Park Savings Bank (New York, NY)

Episode Information

Episode UID
8838759690911
Episode Type
Run → Suspension → Closure
Bank Type
savings
Bank ID
883875969 hash
Start Date
November 1, 1875*
Location
New York, New York (40.714, -74.006)

Metadata

Model
gemini-3-flash-preview (chosen from majority vote of a three-model LLM ensemble)
Short Digest
a5ad2439f98ee54b

Response Measures

None

Description

Article 1 describes a run and closure of the Park Savings Bank in Manhattan (1875), while Articles 2-6 describe a voluntary liquidation of a different Park Savings Bank in Brooklyn (1876).

Events (4)

1. November 1, 1875* Run
Cause
Local Banks
Cause Details
The failure of the Third Avenue Savings Bank triggered a run on the Park Savings Bank.
Newspaper Excerpt
the failure of the Third Avenue Savings Bank caused a slight run, sufficient to settle the fate of Park Bank
Source
newspapers
2. November 20, 1875 Suspension
Cause
Government Action
Cause Details
The State Superintendent telegraphed the bank to stop business following the run and insolvency.
Newspaper Excerpt
A week ago Mr. Ellis telegraphed Mr. Gearty to stop business, and a receiver to take in hand its fixtures.
Source
newspapers
3. November 26, 1875 Receivership
Newspaper Excerpt
Bank closed by the State Superintendent... receiver to take in hand its fixtures.
Source
newspapers
4. November 12, 1876 Suspension
Cause
Voluntary Liquidation
Cause Details
The Brooklyn Park Savings Bank decided to surrender its charter and close due to business depression and losses on government bonds.
Newspaper Excerpt
On Nov. 12 the directors decided to close up its affairs as soon as possible, and the depositors were informed by letter that their accounts would be paid off on demand.
Source
newspapers

Newspaper Articles (6)

Article from The Sun, November 27, 1875

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

WEAK BANKS CLOSING UP. RECEIVERS TAKING POSSESSION OF WHAT LITTLE IS LEFT. The People's Savings Bank and ITS Trustees The Security to be Examined A Bank without It Dollar in Cash in its Vaules. There was trouble all along the line of up-town Third av nue banks vesterday The depositors who gathered around the People's S livings Bank were greeted by the following statement posted on the door: THE bank will be losed II further notice Within. n ne W 8 be seen but the janitor The President, Mr. Ca ries T. R dgers. visited the instituti in in the afternoon. He was at first Inclined not to say anything to members of the press. He admitted that the bank was insolvent, nd added that much would depend on the readiness with which the trustees, who had given a bond for the deficiency in assets, would pay up. The bank 14 liable for about $170,000 of deposits, and the deficiency. not counting the bond of the trustees as an asset, is about $50,000. It holds $10.000 of North Carolina securities, bought over four years ago, before North Caro. lina securities depreciated to their present flure. They are lued by Mr. Reed. the bank exit Iner. at $400. It was intended to hold a meeting of the directors last evening. but none presented themselves. The troubles of the bank began during the admini tion of Mr. Charles Peck. formerly President of the Me nies' and Traders', and were owing to the investment of the bank's funds in Southern bonds. Since then. as set f rth in vesterday's St SUN. there have been several disastr us runs until the concern is now in a h. Ipless and irredeemable condition. Superintendent Ellis notided the Attorney General about two weeks ago that It was his duty to apply for a receiver for the People's Bank. and the Attorney General made out the proper papers. and 18 aw atting the action of the court there The bank officers are Charles Rodgers. Pres. ident Cyrus H. nurrel and Jotham H. Fountain. Vice Presidents. THE PROSPECT FOR DEPOSITORS. The is that the depositors of the People Bank will realiz sixty cents on the dollar and If the bond of the trustees for $47.500 can be enfore they may realize eighty cents. Mr. Ehis said to the SUN reporter that the bond would " qu sti ly be reed and the men name whose of sons or The Security Savings B nk posted the following notices This bank will decitine to receive deposits or pay aft draits und has shall been made by the State SuperinNEW YORK Nov. 26 1875 Mr. Ellis. the Bank Super intendent prese at the Dank this in rning He stated hat conn tence the olvene th bank and any statements purporti have by seen : the anding reiver without sight foundation He will examine the bank on Mon lay a In conversatio last evening Superintendent Ellis call the tten the re to the second notice. purporting that he Mr. lis. had pressed the nad in nk. He aut no such n tice. Y ur port of my rem which appeared in THE SI Thursday mor ing w coret. then declined to ress my views In avenes of the S curity Savings Bank do decline now the ex ml or had reached there tw three days d he did not. W her an ex mination been mad and the result of will me. HDOD pass b The Dr n tice, declining Ive depos ITS ar forth present was au the me and consider pr per. Mr. D D Marshall Pr sident the Se. TILS rei erated bis asserti ns that the bank was Ivent 1111 rel money and that he had the entire contr dence the rize deposit He red to let their orter imine the not being at the reporter was unable to inder stan them The mination by Mr George W R will no dount se tio the question the inlvency of the institution Mr. Reid The f Howing figures are fur M Mr. mished irshale 1st of 1875 $628,000 The bank was 14 List examine in D cember. 187 George W Herd and " Hhan Aldrich, uniners then ribed the investments as good. Tue banki 12 house. which about me fourt! of the assets, cost $75,529.52, subject to a m itgage of $14,900. A STORY At the corner of Third avenue and Forty. eighth street stands handsome and fty hunding Thrick ir 1) the nt letters the W ral Park vings B veral tices were anzing utside vester iav m me One was. Bank closed by the State Superir end int. Oth r8 is re. Flats Basem nt to let." Fh we. doors were pad! icked but through th ite-g) 85 wind ws Le sciendid IIX ures and chandellers. N Not an ual was VISIT 10 inside, and there 18 reason belt ve nat ther 18 not dollar in the safe SA wor oring in the room ve the DK ut They woul tell no thing about the bank officers. The bank was Xamined in 1873. George W Reid and W idians F. Alorien, who repor ted as follows : ASSETS 000 Bonds and mortgages estate Sife inrnitur 410.00 - Bank Interest accrue Total $ LIABILITIES Due 1,031 depositors $05,974.40 ereat accru 1,300.00 Deficiency of assets $6,990 70 The b nk was Incorporate in 1867. and I the time of the above J E. Red. man w resident and Tho nas Geat tv. re: tary Appended to the report of the indition this nk de the Legislature in March las 14 the f. Howing note: In Dece 10er 1873, the then Secretary th bank, Iff to make showing. perso ded the sits trust amount 00 by ELYING check for amount This to raise the parentiv to $139,000 These entries " re soon after the same urre ken TO rdio the report reflect upon this act bu they are was xactly right will not repeat As the ** as much. the Trustees reFort and by them. wheres TOT and our uings have Deed purch sed About a year nd half age the bank trus 008 determined to put building y had no surplus, and only about $50,000 of de posits. Mr. homas Gearty now the President of the bank. look the ract to build the structure and Mr John C rev. another trus. tee employed tod the painting Ine liatement of last January was as follows: RESOURCES. Bonds and mor gage $9,000 on in rust e moanies 89 1,041 Lash not deposited III bank paid refest 403.16 urniture and natures 2,500.00 Total 102,778.85 85 LIABILITIES. 48,991.90 Amount depositors III $3,500.00 0. assute liabilities 281 95 The result of the real estate enterprise is that the inding 15 yet, Ev ry dollar in the 8 en wed the here re mortgages amounting to over $40,000 ructure Gearts holds one in ortgage for $30.000. on hich fors $5.000 paid Mr. re used, some weeks ago, to allow the bank con inue *iness unless some were done indemn fythe depositors Other trustees intributed small unts mo ey ke the concern runni but the f litte of the hird Avenue Savings Bank caused slight run. suffici to settle the fate of Park Bank A week ag Mr. Ellis telegraphed Mr. Gearty stop usiness, nd receiver take in an fistures.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 19, 1876

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

SUSPENDED BANKS. BROOKLYN PARK SAVINGS BANK CLOSED. MOST OF THE DEPOSITORS ALREADY PAID OFF-ALL CLAIMS TO BE MET IN FULL. Owing to the present business depression and the difficulty of placing savings bank deposits in profitable investments, the Park Savings Bank of Brooklyn has concluded to surrender its charter and close up its business. This is one of the smaller banks of Brooklyn, having never had more than $212,000 in deposits. Its investments have been in Brooklyn city securities and in government bonds, principally of the issue of 1865. The latter have proved an unfortunate investment, and the bank lost heavily when these bonds were called in upon the issue of the 412 per cent bonds. Since January last the officers have made no effort to secure more deposits. On Nov. 12 the directors decided to close up its affairs as soon as possible, and the depositors were informed by letter that their accounts would be paid off on demand. On Nov. 12 the bank had $130,000 of deposits. It has now paid off all except about $39,000. The teller and acting cashier R. A. Lindsay said to a TRIBUNE reporter yesterday that the bank had on hand sufficient cash to meet all claims, and that the remaining deposits, which were all in small sums, would be paid on demand. The bank owns no real estate. The bank was incorporated in 1868, and was first situated at Washington-ave. and Fulton-st. While doing business there $30,000 of securities were stolen from its safes, but these were afterward recovered. It moved to its present quarters, at Fulton and Greene-aves., in 1871.


Article from The Sun, December 19, 1876

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ANOTH BANK GONE One Savings Institution Paying Up Every. body and Closing Out Business. The Park Savings Bank of Brooklyn. organized in 1868. has suspended business. and is paying depositors in full with interest up to July 1, 1876, preparatory to closing up business. The trustees on the 12th of November concluded that on account of the high prices of such se. curities as savings banks are permitted by law to Invest In and the danger of a possible decline in a year or two in the value of all securities, 11 was better to close up when everybody could be paid off. than to run the risk of a less. The earnings since July have been entirely wiped out by the losses on Government bonds of the I-sue of 1865. which declined in value when the new four per cent. town was made. Other banks, which are older, have in their possession securities, purch sed when prices were low, and these in Investment are profitable now, and would enable the holders to pull through. Six hundred depositors b ve been paid since Nov. 12. and $41,000. representing about 700 depositors, is yet o be paid. The bank's business was fair until July 1. At the beginning of the year their resources were $198. 548.04. and their liabilities $195,676.76. The trustees have contributed about $22,000 to carry on the business, but as the times did not improve they abandoned all hope of continuing it. The bank 13 situated at Greene venue. Ful. ton street and Oxford street. The officers are: President. Daniel McCabe: Vice-President, Jullan Allen: Secretary, Jas. W. Cielland: Counsel. Stewart L. Woodford: Tru-tees, H. W. Slocum, John Norton. H. W. Hunt. William Richardson E G. Humbert, Romer Cole. Charles Cornev. James Jow rdan. James G. Raymond, T. N. Whitney, and A. G. Johns.


Article from New-York Tribune, December 19, 1876

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

New-York Daily Cribune. FOUNDED BY HORACE GREELEY. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1876. THE NEWS THIS MORNING. FOREIGN.-Brent is to be surrendered to-day to the United States authorities. It is proposed to have the German Code go into effect in October 1879, It is supposed at Belgrade instead of 1880. that the armistice will be prolonged to March. There is serious conflict between the Rigsdag and the Government in Denmark. A terrible colliery disaster has occurred in Wales. DOMESTIC. So: stor Morton thinks that the Indiana Democrats intend to threaten resistance to The President made several promotions Hayes. A quantity of college class photoin the navy. graphs were seized in Boston for having been sent from Canada with the duty unpaid. CONGRESS.-The Senate refused to pass the Presidential Salary bill over the veto by a vote of 25 to 19. Debate took place on the Oregon case. The House passed the bill providing against the payment of war claims to disloyal persons. CITY AND SUBURBAN.-A tempest of snow, sleet, and rain delayed the mails and caused several maThe Congressional Committee rine disasters. on the New-York election will begin work in this Charges of miscouduct were city to-day. made against Commissioner H. H. Porter of the The Aldermen Third District Court-house. urged the appropriation of $100,000 for the poor. A committee of the Brooklyn Aldermon recommended measures to secure the safety of Brooklyn public buildings. The Brooklyn Park Gold, 10734, Savings Bank has suspended. 10778, 10734. Gold value of the legal-tender dollar at the close, 92810 cents. Stocks active and higher, closing-firm THE WEATHER-THE TRIBUNE'S local observations indicate cold, windy weather. Thermometer yesterday, 23°, 34°, 21°. Lowest temperature, midnight, 13°.


Article from The New York Herald, December 19, 1876

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

ANOTHER SAVINGS BANK GONE. THE PARK SAVINGS BANK OF BROOKLYN TO WIND UP ITS AFFAIRS. At a recent meeting of the Board of Directors of the Park Savings Bank. Brooklyn, it was resolved that all the depositors should be paid in full, with interest up to July 1, and that the bank would wind up its ex. istence by January 1 next. Mr. R. A. Lindsey, the cashier of the, Park Bank, when questioned upon the subject yesterday, stated that the directors were only too glad to give the money back to the depositors in order to get the business of the bank closed up. This determination was arrived at, he said, because of the nigh prices of such securities as savings tanks are compelled by. law to invest in, and the danger of a possible decline in a year or two of all securities. .It would be unwise, the directors believed, to run such a risk unless the bank had an ample surplus to meet the emergency. Since November 12 about 600 depositors have been paid, and the remaining depositors-700 in number-will be paid. upon prosentation of their pass books. The amount due is not over $41,000. Mr. Lindsey says that the feeling of uncertainty is such among many of the depositors who have taken their money out that they say they do not think they will Dut it in bank again. At the opening of the present year the resources of the bank were $198,548 04, and the habilities were $195,676 76. The depositors numbered 1, 422.


Article from Chicago Daily Tribune, December 22, 1876

Click image to open full size in new tab

Article Text

the dangerous reserves of the good companies, or to be stolen by the thieves in the bad companies. And it now turns out that the only security the policy-holders have is the unchallenged, unexamined, uncorrected statements of the companies—that the system of State inspection in New York is a fraud and a snare. In the opinion of THE TRIBUNE this business has lasted too long already, and it advises the public to refuse to deal with any companies that present only their own unsupported statements, or, worse yet, certificates from the State Superintendent. It advises the public to insist on publicity. An insurance company is not a private business concern, and the public have a right to know every detail of its operations. If there is any company that considers itself too good to submit to the fullest publicity, let it be treated as too good to be patronized any longer. ALLEGED CROOKED BANKING. Special Correspondence of The Tribune. DES MOINES, Dec. 19.—About two years ago the Bank of Cedar Falls was accepted as a sound and reliable commercial institution; but suddenly, one day, it was discovered that there was a big hole in the bottom, and that the monetary foundation had fallen out. The President, A. G. Thompson, and the Cashier shortly after left, and the institution was wound up by a receiver. The President was discovered recently in Schoharie, N. Y., where he had invested largely in real estate. The creditors of the bank are suspicious that he took away funds of the bank, and he has been arrested and brought back to answer an indictment for embezzlement. He says he can explain satisfactorily. Officers are after the other alleged delinquent. BILLS OF LADING AS NEGOTIABLE INSTRUMENTS. The bill proposed by the New York Chamber of Commerce to facilitate the negotiation of bills of lading, and to punish fraud therein, was introduced into the House of Representatives on Monday by Mr. Hewitt, of New York: It provides that whenever any party, in the course of any transaction between the United States and any foreign nation, or between any of the United States, shall deliver to any special or common carrier by land or water, or both, or to any warehouseman or other custodian, any personal property whatever, and shall take therefor any bill of lading, shipping-receipt, agreement, certificate, or other voucher, in which instrument it shall be stated that such property is deliverable to the order of any party whatever named therein, the absolute title in full to, and the right of possession of, such instrument, and to and of all such personal property mentioned therein, shall be transferable by the indorsement of the party mentioned therein and subsequent indorsers, and the delivery of such instrument; and upon such indorsement and delivery the title and right of possession shall immediately vest in the transferee, subject only to the liens and conditions which may be mentioned in said instrument, provided that if any such instrument shall state that it is not negotiable, this law shall not apply to it, nor to the property mentioned; and provided further that if actual notice of other equities shall be received by the transferee before settlement or payment, he shall be bound by such notice. The bill in its remaining sections provides that it shall be construed liberally for the purpose of securing the negotiability of the instruments mentioned, and provides that any person who knowingly makes, indorses, or transfers any of these instruments, when the property mentioned therein is not situated as described, shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor and punished accordingly, besides remaining subject to all penalties now prescribed by law. Finally, it is provided no party dealing in good faith with any such instrument shall be liable as indorser thereon after the same shall have been transferred and accepted by the subsequent transferee. The bill was referred to the Committee on Commerce. THE GOLD AND WOOL PRODUCT OF AUSTRALIA. The gold mines of Victoria, Australia, reached their most productive point in 1853, when they turned out $60,000,000. The yield has declined since steadily. In 1871 it was $32,000,000, and in 1875, $16,000,000. As the gold yield decreases the wool crop grows more valuable, and in 1875 the wool product of Australia was $70,000,000, more than four times as much as its gold product. REDUCTION OF INTEREST IN CALIFORNIA. It has been apparent for some time past that the rates of interest charged by our California banks and capitalists were higher than were warranted by the general business and financial situation. The Trustees of the Bank of California have, we think, acted wisely in deciding upon a reduction. Interest on business paper running from thirty to ninety days should not, in the present condition of the money market, exceed the rate of 9 per cent per annum. When the savings banks began to reduce the rates on which they made loans on real estate, there was almost immediately a greatly increased activity in the erection of cheap buildings. And when the example of the Bank of California in making business loans on moderate terms shall be generally imitated, we may confidently expect to witness a corresponding development of activity in manufacturing enterprises of every description.—San Francisco Chronicle. SAVINGS BANK NOTES. The Park Savings Bank of New York has determined to wind up and go out of business. Depositors are being paid up in full, and all but $39,000 has been paid out. The depression in business, and a heavy loss on an investment in Governments of the issue of 1865, made just before the issue of 4½ per cents, were the causes of the surrender of the charter. The Receiver of the Abingdon Square Savings Bank of New York has discovered that the title of the bank to some of its real estate is defective. A majority of the Trustees, he says, were only figure-heads, and the others treated the bank as if it were their own private property. SAN FRANCISCO SPECIE SHIPMENTS. The total shipment of silver coin and bars from San Francisco for the first eleven months of the year amounted to $22,163,918.95. Of this amount, $10,397,634.78 was in bars and $11,766,284.17 in coin. GOLD AND GREENBACKS. Gold was 106¾@107⅛ in greenbacks. Greenbacks were 93⅝@93¾ cents on the dollar in gold. FOREIGN EXCHANGE. Sterling... Sixty day. 482½ Sight. 484½