Fergus Falls National Bank - Fergus Falls, MN

Bank Information

Episode Type: Run Only
Bank Type: national
Bank ID: 2648
Charter Number: 2648
Start Date: December 4, 1931
Location: Fergus Falls, Minnesota (46.283, -96.078)

Metadata

Model: gpt-5-mini
Short Digest: 05827b10

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals

Description

Multiple contemporaneous newspaper accounts (Dec 4–5, 1931) describe depositors running on the Fergus Falls National Bank after two other local banks closed. The bank paid depositors, stayed open late, served coffee/doughnuts, and depositors returned funds the following day. No suspension or closure is reported.

Events (2)

1. March 15, 1882 Chartered

Source: historical_nic

2. December 4, 1931 Run

Cause: Local Banks
Cause Details: Run developed after closing of two other local banks (First State bank and American State bank), which spooked depositors into withdrawing funds.
Measures: Kept doors open past usual closing time, paid depositors, served coffee and doughnuts to waiting customers; president publicly challenged anyone to break the institution.
Newspaper Excerpt: Friday the run continued on both banks, with the First National passing out doughnuts and coffee to the line of waiting depositors.
Source: newspapers

Newspaper Articles (3)

1. December 4, 1931 The Bismarck Tribune Bismarck, Mandan, ND

Article from The Bismarck Tribune, December 4, 1931

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Article Text

Scared Depositors Given Free Lunch . Fergus Falls, Minn., Dec. 4.-(AP)Alarmed depositors who Friday started a run on the First National bank because of the closing of two other local banks, not only received their money but also coffee and doughnuts. Following closing of the First State bank Wednesday, depositors began a run on the American State bank which, officials said, also closed because it did not have sufficient time to acquire cash to satisfy depositors' demands. Thursday the First National and the Fergus Falls National banks kept open until 6 o'clock paying depositors. Friday the run continued on both banks, with the First National passing out doughnuts and coffee to the line of waiting depositors.

2. December 5, 1931 The Minneapolis Journal Minneapolis, MN

Article from The Minneapolis Journal, December 5, 1931

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Article Text

Money Flows Back to Bank In Fergus Falls Depositors Return Funds After Run in Which President Challenged Anyone to Break Institution Depositors in the First National Bank at Fergus Falls, which with the Fergus Falls National Bank Friday suffered heavy run, Saturday returning withdrawn funds the institution. Scenes excitement when long lines of depositors demanded their money were by lunches of cofand icecream served the bank, replaced by quiet returning the bank with their funds to reopen their accounts. The depositors at the height of run Friday were greeted with the challenge from Elmer Adams, president the institution to to break this The line persisted until the bank remaining six hours beyond the regular time return money to the withdrawers. "It's all over now," Mr. Adams said today. 'People are coming return their funds. We showed Continued on Page 2

3. December 5, 1931 The Brainerd Daily Dispatch Brainerd, MN

Article from The Brainerd Daily Dispatch, December 5, 1931

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Article Text

Serve Doughnuts, Coffee to Halt Run on Bank Dec. FOR Dry Fergus cord delivered. Officials local banks today had staved off run by coffee and doughbuts with his eash each The run developed yesterday after the closing of other banks. Ave. Officers of the First National and Forgus Falls National banks backed up their claim that they had ample funds pay all depositors by keeping doors open past the usual closing Phone time as well as serving refreshments.