Farmers & Merchants Bank (Grand Rapids, MI)

Episode Information

Episode UID
74001371456
Episode Type
Suspension โ†’ Closure
Bank Type
private
Bank ID
7400137 routing
Routing Number
74-0013
Start Date
April 1, 1921*
Location
Grand Rapids, Michigan (42.961, -85.656)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
1d03fa82cce401b1

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles state the bank closed last spring (spring 1921) and discuss payouts to depositors; no reopening mentioned.

Events (1)

1. April 1, 1921* Suspension
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Internal malfeasance/forgery by the cashier and doubtful assets (forged note used to inflate assets) leading to closure
Newspaper Excerpt
the bank, which closed last spring
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from South Bend News-Times, August 13, 1921

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Article Text

Indiana and Michigan News Wire Brief GRAND RAPIDS Albert J. Carthe Michigan Good Roads associapenter. who was charged with mistion and the State Hospital association will be held here August 30 to treating a 14-year-old girl, a state September 1 inclusive. The Mich charge from Coldwater. placed in his igan Knights of Pythias will hold home. has been sentenced by SuperSeptheir state convention here . ior Court Judge M. L. Dunham to a tember. term of 20 years in the Jackson SAGINAW-At the request of the state prison. GRAND RAPIDS-The American state highway department the coun ty road commission is making a surFood Stock company has disposed of vey of traffic on trunk line roads. Its its piggery at Sullivan to the Municipurpose is to acquaint road builders pal Pig Farm corporation of this with the type of traffic for which to city, but acceptance of the property make provision. Similar surveys are is being delayed by the city commisbeing made in other counties. sion, which refuses a transfer of the HASTINGSCongressmar John C city garbage contract until the Ketcham and family motored amount claimed due for garbage is through Washington Mrs. Ketch paid. GRAND RAPIDS-The fall trade am's condition is greatly improved since her operation. John, jr., his extension tour of the Grand Rapids son. and daughter. Ruth are to at wholesalers will be held Oct. 4 to 7. The wholesalers will visit White tend high school here. ST. LOUIS-Because of a local ice Cloud. Muskegon Hart. Ludington, Manistee, Mt. Pleasant. Ashley, shortage, the delivery of ice is being restricted to the business district of Greenville and intermediate points. GRAND RAPIDS 5--Stockholders of the city. The board of trade is in the Farmers & Merchants bank vestigating the possibilities for the location of an ice plant. which has been assigned to the CHARLOTTE-- The new city charMichigan Trust company, have paid ter is completed and was delivered to nearly $125,000 of the $150,000 COVGov. Groesbeck Thursday for his ap. erage asked by the depositors. proval. CHATHAM-Nine upper peninsuHARRISON Three men were senlar boys and girls, winners in the tenced in circuit court today for serlive stock judging contest in connecious crimes. Holsey Shipman, 45. to tion with the upper peninsular farmJackson for 20 years: two young era' round up here this month, in men to Ionia for short terms: Ward three picked teams will attend the Louch, sent to Jackson for three state fair in Detroit with all expenses years for burglary after violating paid. FLINT-The annual meetings of terms of probation.


Article from South Bend News-Times, February 27, 1922

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Article Text

CASHIER COOK FOUND GUILTY OF FORGERY GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. Feb. 26. Frank J. Cook. former cashier of the Farmers & Merchants' bank. ficial and reone time county garded as influential in republican political affairs in Kent county, Saturday afternoon was convicted on a charge of forging the name of Williams Degolia, Middleville farmer. to a note for nearly $7,000. A stay of proceedings was granted by Judge M. L. Dunham and bail was raised to $10.000. The prosecution charged that Cook while cashier of the bank. which closed last spring. placed Degolia's name on a note to increase the bank's assets. The note was later sold. Cook and his assistant. Charles A. Millsfi insisted Degolia had given Cook authority to negotiate notes whenever necessary to cover overdrafts in Degolia's accounts. Degolia was being financed in lumber deals by the bank. Cook was once county register of deeds. served several terms as county auditor and for nearly two years was county purchasing agent. He was suspended by the auditors fol. !owing his arrest. There is pending against the directors of the bank and an auditing company, a $500,000 libel action brought by Cook. who avers his reputation was injureed after the board published an audit and report made by the auditing company of the bank's financial condition.