First National Bank & Trust Company (Woodbridge, NJ)

Episode Information

Episode UID
829901583
Episode Type
Run β†’ Suspension β†’ Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
82990 national
Charter Number
8299
Start Date
November 30, 1931
Location
Woodbridge, New Jersey (40.558, -74.285)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
91818a3ecbad6e94

Response Measures

Full suspension, Books examined

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
61.7%
Date receivership started
1931-12-02
Date receivership terminated
1940-11-08
Share of assets assessed as good
26.8%
Share of assets assessed as doubtful
70.9%
Share of assets assessed as worthless
2.4%

Description

Assistant cashier was arrested for embezzlement and the bank was placed in hands of federal examiners; later a receiver handled claims.

Events (5)

1. July 9, 1906 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. November 30, 1931 Run
Cause
Bank Specific Adverse Info
Cause Details
Heavy withdrawals and depositor agitation contemporaneous with closure and later discovery/arrest of assistant cashier for embezzlement.
Measures
Members of the Board of Directors passed out notices; bank employees met examiners and doors were closed.
Newspaper Excerpt
There was run on the bank this although the closing caused stir in the the the nity. Hore than 100 the rain during the morning read the morning. depositors called and were greeted by the Small groups gathered outside
Source
newspapers
3. November 30, 1931 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Board placed the bank in hands of federal examiners and suspended operations; federal examiners took charge.
Newspaper Excerpt
the institution placed the bank in the hands of federal examiners...the doors bank were closed...the institution will be suspended.
Source
newspapers
4. December 2, 1931 Receivership
Source
historical_nic
5. January 29, 1933 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Walter Lewis, receiver for the First National Bank of Woodbridge, seeks $3,005.16 with interest from December 28, 1931, in Common Pleas Court action ... Walter Lewis, receiver for the First National Bank and Trust Company. of Woodbridge, asks $1,586.48 with interest from December 28, 1931, in Supreme Court action started today against ...
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)

Article from The Central New Jersey Home News, November 30, 1931

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Article Text

EXAMINERS TAKE OVER BANK Woodbridge First National Bank and Trust Co. in Hands of Examiners Nov. The First National Bank and Trust Company quarters 106 street, charbank closed morning the Board Directors the institution placed the bank in the hands of federal examiners. notice was placed on the front door of the bank advising deand others that the bank had and that now the hands of the Federal examiners arrived at the took over charge the institution. Until can made the affairs bank the institution will be suspended. When the bank employes arrived they met by McCans, federal bank examiner them that the had been placed his charge The went desks and the doors bank were closed. Shortly before notice was pasted the doors of the bank bank the direction the the Currency is charge of Nation Bank Closed by orders of the Board of Directors. "A. B. McCANS. No at the either Mr. McCans the It learned conferwith Mr. McCans the week-end and decision was reached to the bank to conThe federal examining the books the for the or ten days, was learned today. Two Banks Merged The First National Bank and Trust Company is instiAbout eighteen months ago, the First National Bank Woodbridge and the Woodbridge National under name First Bank quarters the building of the Woodbridge Bank The officers of the bank Wilpresident; William cashier: Joseph Grace, assistant W. Leon Harned, assistant cashier The Board of Directors is of William Brown, M. Demarest, William HarTurner Frank Dr. Joseph Mark, H Thayer Martin, John F. Ryan and Guy Weaver last fiscal statement the the report showed 29, 1931, resources There was run on the bank this although the closing caused stir in the the the nity. Hore than 100 the rain during the morning read the morning. depositors called and were greeted by the Small groups gathered outside the deposits of their savings in the Members of the Board of Direcpassed out the during the and there reports that help would be forthcoming the opening of the bank at an early date. Closing Voluntary (By The Press) NEW YORK, Nov. The National Bank and Trust Co. Woodbridge, was closed today by of its board of the the National in New York. The suspension, It was said, was volun- The Woodbridge bank had deapproximately was capitalized $150,000. had $15,000 profits of $34,000. Details of the closing were unavailable


Article from The Brooklyn Daily Times, December 1, 1931

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Article Text

BANK CASHIER ARRESTED New Jersey Institution Closed. But Plans to Reopen. Woodbridge, N. J., Dec Jo. seph Grace, assistant cashier of the First National Bank and Trust Company of Woodbridge. was held for action the Federal Grand Jury on a charge of embezzlement today. The bank was closed yesterday afternoon by Federal bank examiners, but officers of the institution said plan of reorganization was under way and that the bank would shortly be reopened. Grace arrested on orders of the Federal bank examiners He was taken to the Hudson County Jail at Jersey City to await the Grand Jury's action. The amount of money involved was not disclosed.


Article from The Brooklyn Daily Times, December 1, 1931

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Article Text

BANK CASHIER ARRESTED New Jersey Institution Closed, But Plans to Reopen. Woodbridge, Dec. Grace, of the First National Bank and Trust Company of was held for action of the Federal Grand Jury on charge of embezzlement today. The bank was closed yesterday afternoon Federal bank but officers of the said plan of reorganization was under and that the bank would shortly be reopened. Grace arrested orders the Federal bank taken to the Hudson County at Jersey City to await the Grand Jury's action. The amount of money was not closed.


Article from The Central New Jersey Home News, January 29, 1933

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Article Text

Bank Receiver Sued for $800 By Rahway Man Bell's Drug Store, Rahway, Claims Dèposit Never Was Credited Claiming that he deposited $800 in the closed First National Bank of Woodbridg eon November 14. 1931, and was refused a return of the money, Saul Bell, trading as Bell's Drug Store, 38 East Grand street, Rahway, has started Supreme Court action against Walter Lewis, receiver for the bank, the First National Bank of Woodbridge, and J. Joseph Grace of 175 Granvill avenue, Woodbridge, former cashier of the bank. Bell alleges, that he never received credit for the funds by reason of the negligence, carlessness or willful act of J. Joseph Grace, recently sentenced to serve 6 months in state prison for misappropriating funds. Bennett and Denison Cranbury asks $606,63 with interest from May 8, claimed due on note from Dominicus C. Mershon of Main Cranbury, in Supreme Court action instituted Saturday. The First National Bank of Englishtown asks $252.26 with interest from December 19, in Supreme Court action instituted against Mores Shapanka and Morris Fischler, both of Jamesburg.


Article from The Central New Jersey Home News, April 11, 1933

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Article Text

BANK RECEIVER FILES SUIT FOR COLLECTION Walter Lewis, receiver for the First National Bank of Woodbridge, seeks $3,005.16 with interest from December 28, 1931, in Common Pleas Court action against John and Leon S. Rymsha of Sewaren and Fords, respectively, the amount being claimed due on note. The Federated Textiles, Inc., of New York City, asks $754.82 with interest, from William Gross, trading as the Gross Pleas action instituted today the amount being claimed on a book account.


Article from The Central New Jersey Home News, January 24, 1934

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Article Text

BANK RECEIVER FILES SUIT Walter Lewis, receiver for the First National Bank and Trust Company. of Woodbridge, asks $1,586.48 with interest from December 28, 1931, in Supreme Court action started today against