NNP ADDS NATIONAL BANK CHARTER INFORMATION

U.S. National Bank Spreadsheets for Bank Charter Numbers 1-14348

From 1863 to 1935, the United States government chartered 14,348 National banks. These institutions deposited United States bonds with the federal Treasury, and in turn were allowed to circulate their own banknotes, up to 90% of the value of the bonds. These banknotes were backed by the federal government, and were eventually retired during the Depression with the introduction of Federal Reserve Notes. The result today is a cornucopia for paper money aficionados, with thousands of types and a host of themes to collect. Andrew W. Pollock III has created a massive series of spreadsheets capturing summary info for each of the federal charters, which may be downloaded in zip form via Internet Archive.

Illustrated here, from the Newman collection, is a $50 note from the First National Bank of East St. Louis (IL) in 1902. The note bears witness to its own solvency – “SECURED BY UNITED STATES BONDS DEPOSITED WITH THE TREASURER OF THE United States of America.” The bank charter number (#11596) is boldly printed twice on the face, and six times within the borders. Referring to the Pollock spreadsheets by charter number, we learn that the bank listed over $6m in assets in 1922 and had an issue of $400,000 in National Bank notes. The president and cashier of the bank were, respectively, A. C. Johnson and R. F. Reader. Pollock cites the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency report for 1922, which provides further breakdown of bank assets and liabilities.

Pollock notes he has been gathering material on U.S. national banks for over three years – given the copious detail in these spreadsheets, we are surprised it is only three years! Collectors and researchers of National Bank notes will find much useful data here, and we acknowledge Andrew W. Pollock III for sharing this information with the wider numismatic community.

Image: East St. Louis (IL) First National Bank $50 1902 Plain Back, Friedberg-683, PCGS EF40, Newman VIII (Heritage 11/2017), lot 28294, realized $2,160.

Link to National Bank Spreadsheets on Internet Archive:
https://archive.org/details/NationalBankSpreadsheetsGuide

Link to Office of the Comptroller of the Currency annual reports on Newman Portal:
https://nnp.wustl.edu/library/publisherdetail/510306

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