First National Bank, Opelika, AL (Charter 3452)
First National Bank, Opelika, AL (Chartered 1886 - Closed (Merger) 1998)
Town History
Opelika (pronounced OH-pə-LY-kə) is a city in and the county seat of Lee County in the east-central part of Alabama. It is a principal city of the Auburn-Opelika Metropolitan Area. As of the 2020 census, the population of Opelika is 30,995, an increase of 17.1 percent from the 2010 Census where the population was 26,477. The Auburn-Opelika, AL MSA with a population of 150,933, along with the Columbus, Georgia metropolitan area, comprises the Greater Columbus combined statistical area, a region home to 501,649 residents.
The Opelika area was first settled in 1832 after the Treaty of Cusseta was signed by the U.S. government and the Creek Nation. This treaty placed the land, and all other Creek territories east of the Mississippi River, under the possession of the United States government. Though the territory now belonged to the U.S., Opelika kept its Creek name, which translates to "large swamp".
Two decades after settlement, Opelika was chartered as a town on February 9, 1854, thanks to its rapid growth. This growth was due to the Montgomery & West Point Railroad Company's rail lines, which traversed the town and served as major means of transportation for unprocessed cotton between the northern and southern territories. Opelika later received a new charter in 1870, and its rapid growth continued. The town nearly doubled in size between 1870 and 1900.
Opelika's downtown was packed with saloons catering to railroad workers and other men. Frequent gunfire in the street by intoxicated patrons resulted in railroads directing their passengers to duck beneath the windows when their trains passed through the town.
In 1882, two factions claimed to rule the city government, one known as the "Bar room" headed by Mayor Dunbar, a saloon keeper, and another known as the "Citizens". In a riot in late November–December of that year, a dozen men were wounded. In the end, a few were killed. The Citizens had claimed control of the city via the elections, but Dunbar refused to give up. After continued violence, the state legislature revoked the city's charter and the governor sent in the militia to restore order. The legislature appointed five commissioners, Messrs. H.L. Griffin, T.L. Frazer, A.N. Lightfoot, F.M. Renfro, and J.R. McGehee, to manage the city, a situation that continued until 1899. That year, the legislature restored the city's charter.
Opelika had three National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and all three of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized January 28, 1886
- Chartered February 4, 1886
- Succeeded Renfro Bros. Bank
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Merged into BancorpSouth Bank in Tupelo, MS, December 31, 1998
The firm of Renfro and Andrews established shortly after the war was a business house and did much toward the development of Opelika. Mr. Forney Renfro with Mr. Andrews, his partner opened a large wholesale and retail grocery establishment in Opelika, soon expanding trade with surrounding counties. Mr. Andrews withdrawing, Mr. Renfro admitted his brothers to partnership under the firm name of Renfro Brothers. This firm was conducted by Forney Renfro, Frank Renfro and W.F. Andrew. These gentlemen afterwards organized the First National Bank of Opelika in the mid-eighties, this institution having the distinction of being the first national bank to be organized in East Alabama.
In October 1880, it was reported that Orrin Brown, the popular cashier of Renfro Bro's Bank at Chambers Street introduced the bicycle to Opelika, intending to use it on trips of business or pleasure. His first appearance caused considerable consternation among his friends as he had a very singular way of getting off the machine. Sometimes he would get off on his hands in a ditch, then again he would stop suddenly against a brick wall. Upon examination the wall was reported uninjured. He had been watched with interest by several newspapermen and undertakers.
The First National Bank of Opelika was organized January 16, 1886, with capital of $50,000 and planned to open March 1st, succeeding Renfro Brothers private bank. The directors were F.M. Renfro, N.P. Renfro, Alber Steiner, Wm. Gray, J.C. Condon, B.K. Collier and Orrin Brown. The officers were F.M. Renfro, president; N.P. Renfro, vice president; and Orin Brown, cashier. On February 4, 1886, the comptroller of the currency authorized the new national bank to commence business.
In January 1905, the officers and directors were N.P. Renfro, president; F.M. Renfro, vice president; Orrin Brown, cashier; W.O. Harwell, M.T. Trawick, Thos. L. Penn, and J.C. Condon, directors. The bank had capital $100,000, surplus and profits $50,000.
At the close of business, September 12, 1919, the bank had loans and discounts, $771,424.50, U.S. Bonds $310,370, furniture, fixtures and real estate, $29,400. The capital was $100,000, surplus $250,000, undivided profits $85,941.61, circulation $100,000 and deposits of $861,976.86. N.P. Renfro was president and H.L. Hall, cashier.
On January 25, 1940, Forney Renfro, Sr., 54, president of the First National Bank of Opelika for the past 12 years, died suddenly of a heart attack at his home in Opelika. He was a native of Opelika and a member of a prominent Lee County family. He was a pioneer in the floral business in east Alabama and was president of the board of education for a number of years. Mr. Renfro's wife was formerly Miss Alberta Moore of Eufaula, daughter of a Methodist minister.
In 1961, Army Reserve LTC Forney Renfro, Jr., of Opelika was an instructor for the Command and General Staff Course at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Colonel and Mrs. Renfro lived on Tenth Street and COL Renfro was assigned to the U.S. Army Reserve School in Opelika. He was a 1933 graduate of Auburn University and was employed as cashier of the First National Bank in Opelika.
Official Bank Title(s)
1: The First National Bank of Opelika, AL
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $2,266,550 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1886 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 193,371 notes (162,296 large size and 31,075 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 4554 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 5151 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 2800 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 11400 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 11401 - 28069 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 3422 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 854 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 4171 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 1248
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1886 - 1935):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Bank Note Signers
- There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.
Wiki Links
- Alabama Bank Note History
- General information on Opelika (Wikipedia)
- General information on Lee County (Wikipedia)
- General information on Alabama (Wikipedia)
Sources
- Opelika, AL, on Wikipedia
- Don C. Kelly, National Bank Notes, A Guide with Prices. 6th Edition (Oxford, OH: The Paper Money Institute, 2008).
- Dean Oakes and John Hickman, Standard Catalog of National Bank Notes. 2nd Edition (Iola, WI: Krause Publications, 1990).
- Banks & Bankers Historical Database (1782-1935), https://spmc.org/bank-note-history-project
- The Opelika Observer, Thu., Oct. 28, 1880.
- The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL, Sat., Sep. 17, 1881.
- The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL, Tue., Dec. 19, 1882.
- Greensboro Watchman, Greensboro, AL, Thu., Feb. 18, 1886.
- The Opelika Times, Opelika, AL, Sat., Feb. 20, 1886.
- The LaFayette Sun, LaFayette, AL, Wed., Jan. 18, 1905.
- The Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL, Wed., Oct. 22, 1919.
- The Alexander City Outlook, Alexander City, AL, Thu., Feb. 1, 1940.
- Opelika Daily News, Opelika, AL, Thu., Aug. 17, 1961.