Bank of Washington (Washington, DC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
5743670290693
Episode Type
Run โ†’ Suspension โ†’ Unsure
Bank Type
trust
Bank ID
574367029 hash
Start Date
September 26, 1857
Location
Washington, District of Columbia (38.895, -77.036)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
a8a8ddaa64777eee

Response Measures

None

Description

Sources report a run and then suspension but no clear evidence of final reopening or permanent closure.

Events (2)

1. September 26, 1857 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Panic triggered by suspensions and distress at other banks leading depositors to withdraw from Washington banks.
Measures
Paid specie for small notes and fives initially; later limited payments to fives and small checks.
Newspaper Excerpt
There is an unusual crowd at the bank. A heavy run was made on all the banks.
Source
newspapers
2. September 28, 1857 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Following heavy withdrawals and larger-than-anticipated specie demands caused by the panic among other banks, the Bank of Washington suspended specie payments entirely (after partial suspension).
Newspaper Excerpt
The Bank of Washington and the Patriotic Bank ... have now altogether suspended.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (11)

Article from Worcester Daily Spy, September 28, 1857

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Article Text

The Washington Banks. WASHINGTON Sept. 26.-The Bank of the Metropolis closed firm. The commercial community is generally satisfied with the course of the others, and all are confident of their stability and resumption at an early day. A considerable amount of deposits has been made in the Patriotic, and Bank of Washington, since their suspension. The Patriotic is redeeming its fives and small checks. There is an unusual crowd at the bank.


Article from New-York Daily Tribune, September 28, 1857

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Article Text

BANKS OF WASHINGTON WASHINGTON. Saturday, Sept. 26, 1857. The Bank of Washington suspended specie payments on everything but fives and small checks. The Patriotic Bank is receiving its 58 and small checks. There is an unusual crowd at the bank. The Bank of the Metropolis have resolved to continue full payments, feeling secure against all demands. The partial suspension of the Banks of Washington is only temporary. 6 P. M. The Bank of the Metropolis closed firm. The commercial community is generally satisfied with the course of the others, and are confident of their ability to resume at an early day. A considerable amount of deposits has been made in the Patriotic Bank and Bauk of Washington since their suspension. The Bank of the Metropolis redeemed all its notes and paid all the checks up to the closing hour, and feels abundantly able to meet all demands made against it.


Article from The New York Herald, September 29, 1857

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Article Text

THE WASHINGTON BANKS. W ASHINGTON, Sout 28, 1857. The trustees of the Bank of the Metropolts say that the panic created by the suspension of other bank. baring created much larger demands than were anticipated, ibal that institution is under the painful necessity of suspend ing specte payments for the present The trustees remark that they will make every exertion to resume as speedity as possible, and that the bank paid out about $66,000 in specie on Saturday. The Bank of Washington and the Patriotte Bank, both of which paid small sums on Saturday, have now altogether suspended specie pay ments. The savings banks pay either in the bills of the banine of the city or Virginia money, and demand the six days no tice from:-depositors Virginia money is selling here at a discount of five per cent, and the tendency is still downwart Business is nearly paralysed, and uncurrent money is altogether unsaleable


Article from Richmond Enquirer, September 29, 1857

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Article Text

THE WASHINGTON CITY BANKS. WASHINGTON Sept 28.-The Bank of the Metropolis paid about $65,000 dollars on Saturday, hut was obliged to suspend totally to-day. The Bank of Washington and the Patriotic Bank followed the example. A heavy run was made on all the banks.Virginia notes are five per cent discount, with 8 further tendency downward. Uncurrent money is unsaleable. Business is paralized.


Article from The Daily Dispatch, September 29, 1857

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Article Text

TOTAL SUSPENSION IN WASHINGTON. WASHINGTON, Sept. 28.-The Bank of the Metropolis, after paying out $65,000 in specie Saturday, has been obliged to suspend totally to-day. The Bank of Washington and the Patriotic Bank have followed the example. There is a heavy run on all the banks. The Virginia notes are at 5 per cent discount, with a further tendency downward. Uncurrent money is unsaleable. Business is paralyzed. [SECOND DISPATCH.] WASHINGTON, Sept. 28-8 P. M-The merchants here take the notes of Washington banks at par.There is no fixed rate of exchange for Virginia notes.


Article from The Evansville Daily Journal, September 29, 1857

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Article Text

Bank Suspensions in Washington. WASHINGTON. Sept 23-M A notice posted on the Bank of Metropolis savs that the panic causing the suspension of other banks, having caused a much larger demand for specie than was anticipated, that institution is under the painful necessity of suspending specie payments for the present. The Trustees remark that they will make every exertion to resume; that the bank paid out $65,000 on Seturday. The Bank of W ashington and the Patriotic Bank, which paid only small sumson Saturday, have not altogether suspended. The Savings Bank pays either in city bank notes or Virginia money, and demand the six day's notice from depositors, Virginia money is at a discount of 5 per cent, and the tendency is still downward.Business nearly suspended, and uncurrent money unsalcable.


Article from Wilmington Journal, October 2, 1857

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Article Text

Washington City Banks. W ASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-The Bank of Washington is paying specie only for $5 notes and small checks. The others continue as usual. SECOND DESPATCH. WASHINGTON, Sept. 26.-The suspension by the Bank of Washington is only partial. The Bank of the Metropolis has resolved to continue full specie payments, feeling confident of its ability to meet all demands. The Patriotic Bank is redeeming its fives and small checks. The Banks are all crowded with bill holders and others. W ASHINTON, Sept. 26.-The Bank of the Metropolis closed firm, and every confidence exists in the Patriotic Bank and the Bank of Washington. The merchants express satisfaction, and considerable amounts were deposited in the suspended banks after the suspensions was announced.


Article from The Weekly Minnesotian, October 3, 1857

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Article Text

More Failures in Washington. WASHINGTON, Sept. 28. A notice posted on Bank of the Metropolis, says that the panic created by suspension of other banks, having caused a much larger demand for specie than was anticipated, that institution is under the painful necessity of suspending specie payment for the present.The trustees announce that they will make every exertion to resume. and that the Bank paid out $65,000 on Saturday. The Banks of Washington and Patriotic, which had only small sums on Saturday, have now altogether suspended. The Savings Banks pay either in City Banks or in Virginia money, and demand the six days notice from depositors. Virginia money is at a discount of 5 per cent. and the tendency is still downwards.Business is nearly paralyzed, and uncurrent money unsaleable.


Article from The Weekly Minnesotian, October 3, 1857

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Article Text

weeks notice. The Banks were besieged before 10 and is transacting business, but paying no specie. The Mechani's Bank is paying specie for tens. The Girard Bank refuses to do any business and renders no satisfaction to depositors and bill holders. The Girard Bank has now come to terms, partially redeeming fives with specie, but refusing to honor checks of dep sitors. Most of the other banks were making checks good. There is no concert of action among the banks ; each is apparently taking a different course. The Bank of North America is paying specie for tens, but issuing no note or check. The Bank of Commerce is refusing specie, but is paying notes for checks. ASHINGTON, Sept. 26. The Bank of Washington suspended specie payments on everything but fives and small checks. The Board of Directors of the Metropolis and Patriotic Bank are now in conference and it is not yet known what action will be taken thereon. THIRD DISPATCH. The Bank of the Metropolis has concluded to continue full payment and are feeling themselves secure against all demands. The Patriotic Bank is redeeming its fives and small checks. There is a continual crowd at Banks. NEW YORK, Sept. 26. Banks are all strong, and the utmost confidence is exhibited in them. The Banks have issued a circular on account of the suspension of the Philadelphia Bank, notifying their customers that all collections maturing out of the city of New York, will, at the option of the dealer, be either recalled or paid.


Article from Semi-Weekly Standard, October 3, 1857

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Article Text

The Washington City Banks W ASHINGTON, Sept. 28.-The Bank of the Metropolis paid about $65,000 on Saturday, but was obliged to suspend totally to-dav. The Bank of Washington and the Patriotic Bank followed the example. A heavy run was made on all the banks. Virginia notes are five per cent discount, with a further tendency downward. Uncurrent.money is unsaleable. Business is paralized.


Article from Grand River Times, October 7, 1857

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Article Text

Financial Crisis. A General Suspension of Banks. WASHINGTON, Sept. 28. A notice posted on the bank of the Metropolis, says the panic created by the suspension of other banks having caused much larger demands for specie than was anticipated, that institution is under the painful necessity of suspending specie payments for the present. The trustees remark that they will make every exertion to resume. The bank paid out $65,000 on Saturday. The Bank of Washington and Patriotic Bank, which paid only small sums on Saturday, have now altogether suspended. The The Savings Banks pay either in city banks or Virginia money, and demand the six days notice from depositors. Virginia money is at a discount of five per cent., and the tendency downward. Business is nearly paralyzed, and uncurrent money unsaleable.