Farmers & Merchants Bank (Coward, SC)

Episode Information

Episode UID
67044071547
Episode Type
Run β†’ Suspension β†’ Closure
Bank Type
state
Bank ID
6704407 routing
Routing Number
67-0440
Start Date
November 13, 1928
Location
Coward, South Carolina (33.973, -79.747)

Metadata

Model
gemini-3-flash-preview (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
c76342344d4f6f2d

Response Measures

None

Description

The bank closed following a run that reached serious proportions on Tuesday, November 13, 1928.

Events (3)

1. November 13, 1928 Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
The run followed the recent failure of several other banks in the eastern South Carolina region, including the Bank of Florence.
Measures
The directors decided to close the bank and place it in the hands of the state bank examiner.
Newspaper Excerpt
run on the bank starting some time Tuesday reached serious proportions
Source
newspapers
2. November 14, 1928 Suspension
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
Decision to close reached by directors after a run on the bank reached serious proportions.
Newspaper Excerpt
failed to open for business yesterday morning
Source
newspapers
3. November 15, 1928 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
appointed H. Lucas... to assist Mr. Calhoun in handling the affairs of... the Farmer's & Merchants Bank of Coward
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from Florence Morning News, November 15, 1928

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Article Text

CENTS VESTRIS PASSENGER DESCRIBES DISASTER FLORENCE STATE EXAMINER MRS. HOOVER WILL MAKE JOURNEY WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT Nicaragua To Be First Port Of Call On Long Tour Commercial, First National Both In Fine Shape Declares Fant DEPOSITS INCREASE Sam Royall Appointed As Receiver For Bank Of Florence banking situation in the city Florence absolutely clarified." said State Bank Examiner Albert Fant reporter for The Morning last night "Both Savings Bank and The First Bank Florence are in fine what more they enjoy the confidence of the public.' declared that its the banks business Florence had creases. He pointed that the banks have cash in their In discussing the banking situation here. Mr. Fant freely and frankly voiced his satisfaction and pleas over conditions exist respect to The First National and Commercial and Savings Mr Fant made this statement fol. lowing day ences and here and in oth parts Eastern no he attended ing the stockholders of the Palmetto Bank and Trust Company which on October 26. hours after had become known Bank Florence opened business that morning Messrs Watson houn the State Bank examiner's office were also present at the ference. The ratified the action of the board of directors San placing the the bank the hands the state bank aminer and passed commending them for the action committee to ascertain any could worked for rehabilitation of the bank This committee make report its findings to the state examiner. Following the meeting of stockholders the late yesterday afternoon the directors met appointment Sam Royall of this city receiver. expressed warm approval of Mr. Royall's Judge who holding civil court here. night issued the appointment Mr. Royall is pected qualify for the position some time this week He enjoys the complete of the ple of section of receiver for the Bank of Florence means of course that its affairs will now enter the process liquidation Mr. Fant announced last night that had appointed H. Lucas. of the Palmetto Bank Trust Company assist Mr. Calhoun handling the affairs the Bank Scranton and the Farmer's Merchants Bank Coward Mr. Lucas visited both places The Farmers and Bank given Coward of which Lynch president. failed for busiyesterday morning has that capital stock $20,000 Decision close the state bank examwas reached by the directors after on the bank starting time Tuesday reached serious the proportions STANFORD UNIVERSITY Herbert Hoover the his good will mission to South This was disclosed today as Mr. Hoover went into variety details connected with the itinerary his trip lunchwith Victor Kimberly the Battleship Maryland which will leave Pedro Monday for the continent to the Southward Present plans call for the departof Hoover and his party from Alto on special train Sunday evening The train would San Pedro without stopping Angeles and immediately his arrival Mr Hoover plans board his and ship Under the schedule. which was pointed out, susceptible many the first port after leatving San Pedro would Corinto on West Coast ragua, probably would by the president of that Republic From he would move down the Coast to Panama Canal Zone where brief would stop made to enable Mr. Hoover inspect the Panama Canal Callao. Peru, would be next port to which he present flexible schedule would him from that point he could Lima, capital Peru Valparaiso would be touched next. place the general plan has move the Andes the Eastern the continand Bolivia consideration but decision yet has been reached garding the inclusion these counthe itinerary for his journey Certain of his itinerary tof Henry who to him the trip the State Depart expected reach Alto Sunday from Washington and travel the special train the Pedro. Nicaragua the only Central American which even tentatively on good will Information was obtained that Mr returning to Washington until the day his inauguration on March It is fairly certain now that after returning America will establish his headquarters some point Florida, lected. and will summon there party leaders with whom discuss affairs of his administration


Article from The Charlotte Observer, November 17, 1928

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Article Text

Closing Of Many Palmetto Banks Laid To 'Psychology' Doors Shut on Solvent Institutions to Protect Depositors, Says Examinerβ€”Eleven Closed Since October 17. COLUMBIA, S. C., Nov. 16.β€”There have been an unusual number of banks in South Carolina to close their doors within the past month, but not all of these closings by any means are due to bad business conditions, according to State Bank Examiner Albert S. Fant of Columbia, who today made a statement to this correspondent. The psychology of the situation is largely to blame, Mr. Fant said. In many of the cases the banks were not insolvent, but were put into the hands of the bank examiner to protect depositors, guaranteeing like treatment to all. If a run on a bank starts, Mr. Fant explained and the bank stays open and continues to pay depositors as long as the cash in hand lasts, those depositors first on the scene, regardless of the interests of the depositors as a whole or the interests of the community, will get their money while others will not get anything. NO PREFERENCE. This means that preference is shown to some depositors. The only way to guarantee equal treatment to all depositors in such a case as required by law is for the bank to shut its doors. This explains why a good many of the banks that have closed in the state lately have been put into the hands of the bank examiner. Not all of them by any means are failures. There have been fifteen state banks to close in South Carolina this year. Eleven of these have closed since October 17, a month ago. Two closed this week. One of the banks, the Bank of Cheraw and Chesterfield County, located at Cheraw, which closed on November 9, had five branches, at McBee, Mount Croghan, Pageland, Ruby and Chesterfield, and all of these closed with the parent bank. A national bank at Cheraw, the First National, also closed when a run on it was prompted by the closing of the Bank of Cheraw and Chesterfield county. It is this bank of which S. G. Godfrey, arrested today on a charge of embezzlement in connection with a $55,000 shortage, was cashier. State Bank Examiner Fant stated today that all of the banks that have closed recently have been in the eastern part of the state, where both cotton and tobacco crops this year are poorer than they were last year, bringing out a feeling of depression. The banks suffered, he said, even though all of them were not insolvent. It is the psychology of the thing, Mr. Fant said. The people became frightened and called for their money. The situation is unfortunate especially when its extreme trend is so unnecessary. The banks closed this week are the Peoples bank at Scranton, S. C., and the Farmers and Merchants of Coward, S. C. During the week of November 5-10 the Bank of Dillon, at Dillon; the Bank of Timmonsville, at Timmonsville; the Merchants and Planters bank at Hartsville; Merchants and Planters Bank at Lamar, and the Bank of Cheraw and Chesterfield County and its five branches closed their doors. OTHERS CLOSED. Other banks to close within the past month were the State Loan and Savings bank at Bamberg, the Bank of Florence at Florence, the Palmetto Bank and Trust Co., of Florence, and the Peoples Bank of Darlington.