Black Hawk National Bank (Waterloo, IA)

Episode Information

Episode UID
685401501
Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
national
Bank ID
68540 national
Charter Number
6854
Start Date
January 8, 1925
Location
Waterloo, Iowa (42.493, -92.343)

Metadata

Model
gpt-5-mini (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
1fe3293aae118187

Response Measures

Accommodated withdrawals, Fed/other loan, Public signal of financial health, Capital injected, Full suspension, Books examined

Receivership Details

Depositor recovery rate
75.6%
Date receivership started
1925-02-13
Date receivership terminated
1929-09-30
OCC cause of failure
Economic conditions
Share of assets assessed as good
100.0%

Description

Bank closed voluntarily Jan 8; assets later distributed to other local national banks.

Events (5)

1. June 25, 1903 Chartered
Source
historical_nic
2. January 8, 1925 Run
Cause
Rumor Or Misinformation
Cause Details
Wild rumors and gossip triggered heavy withdrawals and panic among depositors.
Measures
Large shipments of currency received; Federal Reserve offered unlimited currency; police stationed outside banks.
Newspaper Excerpt
Excitement which runs on Waterloo Bank Trust and Black Hawk National bank...Reports of immense withdrawals here
Source
newspapers
3. January 8, 1925 Suspension
Cause
Voluntary Liquidation
Cause Details
Board/directors voted to close the bank voluntarily (safeguard depositors) following the withdrawal pressure.
Newspaper Excerpt
Blackhawk National bank, which closed voluntarily January 8 last, to safeguard all depositors
Source
newspapers
4. February 9, 1925 Other
Newspaper Excerpt
Assets of the Blackhawk National bank...will be taken over by the other four national banks in this city...Depositors of the liquidating institution will be paid in full, being given cashier's checks as they call at the Blackhawk for presentation to the bank of their choice, among the other three.
Source
newspapers
5. February 13, 1925 Receivership
Source
historical_nic

Newspaper Articles (2)

Article from The Courier, January 9, 1925

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Article Text

FOUR BANKS NOW OVERSTOCKED GOLD AND NOTES, OFFERED RESOURCES OF FEDERAL RESERVE Money Shipments Cram Banks With Currency and Uneasiness of Depositors Vanishes During DayBusiness Concerns Guarantee Employes Leaving Deposits Intact Against Sentiment Subsides as Strength of Local Financial Institutions is Deposits Being Returned. Uneasiness of bank depositors vanished today. Wild rumors and gossip, which threatened to bring about financial catastrophe for Waterloo thru intimidating depositors, have been averted because of sound business judgment of the public. Large shipments of money received here yesterday and today, together with the proffer of the Federal Reserve bank, Chicago, to send currency here in unlimited amounts without have the impulse make withdrawals. The offer telegram received late yesterday aftand reproduced in on this Excitement which runs on Waterloo Bank Trust and Black Hawk National bank. which led state examiners closing the former and board directors voting to close the latter. was experienced more subdued manner Waterloo's other Commercial National, First National, Leavitt Johnson National and Waterloo Savings yesterday. While appreciative the of Federal Reserve bank. officers financial were confident this morning they need other than those which had been called into use and were available on an instant's notice Today was quiet in all banks operating, showing the Deak of the near panic had been reached The only dread today of bank robbers. which is remote danger. plainclothes man was added the in each guns were within reach of all Policemen were stationed outside of bank buildings, with always hand. Never before has SO much money crammed the banks operating. Reports of immense withdrawals here, which grow with every telling. also are likely to attract thieves from other cities to enter private order that nothing be undone that would in any degree restore confidence among those to make siderable number firms. cantile and today their that their Dry Agents Seize ings would be guaranteed by the employing firm, such savings 3,000 Stills in Raid left intact in the depository on Chicago Market The Courier among the firms such Chicago, Jan. than the height excitement yesstills were confiscated by terday, flames of unfounded federal prohibition agents yes- gossip had made panicky, terday in series raids COV- scores depositors made withering the Maxwell street mar- drawals, altho the demand at the four was means hundred hy. heavy that the drometers were also taken and closing the Bank four persons arrested. The Trust and Black Hawk bank. stills and other devices were on open sale in six shops bor- Women Apprehensive. dering the market. Women who held savings acmost eager draw out their amounts and risk its safety under mattresses and old sugar Tokio Shaken by pantry corner, where burglars look first. Secretaries numerous lodges, clubs socieSeries of Quakes ties, fearing criticism for not every precaution protectthe Associated ing their organization's funds. Tokio. Jan. was dis- were also included in those withturbed by drawing sums, with today series of earthhigh first reassuring message from the Fedquakes of severity, the rocked Reserve bank, and the clearcity brain solidmorning. last temblor this ness their banks, afternoon many of these returned their many persons to leave their posits banks again today abodes Mount Aso, Deposits checking volcano, located 600 miles each of the of has been eruption stantial increase rather than last and emitting crease. causing Farmers Not Fearful. Heavy deposits were made yesterday and today farmers, who have receipts from hog and milk Farmers take little stock in wild rumors weird warnings comlargely from those people who have mors spread like wildfire yesterday about bank closattendant The fact that Waterloo banks take care every drawal with the exception of the closed. with now hand most encouraging for the own welfare. Black Hawk Optimistic, Officers of the Black Hawk bank optimistic opening and re-organization the near future. National bank examiners Chicayesterday, to arrive this afternoon assist the Black Hawk in the adjustment of No definite time this bank's condi tion being made public, altho be no loss to any depositor. relief experienced by those first that the Waterloo banks now operating never had cash hand as that there million dollars more on hand in cash than year ago greater amount available from the own resources. Motion picture theatres flashed the screen the Federal Reserve bank's Papers Print Facts. For several the days Courier has been deluged quiries financial with reference the of that bank Wild and rumors circulated the effect that there progress, dangerous continuous bank in city wholly foundation The public that the Waterloo print the facts and nothing but the


Article from The Sioux City Journal, February 10, 1925

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Article Text

Distribute Bank Assets. Waterloo, Ia., Feb. 9.—Assets of the Blackhawk National bank, which closed voluntarily January 8 last, to safeguard all depositors, will be taken over by the other four national banks in this city—the Leavitt and Johnson, First National and Commercial—it was officially announced by officers of the four institutions today. Depositors of the liquidating institution will be paid in full, being given cashier's checks as they call at the Blackhawk for presentation to the bank of their choice, among the other three.