7312. German Security Bank (Louisville, KY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
state
Start Date
September 29, 1873
Location
Louisville, Kentucky (38.254, -85.759)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
72c9bb32

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Newspapers describe a small run on Louisville banks around Sept. 29, 1873, tied to the wider financial crisis. Subsequent dispatch (Oct 4) explicitly states German Security Bank did not suspend and has promptly paid every demand. Therefore the bank experienced a minor run but remained open.

Events (1)

1. September 29, 1873 Run
Cause
Macro News
Cause Details
General financial exigencies/Panic of 1873 leading to currency shortage and nervousness among depositors in Louisville.
Measures
Paid every demand; continued to cash checks (did not suspend).
Newspaper Excerpt
There was some little run on the banks Saturday, but checks were promptly cashed and no panic occurred.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Public Ledger, September 29, 1873

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Article Text

The Financial Situation. LOUISVILLE, September 29.- A largely attended meeting of bank presidents, cashiers and prominent financiers of the city was held in the gentlemen's parlor of the Galt House, yesterday afternoon and evening. The meeting was called to consider upon the present exigencies of the financial situation, and after long and earnest discussion, it was resolved to take the same action as that adopted by the association of banks in New York and the other great financial centers of the country, viz: to suspend payment for the present in currency, except in small checks and to adopt the plan of settlement through a clearing house by means of certified checks and certificates based upon pledges of securities deposited with the Clearing House Association. The following banks were represented: Western Financial Corporation, Bank of Louisville, Planters' Na tional Bank, Peoples' Bank, Farmers' and Drovers' Bank, Citizens' Bank, Louisville City National Bank, Second National Bank, Merchants' Bank, Falls City Tobacco Bank, Bank of America, German Security Bank. JEFFERSONVILLE, IND., September 29. The Ohio Falls Car Works has suspended operations in order to take a calm survey of the situation. James Howard & Co., boat builders, paid two thirds wages on Saturday, and will not suspend work. There was some little run on the banks Saturday, but checks were promptly cashed and no panic occurred.


Article from Nashville Union and American, October 4, 1873

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Article Text

LOUISVILLE, Oct. -The German Security Bank is not among those that suspended, as published in the dispatches to some distant papers. It has promptly paid every demand on it. CINCINNATI, Oct. 3.-The financial trouble is beginning to show itself in a desire on the part of a number of manufacturers to curtail their W orking force, or reduce the time of their employees. This is more due to the trouble of procuring currency than the affect they apprehend the stringency will have on the trade os the interior. A few manufacturers have already reduced their working force, and others will follow unless changes comes next week.