First National Bank, Pen Argyl, PA (Charter 4352)

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Photo of the old First National Bank of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, ca2020.
Photo of the old First National Bank of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, ca2020. Courtesy of Google Maps

First National Bank, Pen Argyl, PA (Chartered 1890 - Closed (Merger) 1982)

Town History

Pen Argyl (/pɛn ɑːrdʒɪl/; Pennsylvania Dutch: Kleiberg) is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, 26 miles north of Allentown, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is part of Pennsylvania's Slate Belt.

In 1853, Joseph Kellow discovered slate in the surrounding area, coining what is now known as the Slate Belt community. The name Pen Argyl originated from the Cornish name meaning "head" and the Anglo-Saxon name of Slate Rock, meaning "argylite". With the surge of quarrymen from Cornwall and England, the town expanded. Today, there is still one slate quarry in operation. Pen Argyl was once home to Lehigh & New England Railroad’s main freight yard and maintenance complex. The railroad’s roundhouse and shop building still stand just west of town along Pennsylvania Ave.

In 1900, 2.784 people lived in Pen Argyl and at the 2010 census, the population was 3,595.

Pen Argyl had two National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and both of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

  • Organized March 22, 1890
  • Chartered June 30, 1890
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Merged into Northeastern Bank of PA in Mount Pocono, PA, April 22, 1982

In January 1901, Stockholders elected the following directors: William Turner, Samuel Keat, A.C. Young, John I. Miller, Henry Bitz, H.S. Ackerman, A.I. Labar, Isaac Bitz, Edwin Werkheiser, John J. Mansfield, and J.R. Hagerman.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The First National Bank of Pen Argyl, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of Thomas Hewett, Cashier and W. Turner, President.
1882 Brown Back $10 bank note with pen signatures of Thomas Hewett, Cashier and W. Turner, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 2 $10 bank note with printed signatures of Thomas Hewett, Cashier and Richard Jackson, President.
1929 Type 2 $10 bank note with printed signatures of Thomas Hewett, Cashier and Richard Jackson, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $2,283,740 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1890 and 1982. This consisted of a total of 266,938 notes (216,228 large size and 50,710 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 3x10-20 1 - 7580
1882 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 1468
1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 7500
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 5300
1902 Plain Back 4x5 7501 - 27021
1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 5301 - 17988
1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 4244
1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 1986
1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 564
1929 Type 2 5 1 - 6030
1929 Type 2 10 1 - 3111
1929 Type 2 20 1 - 805

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1890 - 1982):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Bank Note Signers

  • There are currently no known Vice President or Assistant Cashier bank note signers for this bank.

Wiki Links

Sources