National Bank, Olyphant, PA (Charter 14079)

Postcard showing Lackawanna Avenue looking south ca1930s. On the far left you see the National Bank of Olyphant, Pennsylvania. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

National Bank, Olyphant, PA (Chartered 1934 - Closed (Merger) 1999)

Town History

The old National Bank of Olyphant building on the corner of Lackawanna and Willow Avenues. Courtesy of Google Maps

Postcard showing a bird's eye view of Olyphant and Blakely, Pennsylvania, ca1930s. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

Olyphant is a borough in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. It is six miles northeast of downtown Scranton, on the Lackawanna River in the heart of the anthracite region of the state. Its main source of employment was the mining and shipping of coal. It was the headquarters of the Lackawanna Coal Company. Other industries of the past were the manufacturing of blasting powder, iron and steel goods, cigars, and silks. Olyphant experienced a severe downturn in the 1950s. There was once a thriving garment industry with numerous dress factories in the downtown area. The population was 5,151 at the 2010 census. The population in 1900 was 6,180, peaking in 1930 at 10,743.

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

Bank History

Organized March 9, 1934
Chartered March 23, 1934
Bank was Open past 1935
For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
Changed Institution Name to NBO National Bank, May 1, 1995
Merged into First National Bank of Jermyn, PA (Charter 6158), February 13, 1999

Mr. Herbert S. Hummler was appointed cashier of the new National Bank of Olyphant. He was the son of one of the best known among Scranton banking men, Mr. Frank Hummler, vice president of the First National Bank. For a time he was connected with his father's First National Bank, and for two years he was a national bank examiner in the Philadelphia district. More recently he was with the local office of Cassatt and Company in the bond and security department and with Tucker, Anthony and Company as an assistant to the manager.

On March 28, 1934, the Comptroller of the Currency, J.F.T. O'Connor, announced the chartering of The National Bank of Olyphant with capital of $100,000. The Comptroller also announced chartering of two other Pennsylvania banks succeeded prior organizations. They were the First National Bank at Koppel, and the Codorus National Bank in Jefferson. The officers of the National Bank of Olyphant were Harvey B. Bush, president; Michael J. Check, vice president; Herbert S. Hummler, cashier; and G.G. Evan, assistant cashier. The directors were Messrs Bush, Hummler, Check and Attorney J. Desmond Kennedy, Joseph Crotti, Joseph Friedman, Joseph J. Guzek, and Edward A. Rogan.

H.B. Bush was the proprietor of Bush's Pharmacy, Olyphant for 47 years. He retired from business in 1945. He was a past president of Lackawanna County Pharmaceutical Society and one of the founders of the National Bank of Olyphant. He passed away at his home in Olyphant on February 14, 1948.

In January 1954, the officers were Michael J. Check, president; Joseph Friedman, executve vice president; Walter Tinsley, cashier and Mildred Witby and Sarah Jordan, assistant cashiers. Directors re-elected were Mr. Check, J. Desmond Kennedy, E.A. Rogan, Joseph Crotti, Mr. Friedman, F.P. Truskolaski, Dr. Joseph A. Carr, Frank G. Lucas and Dr. Joseph T. Guzek.

On Tuesday, February 16, 1999, The First National Bank of Jermyn and NBO National Bank officially became First Liberty Bank & Trust. The combined institution had nine locations in Carbondale, Jermyn, Jessup, Olyphant, Daleville, Pittston, Minooka, Scranton (Keyser Ave.) and Scranton (Wyoming Ave.).

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The National Bank of Olyphant, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

1929 Type 2 $10 bank note with printed signatures of Herbert S. Hummler, Cashier and H.B. Bush, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

The First National Bank of Jermyn and NBO National Bank officially became First Liberty Bank & Trust on Tuesday, February 16, 1999.

A total of $71,100 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1934 and 1999. This consisted of a total of 10,755 notes (No large size and 10,755 small size notes).

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

Series/Type	Sheet/Denoms	Serial#s	Sheet Comments
1929 Type 2	5	1 - 7290
1929 Type 2	10	1 - 3465

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1934 - 1999):

Presidents:

Harvey B. Bush, 1934-1935

Cashiers:

Herbert S. Hummler Sr., 1934-1935

Other Bank Note Signers

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

Wiki Links

Sources

Olyphant, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Olyphant,_Pennsylvania
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 Tribune, Scranton, PA, Tue., Feb. 27, 1934.
The Pittsburgh Press, Pittsburgh, PA, Wed., Mar. 28, 1934.
The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Wed., Apr. 11, 1934.
Scrantonian Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sun. Feb. 15, 1948.
The Tribune, Scranton, PA, Wed., Jan. 13, 1954.
The Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA, Sun., Feb. 14, 1999.