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KANSAS CITY BANK FAILS National Bank of Commerce Forced to Suspend HEAVY WITHDRAWALS CAUSE Institution One of Largest and Oldest in Middle West---May Re-Open. Kansas City, Dec. 5. The National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City, Missouri, failed to open its doors this morning and is in the hands of Nation al Bank Examiner J. T. Bradley. The bank is one of the oldest and largest financial institutions in this city and was closed by order of its board of directors. The bank had been in a weaken ed condition since its fast statement on August 22 last, when it owed the clearing house nearly a million dollars. After a conference lasting all night, the clearing house officials could not see any way to aid the bank further The statement of the National Bank of Commerce in response to the last call shows that since August 22 its deposits had been reduced from $35, 000,000 to $16,942,694 and its loans and discounts cut down $4,000,000. The statement issued this morning fol lows: Resources. Loans and discounts $12,895,656 Five per cent redemption funds $50,000. Real estate $697,542. Cash and sight exchange $5,343,460. U. S. bonds par $1,280,000. Other high grade bonds $4,006,771. Total $24,276,429. Liabilities. Capital stock $1,000,000. Surplus and undivided profits $1. 639,735. Circulation accounts $1,000,000. Due depositors $16,942,694. Clearing house certificates $3,694, 000. Total $24,276,429. Dr. S. Woods is president of the Bank of Commerce, W. H. Winants, vice president, and William A. Rule, cashier. James F. Downing, president of the clearing house said: Causes of Failure. a "I consider the failure due to lack of conservatism. None of the other banks here have found it necessary to ask aid of the clearing house and I consider them perfectly sound. The Commerce failure will not affect them." The Bank of Commerce held deposits of many small banks of the Southwest. The witdrawals of these funds caused the trouble. There nad been no run by local depositors but the publication of the bank's statement this morning caused a big crowd of depositors to gather about the bank building with the intention of withdrawing their money. Cashier Rule said: Statement of Cashier. "We made the fight of our lives but the conditions were against us. The depositors will not lose one cent.' Dr. Woods is president also of the Commerce Trust Company which has deposits of $1,395,400, of which sixty is said to be on hand. This it is asserted not af the Commerce per fected company cent by will failure. be Bank Examiner Bradley said he would make every effort to get the bank on its feet but could not say definitely when it would reopen. Branch Bank Forced to Close. Two small branches of the National Bank of Commerce, one located at the Union Stock Yards, and the other wholesale district in the west closed their doors were the Stock in ing. bottoms, the They Yards this of morn- $300, Bank of Commerce with deposits 000, and the Union Avenue Bank of Commerce, with small deposits. There were no runs on any of the other banks and deposits were made as usual. The State Bank of Argentine, Kansas, with small deposits closed its doors this afternoon following a run. The stock of the bank is owned principally by the National Bank of Commerce of Kansas City. Its cashier wired the state bank examiner to take charge and said he hoped to be permitted to re-open tomorrow. Has Large Balan.e With New York Correspondent. New York, Dec. -The New York of the of Kansas City, Commerce correspondent National Missouri, Bank official of is National Bank. An institution said bank had a Kansas of the that First City today large that balance here. the with the First National Bank The stock market was affected by the (Continued on Page Eight.)