Groos National Bank, San Antonio, TX (Charter 10148)
Groos National Bank, San Antonio, TX (Chartered 1912 - Closed (Merger) 1997)
Town History
San Antonio is a city in the U.S. state of Texas. It is the seventh-most populous city in the United States, second-most populous city in Texas and second-most populous city in the Southern U.S., with a population of 1.43 million at the 2020 census. The San Antonio metropolitan area, with an estimated 2.76 million residents, ranks as the third-largest metropolitan area in Texas and the 24th-largest in the nation. It is the county seat of Bexar County.
San Antonio is home to five 18th-century Spanish frontier missions, including The Alamo.
San Antonio had 16 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 15 of those banks issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized January 31, 1912
- Chartered February 26, 1912
- Succeeded F. Groos & Co. Bankers, San Antonio
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
- Merged into Norwest Bank Texas, N.A. in San Antonio, TX, October 11, 1997
The firm of F. Groos & Co. was established at Eagle Pass, Texas, in November 1854, and continued there doing a general mercantile business until the Civil War broke out. During the was the firm was principally engaged in the forwarding of cotton at Piedras Negras, later Ciudad Porfirio Diaz, Mexico, opposite Eagle Pass, cotton going to Matamoras, Mexico, by ox carts or mule wagons, thence shipped by neutral vessels to Europe. Matamoras, before scarcely known to the outside world, suddenly became a great commercial place, being the most convenient point from which to export Texas cotton. The firm of F. Groos & Co. was established at Eagle Pass, Texas, in November 1854, and continued there doing a general mercantile business until the Civil War broke out. During the was the firm was principally engaged in the forwarding of cotton at Piedras Negras, later Ciudad Porfirio Diaz, Mexico, opposite Eagle Pass, cotton going to Matamoras, Mexico, by ox carts or mule wagons, thence shipped by neutral vessels to Europe. Matamoras, before scarcely known to the outside world, suddenly became a great commercial place, being the most convenient point from which to export Texas cotton. Including the Mexican import duty, it cost about 10 cents a pound to take cotton from Texas to Matamoras. While cheap in Texas, cotton was sometimes worth forty or even fifty cents at Matamoras and as high as thirty pence at Liverpool. In 1866 the firm commenced a general mercantile business in San Antonio, Texas, changing its business to that of private bankers in 1874. Partners of the firm included Frederic, Carl and Gustav Groos. Frederic Groos, the original founder lived until 1912 and remained actively engaged in business until his death.[3][4]
In 1909, the fourteen banks of San Antonio had over $5,000,000 capital and more than $20,000,000 deposits. San Antonio was just entering on a era of commercial growth as a "hub" of the southwest. One of the oldest banks in Texas and the oldest bank in San Antonio, organized in 1854, was the F. Groos & Co. private bank located on West Commerce Street. This bank was started by the senior member of the present firm, Mr. F. Groos, who was continuously at its head. The other member of the present firm was Mrs. Hulda Groos, widow of the late Carl Groos. The bank owned the building it occupied as well as buildings occupied by the American Express Company, Guessaz & Ferlet, etc., on Commerce, Navarro and Crockett Streets. The bank did a regular commercial banking business, handled mortgage loans both on its own account and for its trust funds, and was one of the safe depositories of the city.[5]
On January 3, 1912, an application was received by the comptroller of the currency for a charter for the Groos National Bank of San Antonio with a capital of $250,000. Franz C. Groos was correspondent with F. Groos, C. Deussen, I.S. Kampmann and C.H. Kearny, directors[6] On February 29, 1912, the Groos National Bank opened its doors for business. The officers were Franz C. Groos who had the active management of F. Groos & Co. since 1898, president, and Charles Deussen cashier.Other directors were A.W. Guenther, C.A. Goeth, I.S. Kampmann, and C.H. Kearney. The new bank succeeded to the business of the private bank.[7]
In July 1915, the officers were Franz C. Groos, president; A.W. Guenther, vice president; Chas. Deussen, cashier; Ferd. Groos, assistant cashier. The directors were Franz C. Groos, A.W. Guenther, Chas. Deussen, I.S. Kampmann, C.H. Kearney, and C.A. Goeth. The bank had total resources of $1,266,062.69 with capital $250,000, surplus $44,342.90, circulation $150,000, and deposits $821,719.79.[8]
In March 1920, the San Antonio Mexican consulate moved to the second floor of the Groos National Bank building at 304 Navarro Street. The transfer from 213 Third Street to the more spacious quarters had been contemplated since the first of the year by Consul Gonzala de la Mata. During February a total of 300 Mexican passports were issued.[9]
On Sunday, January 4, 1931, Arthur W. Guenther, 71, vice president of the Groos National Bank and a founder of the Liberty Flour Mills, died at his San Antonio home. Guenther was born in Fredericksburg on February 12, 1859 and when 2 years old was brought by his parents to San Antonio. For several years he was associated with his father in the flour mill business, the firm then known as G.W. Guenther & Sons.[10]
On October 2, 1931, Carl F. Groos, prominent San Antonio investment banker, told detectives a story of being kidnaped held for $5,000 ransom. A countrywide search for Groos had been conducted since a note from him to his office saying, he was being held for ransom. He had not returned to the city tonight but assured detectives by telephone that he had been released and was safe. Groos was an agent for the B.F. Dittmars Company. A brother, Clarence Groos, was president of the Groos National Bank and another brother was vice-president. Considerable anxiety had been felt for Groos' safety since midafternoon, when a Mexican boy brought a note from Groos to his office. "I am being held for $5,000 ransom," it read, and bore nO signature clue to the place where he was held. Groos had left his office after a telephone request that he join some prospective customers in looking at real estate. Police were notified of the mysterious note's arrival. Shortly afterward, Mrs. Groos, at her home, received a telephone call instructing her to drive out the Fredericksburg Road, bringing $5,000 with her end identifying her automobile with a white handkerchief on the radiator. Mrs. Groos invited two deputy sheriffs to go with her and they failed to encounter anyone. Other peace officers were set to work on the case when the party returned. About 7 p.m. Groos called detective headquarters by telephone. He said he had been lured to an abandoned house on the Fredericksburg Road, on the pretext that he was to look at real estate and was held there by two men. He said they made him write the note he sent to his office. While they were waiting for developments, the men fell to arguing between themselves over division of the ransom money. "I took a hand in the matter and finally persuaded them to let me go for $5 in cash," Groos advised the detectives. Officers were dispatched to the place where Groos said he had been held, in the hope that they might be able to scour the country and find the two men.[11]
In January 1935, a young bank clerk was at work in the Groos National Bank "learning the business from the ground up." The young man was Frank Spencer Meador, former actor who eloped on Christmas night with Anne Gould, granddaughter of Jay Gould, New York financier.[12] In February 1936, Mr. Meador, in obtaining a divorce, said his wife found life as a bank clerk's wife too dull after the gay social swirl of New York.[13] Member of a Texas ranch family and nephew of J.B. Estep, Fort Worth banker, Mr. Meador met Anne Gould while appearing in a minor role in a Broadway play.[14]
In July 1956, the officers were Ernest M. Groos, president & trust officer; Carl G. Jockusch, vice president; Henry Schiffers, vice president & trust officer; Gerand Theis, Ernest M. Groos, Jr., and Hugo O. Woellert, vice president; Alton W. Schweers, cashier; Robert H. Seal, George Rips, Thos. H. Flinn, assistant vice presidents; Larson A. Krisch, William J. Bowman, Edward J. Buratovich, Alton R. Mays, and H. James Stone, assistant cashiers; Albert J. Weyel, Jr., trust officer; and William T. Burke, assistant trust officer. The directors were Ed Finck, president, Finck Cigar Co.; Geo. E. Friedrich, president, Friedrich Finance Co.; Martin C. Giesecke, Burros Mills, Inc.; Ernest M. Groos, president & trust officer; Ernest M. Groos, Jr., vice president; Harry D. Jersig, president, Lone Star Brewing Co.; Carl G. Jockusch, vice president; Ike S. Kampmann, Kampmann & Kampmann, attorneys; Ike S. Kampmann, Jr., Kampmann & Kampmann, attorneys; Gibbs McDaniel, president, City Wide Vending Machine Co.; Henry Schiffers, vice president & trust officer; and P. Cedric Wenger, president, South Texas Corporation.[16]
- 06/15/1987 Acquired Commercial National Bank (FDIC #25732) in San Antonio, TX.
- 07/01/1988 Acquired Mercantile Bank & Trust (FDIC #18167) in San Antonio, TX.
- 07/28/1989 Acquired San Pedro Bank (FDIC #22484) in San Antonio, TX.
- 10/31/1989 Main Office moved to 40 Northeast Loop 410, San Antonio, TX 78216.
- 06/17/1996 Changed Institution Name to Norwest Bank Texas, South, National Association.
- 07/12/1996 Acquired Union National Bank of Texas (FDIC #1489) in Laredo, TX.
- 03/21/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Kelly Field, National Association (FDIC #17680) in Leon Valley, TX.
- 03/21/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, San Antonio, National Association (FDIC #18475) in San Antonio, TX.
- 05/09/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Premont (FDIC #18485) in Premont, TX.
- 05/09/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Alice (FDIC #10326) in Alice, TX.
- 05/09/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Robstown, National Association (FDIC #14414) in Robstown, TX.
- 06/13/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Waco, National Association (FDIC #5571) in Waco, TX.
- 06/13/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Kerrville, National Association (FDIC #9013) in Kerrville, TX.
- 06/13/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Comfort (FDIC #17854) in Comfort, TX.
- 06/13/1997 Acquired Norwest Bank Texas, Bandera (FDIC #11174) in Bandera, TX.
- 10/11/1997 Merged and became part of Norwest Bank Texas, National Association (FDIC #14533) in San Antonio, TX.
- 04/14/2000 Changed Institution Name to Wells Fargo Bank Texas, National Association.
- 11/21/2003 Merged and became part of Wells Fargo Bank, National Association (FDIC #3511) in San Francisco, CA.
Official Bank Title
1: The Groos National Bank of San Antonio, TX
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $3,447,790 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1912 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 490,674 notes (313,736 large size and 176,938 small size notes).
This bank issued the following Types and Denominations of bank notes:
Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 7410 1902 Date Back 4x10 1 - 7420 1902 Plain Back 4x5 7411 - 43343 1902 Plain Back 4x10 7421 - 35091 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 15264 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 7520 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 26834 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 13400
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1912 - 1935):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
Other Known Bank Note Signers
- No other known bank note signers for this bank
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- San Antonio, TX, 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 Bankers' Magazine, Vol 81, July - Dec. 1910, p. 527.
- ↑ The Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 70, January-July 1905, p. 241.
- ↑ The Houston Post, Houston, TX, Sun., Jan. 28, 1912.
- ↑ The Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 70, January-July 1905, pp 241-2.
- ↑ San Antonio Gazette, San Antonio, TX, Sat., Mar. 6, 1909.
- ↑ The Evening Sun, Baltimore, MD, Wed., Jan. 3, 1912.
- ↑ The Galveston Daily News, Galveston, TX, Sat., Mar. 2, 1912.
- ↑ Freie Presse Fur Texas, San Antonio, TX, Thu., July 1, 1915.
- ↑ San Antonio Evening News, San Antonio, TX, Wed., Mar. 3, 1920.
- ↑ The Houston Chronicle, Houston, TX, Mon., Jan. 5, 1931.
- ↑ The Marshall News Messenger, Marshall, TX, Fri., Oct. 2, 1931.
- ↑ Brooklyn Eagle, Brooklyn, NY, Sat., Jan. 26, 1935.
- ↑ Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, NY, Fri., Feb. 14, 1936.
- ↑ Buffalo Courier Express, Buffalo, NY, Fri., Feb. 14, 1936.
- ↑ Express-News, San Antonio, TX, Thu., Nov 14, 1957.
- ↑ Express-News, San Antonio, TX, Fri., July 13, 1956.