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First National Bank of Scranton, PA (Charter 77-2697-77)

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Postcard of the First National Bank of Scranton and the Scranton Savings Bank
Postcard of the First National Bank of Scranton and the Scranton Savings Bank, postmarked 1905. The Scranton Savings bank was located at No. 120 Wyoming Avenue. The Architect was Edward Langley who would also designed the Third National Bank building that replaced the old Scranton Savings Bank Building in 1917.[1] The Third National Bank building is visible just to the right of the savings bank. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

First National Bank of Scranton, PA (Chartered 1863 - Open past 1935)

Town History

Scranton is a city in Pennsylvania and the county seat and largest city of Lackawanna County in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley. With a population of 76,328 as of the 2020 United States Census, Scranton is the largest city in northeastern Pennsylvania and the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of about 570,000, and the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Reading, and Erie. In 1860 the population was 9,223, growing to 75,215 in 1890 and peaking in 1930 at 143,433.

Scranton is the largest of the former anthracite coal mining communities in a contiguous quilt-work that also includes Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Pittston and Carbondale. Scranton was incorporated on February 14, 1856, as a borough in Luzerne County and as a city on April 23, 1866. It became a major industrial city and a center of mining and railroads; it attracted thousands of new immigrants. It was the site of the Scranton General Strike in 1877.

People in northern Luzerne County sought a new county in 1839, but the Wilkes-Barre area resisted losing its assets. Lackawanna County did not gain independent status until 1878. Under legislation allowing the issue to be voted by residents of the proposed territory, voters favored the new county by a proportion of 6 to 1, with Scranton residents providing the major support. The city was designated as the county seat when Lackawanna County was established in 1878, and a judicial district was authorized in July 1879.

The city's nickname "Electric City" began when electric lights were introduced in 1880 at the Dickson Manufacturing Company. Six years later, the United States' first streetcars powered only by electricity began operating in the city. Rev. David Spencer, a local Baptist minister, later proclaimed Scranton as the "Electric City".

Scranton is 76 miles north of Allentown, 125 miles north-northwest of Philadelphia, and 120 miles west of New York City.

Scranton had 10 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and eight of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

Photo of the Traders National Bank that was purchased and occupied by the First National Bank of Scranton in 1929. It is located on the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Street (renamed Biden St. in 2021).
Photo of the Traders National Bank that was purchased and occupied by the First National Bank of Scranton in 1929. It is located on the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Street (renamed Biden St. in 2021). Courtesy of Google Maps

Charter 77 Bank History:

  • Chartered September 7, 1863
  • 1: Liquidated May 18, 1882
  • 1: Succeeded by 2697 (First National Bank of Scranton, PA)
  • 2: Charter 77 reassigned to 2697, October 19, 1911 (First National Bank of Scranton, PA)
  • 2: Assumed 13040 by consolidation April 1, 1927 (County NB (No Issue), Scranton, PA)
  • 2: Assumed 4183 and its circulation by consolidation Nov 30, 1929 (Traders National Bank, Scranton, PA)
  • Bank was Open past 1935

Charter 2697 Bank History:

  • Organized May 5, 1882
  • Chartered May 19, 1882
  • Succeeded 77 (First National Bank of Scranton, PA)
  • Retook charter 77, October 19, 1911 (First National Bank of Scranton, PA)

THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK, the oldest of incorporated banking houses in the city, was organized May 30, 1863. The original board of directors were men closely identified with the history of Scranton, as follows: Joseph H. Scranton, Thomas Dickson, Joseph J. Albright, Hon. John Brisbin, and Joseph C. Platt. Its first President was Joseph H. Scranton (1863 to June 1872), who was succeeded by Joseph J. Albright (Jan. 21, 1873, to Jan. 12, 1898), Edward W. Weston (Jan. 16, 1888, to Oct. 28, 1891), James A. Linen was elected president on October 31, 1891. It has had three Vice-Presidents, as follows: Joseph J. Albright (Jan. 17, 1865, to Jan. 21, 1873) Joseph C. Platt (Jan. 21, 1873, to Nov. 15, 1887), George L. Dickson elected November 28, 1887. William Cushing was Cashier from May 30, 1863, to June 10, 1865, John A. Linen, Oct. 3, 1865, to Oct. 31, 1881, and Isaac Post, elected October 31, 1881. In September 1892, the board of directors was as follows: George L. Dickson, James Blair, W.R. Storrs, W.F. Hallstead, W.W. Scranton, John Jermyn, T.F. Torrey and J.A. Linen. The deposits reported May 17th, 1892, were $4,372,071.44.[2]

The report of condition of the First National Bank of Scranton at the close of business, January 1st, 1879, showed total resources of $1,326,841.73. The capital stock paid in was $200,000, surplus $255,000, undivided profits, $19,276.48, circulation $45,000, individual deposits $642,482.35, and demand certificates of deposits $71,070.61. J.A. Linen was cashier and the directors attesting to the correctness of the report were J.J. Albright and James Blair.[3]

1892 ads for the Scranton Savings and Dime Banks
Advertisements from 1892 for the Scranton Savings Bank and Dime Deposit and Discount Bank.[4]
In January 1880, the directors of the Scranton Savings Bank were James Blair, John I. Blair, George Fisher, J.S. Slocum, George H. Catlin, A.M. Decker, G.A. Fuller, and Jas. Archbald. James Blair was president, and H.A. Vail, cashier. The bank, the oldest in Northern Pennsylvania, was at No. 120 Wyoming Avenue.[5] George B. Jermyn, president of the Scranton Savings and Dime Bank with which the Peoples National Bank merged in July 1917, would continue as president of the consolidated bank which would be called the Peoples Savings and Dime Bank. George T. Dunham, cashier of the Peoples National would be a vice president of the merged bank. Harry G. Dunham, his brother and a vice president of the Scranton Savings and Dime would retain that office as would E.J. Lynett. The Dime bank some years ago absorbed the Scranton Savings Bank and now the Peoples National.[6]

In January 1886, Mr. Isaac Post was promoted to assistant cashier of the First National Bank.[7]

In January 1899, the shareholders of the First National Bank elected the following directors: James A. Linen, George L. Dickson, W.R. Storrs, W.F. Hallstead, W.W. Scranton, John Jermyn, Thomas F. Torrey, and George B. Smith.[8]

On Tuesday, January 14, 1908, at the annual meeting of stockholders, the following were elected directors: J.A. Linen, G.L. Dickson, W.F. Hallstead, W.W. Scranton, George B. Smith, Charles H. Welles, F.E. Platt, C.S. Weston, and Richard H. Higgins. The election of directors would take place Saturday morning at 10 o'clock.[9]

On Tuesday, January 10, 1911, at the annual meeting of the stockholders, no changes were made. The following board of directors was re-elected: James A. Linen, G.L. Dickson, W.W. Scranton, George B. Smith, Charles H. Welles, F.E. Platt, C.S. Weston, Richard H. Higgins, Thomas E. Clarke, Henry Belin, Jr., and J. Benj. Dimmick. The following officers were re-elected: James A. Linen, president; George L. Dickson, vice president; Isaac Post, cashier; Albert G. Ives and Alfred T. Hunt, assistant cashiers.[10]

On Friday, January 7, 1927, the mergers of the County Savings with the First National Bank and the Lackawanna Trust with the Scranton Trust Company were unanimously approved and recommended to stockholders at meetings of directors of the four respective banking and trust corporations. In each instance the majority of shareholders were favorable to the merger plan and would ratify the action of the boards when called to vote on the proposition. Charles S. Weston would be president of the combined banking institutions with deposits of $45,000,000. Col. Louis A. Watres, president of the County Savings Bank, would head the merged trust companies which would be largest of kind outside Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. In addition to the officers of the Scranton Trust Company, several officers of the Lackawanna Trust Company would become officers of the merged trust company.

The County Savings Bank during its 53 years of existence had but three presidents: Hon. John Handley, late president judge of the Lackawanna County courts; Hon. E.N. Willard, late of the superior court; and the incumbent, Colonel Louis A. Watres who had been president of the bank for 30 years. The other officers in addition to Colonel Watres were Joseph O'Brien, first vice president; E.M. Rine, second vice president; Wallace M. Ruth, cashier; Henry S. Kirkpatrick and Louella Warren, assistant cashiers. The directors were F.P. Benjamin, P.J. Casey, F.H. Hemelright, Joseph Jeffrey, Henry A. Knapp, William R. Lewis, Joseph O'Brien, F.J. Platt, E.M. Rine, Wallace M. Ruth, Edward W. Warren, L.A. Watres, Laurence H. Watres, and F.H. Wright. All of the directors of the County Savings Bank would be added to the directorate of the First National Bank.

The Merger of the Lackawanna Trust Co. with the Scranton Trust Co. carried a significance only secondarily to that of the two banks. The First National owned for its stockholders all of the stock of the Lackawanna Trust Co. which it was proposed to distribute to its stockholders. The Lackawanna Trust Co. was one of the oldest institutions in the valley. It was originally chartered by the Hon. George Sanderson, father of James Gardner Sanderson, local attorney. It was capitalized at $500,000 with surplus of $500,000 and undivided profits of $340,000. The Scranton Trust Company was organized in 1905. Its stock was $600,000 with surplus of $400,000 and undivided profits of $194,000. Although not definite, the plan was to call the new institution the Scranton-Lackawanna Trust Company. The combined capital, surplus and undivided profits of the new company would be as follows: capital $1,350,000; surplus $900,000; undivided profits $17,000. Bothe the Scranton and the Lackawanna Trust companies had confined their efforts strictly to the trust business, not receiving any deposits. This policy would be continued by the merged institution and with one exception it would be the only trust company in the commonwealth that confined itself to only the trust business. The quarters occupied by the County Savings Bank and the Scranton Trust Company would be occupied by the consolidated company. The combined trust funds were $31,951,000; corporate trusts $63,449,000. The merged trust company would be the registrar and transfer agent of stock amounting to over $70 million.

Charles S. Weston, president of the First National Bank was thoroughly equipped for the position he so successfully held for 14 years. Son of former president, E.W. Weston, he was a Civil Engineer, graduating from the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institution in 1882. A few months after graduating, he entered the Delaware & Hudson Company as a Civil Engineer. In 1885 he was appointed Assistant General real estate agent of that company and on February 1, 1889, he was appointed general real estate agent, having in his charge all of the real estate connected with both the railroad, canal and coal mining departments of the company as well as the handling of all the company's tax and insurance matters and the negotiations and drafting of its coal leases, etc. On February 1, 1904, Mr. Weston severed his connection with the Delaware & Hudson Company with the intention of devoting his time to the many private interest with which he was connected, but in 1909 he took the presidency of the Cherry River Paper Company, a large paper manufacturing concern operating in West Virginia. Mr. Weston had been a member of the board of directors of the First National Bank since September 1905. He was elected a vice president in 1912 and in January 1913, he was elected president, succeeding the late James A. Linen who had been active in the operation and development of the bank for nearly 50 years. In addition to his banking activities, Mr. Weston was president and director of the Lackawanna Trust Company; president and director of the Latrobe Water Company; and president and director of the Consumers' Water Company.

Col. Louis A. Watres was county solicitor of Lackawanna County for nine years during the building of the Court House. Following eight years of service in the State Senate, he was elected lieutenant governor of Pennsylvania, serving as president of the Senate and of the Pardon Board. He was the only living stockholder of the County Savings Bank who owned stock when it began business. He had been an officer of that institution from the time it opened its doors. It was through Colonel Watres' initiative that the Scranton Trust Company was organized in 1905 and he was its president since its organization. Col. Watres was president of the Spring Brook Water Supply Company and its 42 subsidiary companies supplying water to 42 municipalities. He was also president of the Mansfield Water Co., trustee of the American Surety Co., director of the Scranton Electric Co. and other corporations.[11]

On April 2, 1927, a state charter was issued for the merger of the Scranton Trust Company and the Lackawanna Trust Company. The merged institution which had a capitalization of $1,350,000 was called the Scranton-Lackawanna Trust Company. L.A. Watres was president; John Greiner, Jr., trust officer; Harold Dowd, treasurer; and Robert A. Hull, secretary.[12]

Effective on Monday, December 2, 1929, the Traders National Bank was merged with the First National Bank of Scranton, retaining the title of the latter with charter 77. The First National Bank moved its headquarters to the quarters of the old Traders National Bank at the northwest corner of Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Streets (Spruce became Biden in 2021). The new institution had Capital, Surplus and Undivided Profits of $10 million and resources of more than $65 million.[13] The officers of the Traders National were Dudley R. Atherton, president; E.S. Peck, vice president; Roswell H. Patterson, vice president; Robert M. Fish, cashier; Arthur C. Richards and Thomas H. Marsh, assistant cashiers. The directors were Edward S. Jones, Roswell H. Patterson, M.W. Collins, D.R. Atherton, E.S. Peck, Willard Matthews, S.R. Bliss, George B. Jermyn, Charles A. Straw, John R. Atherton, William H. Coon, Stanley C. Schooley, Irwin J. Levy, and William R. Lynett. The Traders reported at the end of 1928 capital of $1 million, surplus and undivided profits of $1,964,923.40, circulation of $500,000, loans and discounts of $5,167,910.53.[14][15]

A 1930 advertisement
A 1930 advertisement for the First National Bank of Scranton.[16]
1931 Ad for the First National Bank
A 1931 advertisement for the First National Bank.[17]

In January 1930, the directors were D.R. Atherton, executive vice president; John R. Atherton, paymaster, Hudson Coal Co.; G. D'Andelot Belin, president, E.I. du Pont de Nemours Co. of Penna.; Paul B. Belin, president, Scranton Lace Co.; Frank P. Benjamin, president, Scranton Lackawanna Trust Co., attorney-at-law; S.R. Bliss, secretary Bliss Silk Throwing Co., vice president, North Scranton Bank; George G. Brooks, J.H. Brooks & Co., bankers; Duncan T. Campbell, vice president and general manager, Scranton Electrical Co.; P.J. Casey, president, Hotel Casey Co.; M.W. Collins, president and treasurer, Maloney Oil and Mfg. Co.; William H. Coon, president, W.H. Coon Co.; J.M. Davis, president, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad Co.; R.O. Deubler, vice president and manager, Bond Dept.; A.M. Fine, vice president, Hudson Coal Co.; F.H. Hemelright, president, Peckville National Bank; Frank Hummler, senior vice president; Wm. W. Inglis, president, Glen Alden Coal Co.; Joseph Jeffrey, secretary, Mountain Ice Co.; George B. Jermyn, executor and trustee, Estate of J.J. Jermyn, president, Taylor Discount & Deposit Bank, Taylor, Pa.; Edward S. Jones, capitalist; Henry A. Knapp, Knapp, O'Malley, Hill and Harris, attorneys; Irwin J. Levy, vice president-treasurer, N.B. Levy & Bro. Co.; William R. Lewis, Taylor & Lewis, attorneys; William R. Lynett, assistant publisher, The Scranton Times; M.J. Martin, attorney-at-law; Willard Matthews, vice president, West Side Bank, Scranton; Roswell H. Patterson, attorney-at-law; E.S. Peck, treasurer, United States Lumber Co., president, Peck Lumber Manuf. Co.; F.J. Platt, president, Scranton Electric Construction Co.; E.M. Rine, vice president and general manager, Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Co.; Wallace M. Ruth, vice president; Ralph W. Rymer, attorney-at-law; Stanley C. Schooley, trustee, Estate of Huldah A. Crawford; Worthington Scranton, president Mountain Ice Co.; George B. Smith, retired railroad official; Edward W. Warren, Knapp, O'Malley, Hill and Harris, attorneys; L.A. Watres, chairman, board of directors, Scranton Lackawanna Trust Co. and president, Scranton Chamber of Commerce; Laurence H. Watres, attorney-at-law, Member of U.S. Congress; Ralph E. Weeks, president, International Text-Book Co., president, International Correspondence Schools, and president Ralph E. Weeks Co.; C.H. Welles, Jr., Welles, Mumford and Stark, attorneys-at-law; and F.H. Wright of Scranton. The officers were Chas. S. Weston, president; Frank Hummler, senior vice president; D.R. Atherton, executive vice president; George C. Nye, vice president and cashier; R.O. Deubler, Alfred T. Hunt, A.G. Ives, W.B. Oliver, Wallace M. Ruth, Robert M. Fish, vice presidents; A.R. Mackay, assistant vice president; MacDonald Heebner, George F. Hoffman, Walter B. Kramer, H.S. Kirkpatrick, T.H. Marsh, A.C. Richards, and Louella Warren, assistant cashiers; John T. Walters, auditor; William T. Lindsay, asst. mgr. Bond Dept.; and George Perlin, manager, Foreign Dept.[18]

On May 13, 1930, the board of directors awarded a $300,000 contract to the F.V. Warren Co. of Philadelphia to enlarge and remodel the 7-story structure at the Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Street location. A 10-story addition was added to a one-story building which had been an auxiliary on Spruce Street of the Traders National. The building completed early in 1931, was in three sections, the first rising seven stories, the second 11 stories and the third 12 stories, topped by the penthouse. The fire-proof building extended 177 feet along Spruce Street and 90 on Wyoming Avenue. The bank which had three entrances used the basement, first, mezzanine, second and part of the third floor for bank purposes. The bank's vaults were located in the basement where there was a large Safe Deposit Department. Throughout the bank, the interior was finished in Botticino marble. There was an antique-coppered ceiling. There was a large directors' room and offices for the board chairman, president, senior vice president, legal department and travel department. About two months after the remodeled bank was occupied in April of 1931, a decision was made to surmount the structure with a tower and huge beacon sign. The tower and beacon light which had been helpful to airplane pilots were removed in 1970 for safety reasons.[19]

In 1932, the Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Company was absorbed by the First National Bank of Scranton. In 1922, Mr. Ralph A. Amerman was elected vice president of the Lincoln Trust Company of Scranton. He was general manager of the Scranton Glass Instrument Co., manufacturers of thermometers and hydrometers. In the following year he become chairman of the bank's board of directors, holding that position until February 6, 1928, when he was elected president of the Peoples' Savings & Dime Bank & Trust Company of Scranton. A short time later that institution was consolidated with the Lincoln Trust Co. to form the Dime Bank-Lincoln Trust Co. with Mr. Amerman as president. After the consolidation with the First National Bank, Mr. Almerman became a vice president of the First National Bank.

On November 28, 1945, the First National Bank of Scranton purchased 6,000 shares of the common capital stock of the Pennsylvania Trust Company, West Scranton, for $200,000. Dr. U.O. Noble, president of the First National said "we have absolutely no idea of closing the Pennsylvania Trust Company. We will continue it as a going bank." He said the trust company could eventually become a branch of the First National.[20] In January 1946, deeds were filed at the office of Recorder of Deeds Frank Bonin covering the transfer of 24 properties by the Pennsylvania Trust Company to the Lincoln Realty Company, an affiliate of the First National Bank of Scranton which recently took over the trust company to operate it as a West Scranton Branch. Stamps attached to the deeds indicated the properties were valued at $120,000.[21] Located at 301 North Main Avenue, the trust company was converted into the Hyde Park branch of the First National Bank of Scranton.[22] The Pennsylvania Trust Company was formed in 1931 with the merger of the Hyde Park National Bank and two other trust companies.

Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank and Trust Company

bankers of the proposed Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank & Trust Co.
These bankers explained reasons for the establishment of the Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank & Trust Co. at a press, radio and television luncheon conference on Wednesday, July 16, 1958, in Hotel Sterling, Wilkes-Barre. Seated, from left: John F. Murphy, vice president, First National Bank. & Trust Co. of Scranton; Justin Bergman, president of Wilkes-Barre Deposit & Savings Bank; Alvin Markle, Jr., president of Markle Banking & Trust Co., Hazleton, and Frank E. Hemelright, president, First National of Scranton. Standing, same order: Attorney Robert J. Doran, director, Wilkes-Barre Deposit; William E. Perry, vice president and controller, First National of Scranton; Frederick J. Eck, cashier, Wilkes-Barre Deposit; and Chester Beitzel, assistant vice president, First National of Scranton.

On July 1, 1958, plans for the proposed Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank and Trust Company were outlined during a dinner given by Alvan Markle, Jr., president, Markle Banking and Trust Co., in the Hotel Altamont for all officers and personnel of the bank. "Our Northeastern Pennsylvania area," said Markle, "is experiencing a great industrial expansion. To meet this challenge an area bank, with full service and facilities geared to both individual customers and large industries is required. The Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank and Trust Company, to be created by combining the Markle Banking and Trust Company with the Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank and the First National Bank and Trust Co. of Scranton, will fulfill this requirement." Markle introduced Frank E. Hemelrght, president of the First National Bank and Trust Co. of Scranton. Hemelright in his brief remarks to the Markle group hailed the tradition of community service "which for 90 years has been a byword of your community." "You now," he continued, "are embarking on another era of enlarged community service, encompassing a market area which goes far beyond the local boundaries. You will be a vital part of an expanded financial institution with deep local roots in many communities which will result in a total area development concept." Hemelright said each year some $60 million dollars worth of deposits left this metropolitan district for the larger financial centers of the east. "Our goal is to retain at least half of these deposits," he said, "resulting in increased capital for industrial expansion and diversification, more employment, more consumer dollars in this area." Hemelright assured the group that under the proposed plan, "banking policies which built your, Markle Bank to the position it occupies in the community today will be continued and extended to meet the broadened horizon." He further stated that the local autonomy would be maintained. "This is still a Hazleton bank," he said, "the only difference now is that Hazleton will have a major opportunity to share in the growth of its neighbors, just as they will share in and contribute to the growth of your city." As a memento of the occasion, the proposed Northeastern National Bank presented all officers and employees of the Markle Bank with young holly plants. Other First National Bank and Trust Company of Scranton officers attending the dinner were William E. Perry, vice president and comptroller; Chester A. Beitzel, assistant vice president; and Martin J. Elisa, assistant vice president. Attending from the Markle Bank were Alvan Markle Jr., president; George H. Snyder, vice president; Dr. Edgar L. Dessen, vice president; F.J. Skotnicki, cashier; George C. Warner, assistant cashier; E.L. Bachman, assistant cashier and branch manager; Edwin J. Owens, auditor; L.F. Dryfoos, secretary; C.B. Beishline, assistant secretary; Agnes H. Kudlich, assistant secretary; J.A. McHale, trust officer; Joseph J. Hanculak, assistant trust officer; and John H. Bigelow, solicitor.[23]

On Tuesday, July 15th, at separate meetings, shareholders of the Markle Banking and Trust Company, the Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank and The First National Bank and Trust Company of Scranton voted overwhelmingly in favor of merging their respective banks into on area bank. The move, subject to approval by the Comptroller of the Currency, Ray M. Gidney, would provide the area with a bank whose assets totaled approximately $145,000,000, making it the 11th largest in Pennsylvania. All 8 offices of the merging institutions would be maintained. The Markle Bank in Hazleton was at 10 West Broad Street with a branch at 979 West 15th Street. The Wilkes-Barre Deposit and Savings Bank was at 67-69 Public Square. The First National Bank and Trust Company of Scranton had its main office at Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Street. There was an office in Hyde Park at 301 North Main Avenue and an Abington office in Clarks Summit. Plans had been completed for the removal of the bank's Tobyhanna office to 402-12 Main Street, Mt. Pocono, with construction expected to be completed that summer. First National also maintained an office at the Signal Corps Depot in Tobyhanna which would continue in operation. The bank's trust department at 506 Spruce Street in Scranton would be relocated in the main office sometime in the fall upon completion of a new 3-story structure under construction as a main office building addition. The Northeastern Pennsylvania National Bank and Trust Company would retain charter #77, making it the 24th oldest national bank in the country among some 14,000 national banks.[24] The comptroller of the currency approved the new institution which came into existence on August 1, 1958, with Frank E. Hemelright as president.[25]

  • 04/05/1971 Changed Institution Name to Northeastern National Bank of Pennsylvania (FDIC #7740).
  • 04/05/1971 Main Office moved to Wyoming Avenue and Spruce Street, Scranton, PA 18501.
  • 04/05/1971 Acquired Pocono Bank (FDIC #7480) in East Stroudsburg, PA.
  • 01/02/1974 Institution withdraws from membership in the Federal Reserve System.
  • 01/02/1974 Changed Chartering Agency to STATE.
  • 01/02/1974 Changed Institution Name to Northeastern Bank of Pennsylvania.
  • 09/30/1974 Acquired The Plymouth National Bank (Charter 6881) (FDIC #7703) in Plymouth, PA.
  • 03/31/1975 Acquired The First National Bank of Newfoundland (Charter 12911) (FDIC #7652) in Newfoundland, PA.
  • 05/09/1975 Main Office moved to Penn Avenue and Spruce Street, Scranton, PA 18501.
  • 06/19/1978 Main Office moved to 402 Main Street, Mount Pocono, PA 18344.
  • 07/20/1979 Main Office moved to 2042 Pocono Boulevard, Mount Pocono, PA 18344.
  • 12/18/1980 Acquired The First National Bank of Mocanaqua (Charter 12349) (FDIC #7623) in Mocanaqua, PA.
  • 04/22/1982 Acquired The First National Bank of Pen Argyl (Charter 4352) (FDIC #7677) in Pen Argyl, PA.
  • 07/01/1982 Main Office moved to 69 Public Square, Wilkes Barre, PA 18701.
  • 11/10/1984 Acquired Cement National Bank (Charter 5227) (FDIC #7665) in Northampton, PA.
  • 11/30/1987 Acquired The First National Bank of Avoca (Charter 8494) (FDIC #7387) in Avoca, PA.
  • 12/30/1988 Acquired The First National Bank of Peckville (Charter 13754) (FDIC #7676) in Peckville, PA.
  • 02/08/1993 Changed Institution Name to PNC Bank, Northeast PA.
  • 06/26/1993 Merged and became part of PNC Bank, National Association (7944) in Pittsburgh, PA.
  • 09/06/1996 Merged and became part of PNC Bank, National Association (6384) in Pittsburgh, PA.

The PNC Financial Services Group, Inc. is an American bank holding company and financial services corporation based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Its banking subsidiary, PNC Bank, operates in 27 states and the District of Columbia, with 2,629 branches and 9,523 ATMs. PNC Bank is on the list of largest banks in the United States by assets and is one of the largest banks by number of branches, deposits, and number of ATMs. The name "PNC" is derived from the initials of both of the bank's two predecessor companies: Pittsburgh National Corporation and Provident National Corporation, which merged in 1983.

Official Bank Title

1: The First National Bank of Scranton, PA

2: The First National Bank of Scranton, PA (10/19/1911)

Bank Note Types Issued

1902 Red Seal $10 bank note
1902 Red Seal $10 bank note with stamped signatures of Isaac Post, Cashier and J.A. Linen, President. Courtesy of Lyn Knight Auctions, www.lynknight.com
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note
1902 Plain Back $20 bank note with stamped signatures of George C. Nye, Cashier and C.S. Weston, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note variety
1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with printed signatures of George C. Nye, Cashier and C.S. Weston, President. This note is a Mismatched prefixes variety with a non-standard C in the right SN. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Charter 77 Bank Note Types Issued:

A total of $29,103,960 in National Bank Notes was issued by charter 77 between 1863 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 2,375,302 notes (1,233,416 large size and 1,141,886 small size notes).

This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: Original Series 4x5 1 - 5450
1: Original Series 3x10-20 1 - 7084
1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 474
2: 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 61000
2: 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 61001 - 295346
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 95400
2: 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 27452
2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 326396
2: 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 78378


Charter 2697 Bank Note Types Issued:

A total of $5,101,100 in National Bank Notes was issued by charter 2697 between 1882 and 1911. This consisted of a total of 408,088 notes (408,088 large size and No 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 - 10522 Variety 2 Battle of Lexington Vignette for ABCA plate

Variety 1 Battle of Lexington Vignette for DEFB plate

1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 33500
1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 58000

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1863 - 1935):

Charter 77 Bank Presidents and Cashiers:

Presidents:

Cashiers:


Charter 2697 Bank Presidents and Cashiers:

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links


Sources

  • Scranton, PA, 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
  1. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Fri., May 25, 1917.
  2. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., Sep. 10, 1892.
  3. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Fri., Jan. 31, 1879.
  4. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Wed., Dec. 14, 1892.
  5. ↑ Wayne County Herald, Honesdale, PA, Thu., Jan. 22, 1880.
  6. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., June 23, 1917.
  7. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sun., Jan. 10, 1886.
  8. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, .Wed., Jan. 11, 1899.
  9. ↑ The Scranton Truth, Scranton, PA, Wed., Jan. 15, 1908.
  10. ↑ The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, Tue., Jan. 10, 1911.
  11. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., Jan. 8, 1927.
  12. ↑ The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA, Sat., Apr. 2, 1927.
  13. ↑ The Scranton Times, Scranton, PA, Mon., Nov. 25, 1929.
  14. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., Jan. 5, 1929.
  15. ↑ The Evening News, Harrisburg, PA, Mon., Jan. 23, 1928.
  16. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., Jan. 4, 1930.
  17. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Tue., Nov. 3, 1931.
  18. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sat., Jan. 4, 1930.
  19. ↑ The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sun., Aug. 29, 1971.
  20. ↑ The Plain Speaker, Hazleton, PA, Thu., Nov. 29, 1945.
  21. ↑ The Times-Tribune, Scranton PA, Fri., Jan. 4, 1946.
  22. ↑ The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Wed., Feb. 6, 1946.
  23. ↑ The Plain Speaker, Hazleton, PA, Wed., July 2, 1958.
  24. ↑ Standard-Speaker, Hazleton, PA, Wed., July 16, 1958.
  25. ↑ The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, Fri., Aug. 1, 1958.
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