county ... The largest dividend, which will reach a minimum of twenty-five cents on the dollar, will be paid in the Commercial Trust and Savings bank, while the Bank of Jerome will pay about a 20 per cent dividend. The Prescott State bank will pay only a trifle more than 15 cents.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (5)

Article from The Coconino Sun, March 19, 1926

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Article Text

STOCKHOLDERS IN DEFUNCT JEROME BANK MUST PAY The nine stockholders of the defunct Bank of Jerome, which was closed by the state banking department on November 25, 1925, were ordered to pay their statutory liability of $100 a share, which will net the bank $50,000, when a petition disclosing the condition of the bank's affairs was heard in the superior court at Prescott. Optimistic figures presented by Receiver Homer R. Wood, place the deficit at $167,099 of which $155,627 was checked off on notes designated as "no good." Opposition to the payment of the liability was voiced in behalf of two of the stockholders, who claimed they purchased the bank stock prior to the passing of the banking code and with the understanding they would not be liable for corporate debts, but was overruled by the court, establishing a precedent expected to be of importance in the case of both the Jerome bank and the Commercial Trust and Savings bank at Prescott, which failed at the same time.


Article from The Coconino Sun, June 4, 1926

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Article Text

PRESCOTT BANK WILL PAY FIRST DIVIDEND Approximately half a million dollars will be divided within the next few days among the 4,269 depositors in the three defunct banks of Yavapai county, according to orders entered in both divisions of the county superior court Wednesday morning when the petitions for permission to pay the dividends were presented by Homer R. Wood, ex-officio receiver for the three banks, through his attorneys. The largest dividend, which will reach a minimum of twenty-five cents on the dollar, will be paid in the Commercial Trust and Savings bank, while the Bank of Jerome will pay about a 20 per cent dividend. The Prescott State bank will pay only a trifle more than 15 cents.


Article from The Winslow Mail, August 13, 1926

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Article Text

Sheep Raisers Ask Extension in Notes PRESCOTT - Petitions seeking an extension of time on and alterations of the notes due the Prescott State bank and the Commercial Trust and Savings Bank. both defunct, from the Aubrey Land and Livestock company, were filed in the superior court this week by Homer R. Wood, ex-officio receiver for the two closed institutions. The company, which is owned by A. A. "Tony" Johns and J. A. Trenberth, is indebted to the two banks as a company and by the individual owners for approximately $275,000. secured by stock of the company. The extension and suggested alteration of the terms of the mortgages held by the bank would tend to increase the value of the notes, the petitions set forth, and would make it possible for the company to include other assets which would more definitely insure the ultimate payment of the entire indebtedness.


Article from Douglas Daily Dispatch, November 16, 1926

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Article Text

FARMERS' SITUATION DESPERATE, DECLARES BANK SUPERINTENDENT PHOENIX, Nov. 15 (R)-Describing the condition of the farmers and agricultural sections throughout Arizona as "desperate," P. T. Hammons, state superintendent of banks in his annual report as of October 1, made public today, said that the farmer's general obligation here after must form a basis for his future credit. "At the present time the farmers generally have secured their obligations by executing loans secured by roal and personal property. No further security is available for future relief," the report says, continuing: "The farmer is the very nucleus of our existence, prosperity and bust ness activity. If his operations are to be throttled or strangled for want of financial relief, there will be no substantial change in the generat business condition. The livestock industry very largely in the same posttion. "I am firmly convinced that our government can extend no greater stimulant to the general welfare of our country than to provide immediate relief to our farmers. Our local f1nancial institutions can go on further * *" Referring to the policy of the department in regard to failing banks, the report goes on: "Our efforts have been directed mainly to assisting ana encouraging the banks in meeting the trying situation that has confrontea them during the past year. We have endeavored to build up the strength of the banks by a policy of constructive criticism. "Had this department adopted an uncompromising attitude toward the banks and pursued a policy of rigidity with reference to frozen credits, excessive loans, depleted reserves and depreciated values, it would have resulted in the suspension of many banks which have stop been able to restore their reserves, get their paper into better condition The report recounts a year of growth reflecting the continued and increasing confidence of the people of Arizona in their banks, "caution in the face of adverse physicial conditions which we cannot control," and employment of additional help to "provide for closer inspection." Three bank failures during the year are brough: under review, two in Yavapai county, the Prescott State bank, Commercial Trust and Savingst bank of Prescott, and the Bank of Duncan, of Duncan, Greenlee county.


Article from The Coconino Sun, March 25, 1927

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Article Text

CITY OF PRESCOTT STOPS BANK SUITS After a brief talk by Mayor E. C. Seale to the members of the common council and a small group of visitors assembled at the regular meeting of the council of Prescott Monday night in which he stated that he had consulted numerous lawyers in the city, heavy taxpayers, depositors in the Prescott State bank and the Commercial Trust and Savings bank, and influential men unaffected by the closing of either or both banks in November, 1925, the mayor and common council went on record unanimously in favor of adopting a reslution prepared by City Attorney J. Andrew West dismissing the suit of the city as a prefered claimant to $175,000 that it had on deposit in the Prescott State bank at the time it closed its doors and went into the hands of Homer R. Wood, receiver.