20066. Farmers & Merchants Bank (Ehrhardt, SC)

Bank Information

Episode Type
Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
state
Start Date
February 25, 1921
Location
Ehrhardt, South Carolina (33.097, -81.014)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini
Short Digest
b458a534

Response Measures

None

Description

Articles (Mar 17 and Mar 24, 1921) report the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Ehrhardt had been closed for several weeks and that receivers were appointed following a Feb 25 hearing. No run is described; receivers and liquidation indicate permanent closure. State bank examiner involved and court-appointed receivers point to government action/insolvency.

Events (3)
1. February 25, 1921 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
S. W. Copeland, J. M. Kirkland and E. E. Hughes have been appointed receivers for the Farmers and Merchants Bank, of Ehrhardt. The directors of the institution consented to the appointment of receivers to settle the affairs of the bank, which has been closed for sevral weeks past.
Source
newspapers
2. February 25, 1921 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
Directors consented to appointment of court receivers after the bank had been closed for several weeks; insolvency indicated by large poorly secured loans and difficulty meeting checks.
Newspaper Excerpt
Following a hearing before Judge Hayne F. Rice on February 25th, ... receivers for the Farmers and Merchants Bank, of Ehrhardt. ... the bank, which has been closed for sevral weeks past.
Source
newspapers
3. March 24, 1921 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
State Bank Examiner Makes Statement Regarding F. & M. Bank. ... There were a good many large loans insufficiently secured ... The liquidation of the bank is in the hands of a committe under order of the court ... it is believed that in the end they will make the closest possible collections. In this event, the depositors should ultimately be paid off.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)
1. March 17, 1921 The Bamberg Herald Bamberg, SC
Article from The Bamberg Herald, March 17, 1921

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Article Text

RECEIVERS APPOINTED. Three Gentlemen Named to Settle Affairs of F. and M. Bank. Following a hearing before Judge Hayne F. Rice on February 25th, S. W. Copeland, J. M. Kirkland and E. E. Hughes have been appointed receivers for the Farmers and Merchants Bank, of Ehrhardt. The directors of the institution consented to the appointment of receivers to settle the affairs of the bank, which has been closed for sevral weeks past. The receivers are authorized by the order of Judge Rice to receive and disburse funds in the name of the bank, and compensation is allowed by the order as follows: For E. E. Hughes, $100 per month, and for Messrs. Copeland and Kirkland, $50 per month each, the amount not to exceed, however, the sum of 5 per cent. of the funds SO collected and disbursed. Expenses actually incured in the discharge of their duty are also allowed. The following gentlemen are the directors of the Farmers and Merchants Bank: S. W. Copeland, J. M. Kirkland, E. E. Hughes, H. Karesh, G. W: Folk, D. E. Copeland, J. O. Barnes, J. E. McMillan, G. B. Clayton.

2. March 24, 1921 The Bamberg Herald Bamberg, SC
Article from The Bamberg Herald, March 24, 1921

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Article Text

DEPOSITORS MAY BE PAID. State Bank Examiner Makes Statement Regarding F. & M. Bank. In view of the widespread interest on the part of the depositors and customers of the Farmers and Merchants Bank of Ehrhardt, which recently went into the hands of receivers, The Herald requested James H. Craig, state bank examiner. for a statement concerning the condition of the bank's assets and liabilities. The statement of Mr. Craig, in part. follows: "I would say at the outset that it would be very difficult at this stage of liquidation to state what kind of settlement the receivers will be able to make of its outstanding obligations. "There were a good many large loans insufficiently secured, and a great many small loans secured about as average loans are in banks, upon which collections could not be made at this time. The bank had paid its bills payable down to a very reasonable amount, but perhaps this fact hampered them to some extent in finding ready cash to meet the checks of their depositors. "The liquidation of the bank is in the hands of a committe under order of the court, who are entirely familiar with the entire clientage of the bank and with the collateral even in chattel mortgages. It would take some time for these receivers to wind up the affairs of the bank, but it is believed that in the end they will make the closest possible collections. In this event, the depositors should ultimately be paid off."