7842. Boston Five Cents Savings Bank (Boston, MA)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Run Only
Bank Type
savings bank
Start Date
July 29, 1921
Location
Boston, Massachusetts (42.358, -71.060)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
6b9598b1

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Multiple contemporaneous newspaper articles (late July–early August 1921) describe a multi-day run on the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank triggered by malicious propaganda/false rumors. The bank paid out large sums, kept extra cash on hand, refused outside aid, and ultimately the run ended—there is no mention of any suspension, receivership, or permanent closure.

Events (1)

1. July 29, 1921 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Malicious propaganda/false rumors (described as spread by radicals or plotters) prompted depositors to withdraw funds.
Measures
Bank kept large cash reserves and securities available for conversion; kept extra hours to pay depositors; refused offered financial aid.
Newspaper Excerpt
Several hundred persons, influenced, the police say, by malicious propaganda, were in line to withdraw their deposits from the Boston Five Cents Savings bank when the doors of that institution opened today, continuing a run which began in a mild form yesterday.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (10)

Article from Capital Journal, July 30, 1921

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Article Text

False Rumor Blamed For Run On Bank Boston, July 30.-Several hundred persons influenced, the police say, by malicious propaganda, were in line to withdraw their deposits from the Boston Five Cents Savings bank when the doors of that institution opened today, continuing a run which began in a mild form yesterday. Some of the depositors had been in front of the bank since 1 a. m. waiting to take out their money notwithstanding reassuring statements issued by the bank commissioner declaring the bank absolutely sound. The Northwestern Trust company, an uptown institution, today weathered a run that began yesterday. A false rumor of the trust company's condition started a line of timid depositors yesterday and caused many to withdraw funds today. When the bank opened this morning $1,000,000 in cash was on hand to pay all demands.


Article from The Ocala Evening Star, July 30, 1921

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Article Text

BEANTOWN BANK HAD PLENTY OF BONES Boston, July 30.-Several hundred persons, influenced by malicious propaganda, the police said, were in line to withdraw their deposits from the Boston Five Cents. Savings Bank when the doors opened today, continuing the run which began in mild form yesterday. Bank officials said they were not disturbed by the prospect of a run as there was two million dollars in cash in the vaults and over $22,000,000 in securities which could be converted into cash immediately.


Article from The Daily Times, July 30, 1921

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Article Text

PROPAGANDA CAUSE OF RUN ON BANKS PLENTY OF FUNDS HUNDREDS STORM BANKS The Northwestern Trust Company of Philadelphia Has Offered a Reward of Ten Thousand for Information Leading to Arrest of Person Starting False Rumors. Boston, July 30.-Several hundred persons influenced, the police say, by malicious propaganda, were in line to withdraw deposits from the Boston Five Cents Savings bank when the doors of that institution opened today continuing a run which began in mild form yesterday. Some of the depositors had been in front of the bank since 1 a. m. waiting to take out their money, notwithstanding reassuring statements by the bank commissioner. Five women fainted and others became hysterical when mounted policemen turned back a score who broke through the police guard. No one was injured. Officials of the bank said they were not disturbed by the prospect of a run as there was two million in cas hin the vaults and 22 millions in other securities which could be converted into cash at once.


Article from Perth Amboy Evening News, July 30, 1921

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Article Text

Run on Boston Bank. BOSTON, July 30. .-Several - hundred persons influenced, the police say, by malicious propoganda, were in line to withdraw deposits from the Boston five cents savings bank. Continuing a run which began in mild form yesterday some depositors had been in front of the bank since 1 a. m. A statement by bank officials declared the bank absolutely sound.


Article from Grand Forks Herald, July 30, 1921

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Article Text

FALSE STATEMENTS START RUN ON BANKS Boston, July 30.-Several hundred persons influenced, the police say, by malicious propaganda, were in line to withdraw their deposits from the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank when the doors of that institution opened today, continuing a run which began in a mild form yesterday, notwithstanding reassuring statements, issued by the bank commissioner declaring the bank absolutely sound.


Article from New-York Tribune, July 31, 1921

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Article Text

Bank Declines 5 Million Aid In Frenzied Run Boston Five Cents Savings Institution Keeps Extra Hours to Pay Throngs of Excited Depositors Crowds Clash With Police Rush Blamed on Radical Plot; Offers Made to Buy Accounts at Discount Special Dispatch to The Tribune BOSTON, July 30.-Financial assistance amounting to $5,000,000 was refused to-day by the Boston Five Cent Savings Bank, while a second run was in progress and a large detachment of police was having difficulty restraining thousands of panicstricken depositors. Statements issued by officials of the Five Cent Savings Bank, by officials of other banks, and by Bank Commissioner Joseph C. Allen, testified to the strength of the Five Cent Bank, but these statements failed to reassure the depositors who stormed the bank to withdrawals. Police officials were working throughout the day to trace rumors, declared to have been circulated by radicals, which were responsible for the big run. Policeman Trampled by Crowd Women became hysterical as the disorderly crowd struggled before the bank doors, a policeman was swept off his feet by the rush, and another was punched on the nose by an excited woman depositor. Early to-day other banks in Boston offered support to the savings bank, volunteering to supply large sums to assist in paying depositors. Officials of the bank on which there has been a run for two days, refused the offer, declaring the bank was well able to pay all depositors as fast as bankbooks were presented. Furthermore,


Article from Evening Star, August 1, 1921

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Article Text

RUN ON BANK CONTINUES. Repeated Assurances That Institution Is Sound Without Effect. BOSTON, August 1.-Notwithstanding reassuring statements by bank officials and the state bank commissioner. the run on the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank which began Friday continued unabated today. Patrolmen and mounted police kept the crowd of anxious depositors in a line which extended for about eight blocks from the bank entrance on School street. W. R. Evans, president of the bank, announced that the institution would continue to pay indefinitely. "We have in quick assets more than $30,000,000 which can be converted within three days," he said. adding that the bank was absolutely sound and there was no valid reason for the run.


Article from Bisbee Daily Review, August 2, 1921

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Article Text

BELIEVE RUN ENDED Belief that the BOSTON, Aug. 1. run on the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank which began Friday, was nearing an end was expressed tonight by officials of the company. When the bank closed at the regular hour only 250 persons were in line waiting to make withdrawals.


Article from The Washington Times, August 3, 1921

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Article Text

TO PUNISH PLOTTERS IN RUN ON BOSTON BANK BOSTON, Aug. 3.-The rush to withdraw savings from the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank ended yesterday after more than $1,400,000 had been paid out since Friday Bank, city and Government officials here say the "run" was carefully engineered by interests inimical to the bank, which was known to have been absolutely sound. Governor Cox today said those responsible for the "run" would be held answerable.


Article from The Producers News, September 9, 1921

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Article Text

Meanwhile the enemies of labor in Massachusetts are doing their best to discredit the defense of the two men. Friends of Sacco and Vanzetti were blamed in the newspapers here "by a high state official" for starting a run on the Boston Five Cents Savings Bank, the theory being that the rush was inspired for revenge. This has, of course, been shown to be false and preposterous.