7472. First National Bank (Whitesburg, KY)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
10433
Charter Number
10433
Start Date
June 1, 1932*
Location
Whitesburg, Kentucky (37.118, -82.827)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
6f6238a8

Response Measures

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

Other: Placed in charge of Comptroller of the Currency; receiver later and RFC loan authorized

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
82.7%
Date receivership started
1932-06-17
Date receivership terminated
1935-07-09
Share of assets assessed as good
23.4%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
57.3%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
19.3%

Description

Newspaper of June 16, 1932 reports the First National Bank of Whitesburg closed by board resolution June 15, 1932 and placed in charge of the Comptroller (national examiner). The article mentions heavy withdrawals over the prior month. By Nov 29, 1932 a federal report lists Whitesburg, First National Bank (receiver) receiving RFC assistance, indicating the bank went into receivership and did not resume normal independent operations.

Events (5)

1. August 15, 1913 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. June 1, 1932* Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Sustained withdrawals over the prior month as depositors withdrew funds to meet obligations amid severe local financial stringency and illiquid assets; article implies tight liquidity rather than a discrete rumor.
Measures
None specific other than later board decision to close and turn affairs over to Comptroller; no temporary pay-limit measures described.
Newspaper Excerpt
There has present been run on the bank, is sometimes said, but in the last month people with many in the bank have been taking money out to meet their obligations
Source
newspapers
3. June 15, 1932 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Board of directors resolved to close the bank and turned affairs over to the Comptroller of the Currency; national examiner posted notice June 15, 1932.
Newspaper Excerpt
This bank ... is ordered by the board that this bank ... be closed and affairs of the bank be turned over to the Comptroller of the Currency ... This bank under the Comptroller of the Currency, is in charge of A. B. Farris, National Examiner, closed by resolution of its board of directors. This June 15, 1932.
Source
newspapers
4. June 17, 1932 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
5. November 29, 1932 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Whitesburg, First National Bank (receiver) $71,500.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Mountain Eagle, June 16, 1932

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Article Text

CLOSED DOORS WED. BANK FIRST Of All Things Happens Least Expected At Whitesburg about Yesterday morning of stando'clock, crowd men a the First Nain front of ing its cashier, J. tional Bank saw the front door M. Day come to and the following inside post notice: is ordered by the board that this bank of directors and that the assets be closed and affairs of the bank be turned over to the Comptroller of the Currency in order the assets for to conserve the benefit of the depositors. (Signed) P. LEWIS, Pres. JAMES M. Day, Cashier Holbrook Charles Hogg Herman Hale Lewis E. Harvie James Frazier French Hawk Bastin, Directors." the direcFor an hour or SO tors of the bank had been in matters and session considering arrived this conclusion. had at After the public realized the meaning of the notice, wave of surprise, chagrin and exwent about. Nobody, citement had thought that apparently, considered the strong the bank, and soundest in Eastern Kentucky, could or would have take such steps to protect to its depositors. To say the least, the closing of the bank, coming as it does the financial conditions when were already at the very bottom, makes most desperate situation among our people. Along about twelve o'clock in the day, bank inspector and exA. B. Faris, of Richaminer, mond, called from duty at Jenkins, arrived at the bank and posted the following notice: "This bank under the Comptroller of the Currency, is in charge of A. B. Farris, National Examiner, closed by resolution of its board of directors. This June 15, 1932." A. FARIS." Just what the bank's assets or its financial condition is, of course, we are not able to know, but it is our opinion that all its assets could be realized on would be much, more than solvent, and be able to its pay depositors dollar for dollar. No doubt its present trouble on which paper it cannot rely on or realize on at the time. There has present been run on the bank," is sometimes said, but in the last month people with many in the bank have been money it out to meet their obtaking ligations, and money being SO scarce, very little of the money taken out was redeposited. Knowing personally the rectors of the bank, it seems highly apparent that unquestionably the bank will re-open for business in short again time. At least this is the hope hold out to our readers. Whitesburg and the great coun ty of Letcher cannot an institution. Soon after the bank closed, we had occasion to have short talk with Judge James Lewis. president of the bank, and says while he did not intimate or down opinion of the who express any bank's future, he assured us down had grounds for be that no one gling that the bank's close easier lieving was due to anything except the stringency of the country's when ances and the great decline in would the value of property on which up had been made. Only lateloans or since the First National ly, you took over the old assets of the of old Letcher State Bank, has Mr. Lewis been a director or president of the bank, and since this time very few loans have been made. It is the old loans made when property was high they that have become oppressive to get the bank. In speaking further, said that it looks Mr. Lewis like bank with $50,000 capital, $38,000 undivided profits and $45,000 banking house and fixtures should be in reasoncondition to come back ably fair business in a reasonable into time. held for the Leander Ingram, of William Rainwater, killing bond and was releasexecuted from jail. John D. DixOur fine friend, on of Jeremiah, was in the city extended business and kindly interest to the Eagle. Elliott and Johnson, young State University students, are at the Kenucky entertaining Theatre They are Pike tonight. County boys. Did the Hazard Herald conthat the Kentucky deleclude to the Democratic nagation tional convention could not read when it said that E. L. Frazier would be its reading clerk? Mr. will as assistant Frazier serve clerk of the reading vention.


Article from The Advocate-Messenger, November 29, 1932

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Article Text

KENTUCKY BANKS Lcans Institutions In October Announced. WASHINGTON, D. C., Nov. 29. (INS) Twenty-one Kentucky banks were granted or authorized to borrow loans from the Reconstruction Finance Corporation during October, their report shows They were: Campbellsville, United Loan and Deposit Bank, $6,500. Carrollton, National Bank, $20, 000. Glasgow, First National Bank (receiver), $71,000 authorized. Harlan, First State Bank, $200,000 authorized. Harrodsburg, State Bank and Trust Co., $15,532. Henderson, Ohio Valley Banking and Trust Co., $306,000. Hindman, Bank of Hindman, $13.500. First National Bank Jenkins, (receiver), $20,350. Jonesville, Deposit Bank, $12, 500. Lewisport, Bank of Lewisport, $7,500. Louisa, National Bank, $25,000. Lynch, National Bank, $20,000. National Bank, Morganfield, $34,000. Paintsville, National Bank, $63,500. authorized. Princeton, First National Bank, $60,000. Shelby County Trust & Banking Co., Sulphur, Peoples Bank, $4,000. Verona, Bank, $18,000. Whitesburg, First National Bank (receiver) $71,500. Wilmore, First American Bank, $7,500. Northville, Deposit Bank, $3,000.