National Bank/First NB, Columbus, GA (Charter 2338)

From Bank Note History
Jump to navigation Jump to search
First National Bank of Columbus, Georgia, ca1940s. Begun in 1859, white columns and arched windows of this famous landmark caused it to be known as the "White Bank."[1] Courtesy of the Library of Congress

National Bank/First NB, Columbus, GA (Chartered 1876 - Closed (Merger) 1987)

Town History

The old First National Bank on Broadway and 11th Street, Columbus, Georgia. Courtesy of Google Maps ca2019

Columbus is a consolidated city-county located on the west-central border of the U.S. state of Georgia. Columbus lies on the Chattahoochee River directly across from Phenix City, Alabama. It is the county seat of Muscogee County, with which it officially merged in 1970; the original merger excluded Bibb City, which joined in 2000 after dissolving its own city charter.

Columbus is the second most populous city in Georgia (after Atlanta), and fields the state's fourth-largest metropolitan area. At the 2020 U.S. census, Columbus had a population of 206,922, with 328,883 in the Columbus metropolitan statistical area. The metro area joins the nearby Alabama cities of Auburn and Opelika to form the Columbus–Auburn–Opelika combined statistical area, which had a population of 563,967 in 2020.

Columbus lies 100 miles southwest of Atlanta. Fort Moore, the United States Army's Maneuver Center of Excellence and a major employer, is located south of the city in southern Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties. Columbus is home to museums and tourism sites, including the National Infantry Museum, dedicated to the U.S. Army's Infantry Branch.

Founded in 1828 by an act of the Georgia Legislature, Columbus was situated at the beginning of the navigable portion of the Chattahoochee River and on the last stretch of the Federal Road before entering Alabama. The city was named for Christopher Columbus. The plan for the city was drawn up by Dr. Edwin L. DeGraffenried, who placed the town on a bluff overlooking the river. Edward Lloyd Thomas (surveyor) was selected to lay out the town on 1,200 acres. Across the river to the west, where Phenix City, Alabama, is now located, lived several tribes of the Creek and other Georgia and Alabama indigenous peoples.

Columbus had four National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, the Chattahoochee National Bank (Charter 1630), the National Bank/First National Bank (Charter 2338), the Third National Bank (Charter 3937), and the Fourth National Bank (Charter 4691), and all four of those banks issued National Bank Notes.

Bank History

A 1934 advertisement for the First National Bank and Home Savings Bank.[2]
  • Organized June 20, 1876
  • Chartered July 15, 1876
  • Bank was Open past 1935
  • For Bank History after 1935 see FDIC Bank History website
  • Acquired the Fort Benning National bank (FDIC # 17787) in Fort Benning, GA, on April 1, 1982
  • Merged into First Union National Bank of Georgia, Atlanta, GA, on December 1, 1987

In 1876 the Georgia Home Savings Bank under the leadership of John Rhodes Browne was organized into the National Bank of Columbus. The building that housed the First National Bank, housed the Bank of Columbus which failed in 1869 and was sold to the Georgia Home Insurance Company.[3] The National Bank opened in the impressive structure at the corner of Broadway and Eleventh built by the Georgia Home Insurance Company. Prior to the opening of Columbus' first national bank, banking had been mainly a private matter carried on by a few individuals or business firms or left up to insurance companies such as the Georgia. One of its predecessors, the old Bank of Columbus, located on what became 1104 Broadway, and like many of its contemporaries, issued its own currency, folding during the War Between the States. Directors of the National Bank, all of whom had been directors of the Georgia Home Insurance Company, were J. Rhodes Browne, president; Julius R. Clapp, Norris N. Curtis, James Rankin, Lemuel T. Downing, George W. Dillingham, cashier; and Charles Wise. The capital stock was $100,000. The Georgia Home Insurance Company continued to function separately from the bank with offices in the basement of the "white bank" building. Also located in the building was the Home Savings Bank with one cage on the main floor.[4]

On Tuesday, January 8, 1895, stockholders re-elected the old board of directors as follows: J. Rhodes Browne, N.N. Curtis, G.M. Williams, S.A. Carter, Rhodes Browne, E.J. Rankin, and L.H. Chappell. The directors re-elected Mr. J. Rhodes Browne, president; and Mr. William Slade, cashier.[5]

On December 28, 1896, Mr. George W. Dillingham, one of Columbus' most prominent citizens passed away at his residence at 628 Broad Street. He was born July 28, 1833, in Columbus and was educated in the public schools, finishing with a two year course at Pittsfield, Massachusetts. He began his business life in 1849 as a clerk in a hardware store and was later advanced to the position of bookkeeper, a position he held for seven years. Then, in partnership with Mr. Denson, he commenced business on his own under the firm name of Dillingham & Denson, the partnership dissolving in 1863 on account of the war. In 1861 he enlisted in the Columbus Guards and about 9 months later was made commissary of the Second Georgia regiment. He served until the close of the war, surrendering April 9, 1865. He returned to Columbus and re-engaged in the hardware business. In 1870 he became connected with the Georgia Home Insurance Company as treasurer and with the National Bank of Columbus as cashier.[6]

On January 8, 1901, the stockholders re-elected the old directors with one exception. Mr. Sam Salisbury resigned from the board on account of moving to Birmingham. Mr. J.A. Kirven was elected a director in his place. The board then consisted of William B. Slade, E.J. Rankin, M.M. Hirsch, Rhodes Browne, J.A. Kirven, George Phelps, and L.H. Chappell. The directors subsequently re-elected William B. Slade, president; J. Douglas Neill, cashier; William W. Hunt, teller; George H. Waddell, bookkeeper; and E.F. Roberts, Jr., collector.[7]

On Tuesday, January 10, 1911, at the annual meeting shareholders elected directors as follows: Rhodes Browne, J.T. Cooper, F.G. Power, J.B. Tarver, Judge H.T. Benton, A.O. Blackmar, Jr., Melville Straus, John K. Harris, Harry R. Williams, W.W. Curtis, R.A. Carson, E.J. Rankin, J. Albert Kirven, F.C. Reich, and A.J. Teague. At a subsequent meeting of the directors, the following officers were elected: Rhodes Browne, president; Harry L. Williams, vice president; J. Douglas Neill, cashier; and Wm. W. Hunt, assistant cashier. The bank declared a dividend of 10% during the past year besides carrying a handsome surplus and undivided profits account.[8]

On January 11, 1921, at the annual meeting of the First National Bank, the following directors were elected at the stockholders' meeting: Rhodes Browne, harry L. Williams, Frank G. Power, John K. Harris, T.C. Hudson, C.B. Tarver, Sam Kaufman, J. Dupont Kirven, W.W. Hunt, L.W. McPerson, and Paul K. McKenney. M.W. Blackmon declined re-election as a director, but remained a stockholder. The directors met subsequently and elected Rhodes Browne, president; Harry L. Williams, W.W. Hunt, vice presidents; F.H. Ferrell, cashier and secretary to the board of directors; R.H. McCutcheon, assistant cashier. The number of officers was increased by the creation of the office of an additional vice president to which Mr. Hunt was elected.[9]

A 1925 advertisement for the Muscogee Bank & Trust Company, located at 23-12th Street, Columbus, Georgia.[10]
In April 1924, the First National Bank acquired the interests of the Muscogee Bank & Trust Co.  The Muscogee Bank & Trust Co. was organized by John and Edward Murray in 1911 with a capital of $50,000.[11] The Muscogee Bank and the Phoenix Bank merged on February 20, 1925, adopting the name of Muscogee Bank and Trust Co.  In January 1926, the officers re-elected were Rhodes Browne, president; R.P. Spencer, Jr., and H.K. Park, vice presidents; Jno. W. Willis, cashier; and J. Owen McNulty, assistant cashier. Mr. R.W. Lightfoot was added as a new assistant cashier.[12] In 1931 a branch office was established at Fort Benning which was later located in the finance officer's department.[13] In 1932 the Muscogee Bank and Trust Co. merged with the Home Savings Bank which in turn merged with the First National Bank in 1934.[14]

In January 1935, stockholders of the Home Savings Bank re-elected the following directors: Rhodes Browne, William B. Langdon, S.J. McMath, H.K. Park, F.C. Retch, J.L. White, and H.L. Williams. The officers re-elected were Rhodes Browne, president; H.K. Park, vice president and trust officer; and William B. Langdon, secretary-treasurer and assistant trust officer.[15] The Home Savings Bank at the close of business December 31, 1934, had total resources of $1,275,795.48 with capital stock $150,000, surplus fund $20,000, undivided profits $4,509.02 and deposits of 1,093,352.58. The bank received its charter on December 26, 1888.[16]

In October 1953, the Merchant's and Mechanic's Bank merged with the First National Bank. This merger marked the end as a separate entity of the oldest bank in Columbus and the second oldest in Georgia still operating under its original national charter. The Merchants and Mechanics Bank was chartered in 1871 and began operations the following year.[17]

In November 1955, the officers of the First National Bank were H.K. Park, chairman of the board; J.B. Key, chairman of the executive board; Jack B. Key, president; J.W. Blackmon, executive vice president; W.F. Pearce, vice president; W.B. Langdon, vice president and cashier; J.A. Harley, A.P. Shirley, C.A. Sears, and J.L. Holman, vice presidents and trust officers; J.M. Mote, vice president and manager of the bank's Five Points branch; R.E. Paine, auditor; and E.H. Paine, cashier of the Drive-In branch.[18]

A 1965 advertisement for the National Bank of Fort Benning.[19]

In 1980, as a result of a new Georgia law, First National decided to form a holding company, First South Bankcorp, to acquire banks in a 100-mile radius. First South then bought Farmers and Merchants Bank of Pine Mountain and in April 1982, the Fort Benning National Bank. By 1982, First South had $260 million in assets, serving Columbus, the second largest city in Georgia with a population of 170,000. First South became an acquisition target of First Atlanta and Augusta's First Railroad and Banking Company.[20] By the end of 1982, First South had merged into First Railroad & Banking Co. of Georgia.[21] 

In October 1959, a $40,000 expansion project for the Fort Benning National Bank was let to David M. Creveling, Columbus contractor, according to Brig. Gen. C.W. Pence, bank president.  The extension would add about 3,000 square feet bringing the bank's total space to 8,500 square feet. It would blend in with the present structure and would have a Norman pink color. The bank first opened for business at Fort Benning July 23, 1957. Customers totaled 8,600 with many Army people making the bank their home bank, keeping their business there after leaving Fort Benning. Following is a list of officers of the bank:  C.W. Pence, president; William A. Lyman, executive vice president; E.G. Sparks, assistant vice president and cashier; L.M. McDowell, Jr., assistant vice president; Rolland L. Griffith and Joy H. Burnham, assistant cashiers. The directors were M.S. Eddy, chairman, M.B. Bell, John D. Higgins, Henry E. Kelly, William A. Lyman, Dennis M. Moore, C.W. Pence, William Z. Rattan, Paul C. Serff, E.W. Smith, S.W. Smithers, and Carl T. Sutherland.[22]  Colonel Charles W. Pence commanded the 442nd (Go for Broke) Regimental Combat Team, the much-decorated unit of Hawaiian Nisei.

In January 1987, First Union Corp. of Georgia suffered from poor name recognition which it planned to fix with advertising.  It was formerly known as First Railroad and Banking Company. The new name was derived from First Union Corp. of Charlotte, North Carolina which acquired First Railroad in 1986. The parent company, the Southeast's second largest bank holding company, renamed the Georgia subsidiary and shifted its headquarters from Augusta to Atlanta, moving into offices at 55 Park Place in downtown Atlanta.  The Georgia unit had assets of $4.1 billion, fourth highest in the state. The parent company had total assets of $26.8 billion in four states. In the fall, the company's 14 banks statewide would be consolidated into First Union National Bank of Georgia. Walton K. Nussbaum was president and chief executive officer of First Union of Georgia and Sidney Tate was president of First Georgia Bank, the Atlanta banking division of First Union of Georgia. The consolidation of the Georgia banks would be made easier by the fact that all had a common data processing service company, First Financial Management Corp. of Atlanta which had been a subsidiary of First Railroad until it was divested the previous year.[23]

On Tuesday, February 17, 1987, the familiar red signs of First National Bank of Columbus changed to the green signs of First Union. The Charlotte-based bank holding company completed its purchase of First National's parent company, First Railroad & Banking Co. in November 1986. First National had $415 million in assets with a charter dating to 1876. Thomas Boyd, president of the Columbus bank, said the merger would allow it to do more in international banking with its First Union connections. To broaden First Union's local base, Alabama businesses could expect more calls from First Union loan officers. "We couldn't have made a $10 million loan a year ago," said Boyd, "but we can today." Columbus rival CB&T [Columbus Bank and Trust Company] recently began an ad campaign emphasizing its hometown service and tradition, but the move wasn't a reaction to First Union's presence according to James Blanchard, chairman.[24]

1987 ad for First Union National Bank of Georgia.[25]

On December 1, 1987, the banks merged into First Union National Bank of Georgia were:[26]

  • First Union National Bank of Columbus, 101, 13th Street, Columbus, GA
  • First union Bank of Augusta, 699 Broad Street, Augusta, GA
  • First Union National Bank of Newnan, 30 Greenville Street, Newnan, GA
  • First Union National Bank of Rome, 501 Broad Street, Rome, GA
  • First Union Bank of Dalton, 204 W. Cuyler Street, Dalton, GA
  • First Union Bank of Valdosta, 300 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta, GA
  • First Union Bank of Griffin, 110 S. Hill Street, Griffin, GA
  • First Union Bank of Macon, 455 Walnut Street, Macon, GA
  • First Union Bank of Pine Mountain, Broad Street, Pine Mountain, GA
  • First Union Bank of Savanna, 2 E. Bryan Street, Savannah, GA
  • First Union Bank of Screven County, 105 S. Main Street, Sylvania, GA
  • First Union Bank of Waycross, 400 Elizabeth Street, Waycross, GA
  • First Union Bank of Waynesboro, 615 Liberty Street, Waynesboro, GA

Official Bank Titles

1: The National Bank of Columbus, GA

2: The First National Bank of Columbus, GA (4/1/1920)

Bank Note Types Issued

1882 Brown Back $20 bank note with pen signatures of William B. Slade, Cashier and J. Rhodes Browne, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1902 Plain Back $10 bank note with stamped signatures of F.H. Ferrell, Cashier and Rhodes Browne, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com
1929 Type 1 $5 bank note with printed signatures of William W. Hunt, Cashier and Rhodes Browne, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $5,635,210 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1876 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 757,264 notes (581,680 large size and 175,584 small size notes).

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

Series/Type Sheet/Denoms Serial#s Sheet Comments
1: Series 1875 4x5 1 - 2300
1: Series 1875 3x10-20 1 - 3667
1: Series 1875 50-100 1 - 500
1: 1882 Brown Back 4x5 1 - 10400
1: 1882 Brown Back 4x10 1 - 3625
1: 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 5200
1: 1882 Date Back 4x5 1 - 19014
1: 1882 Date Back 4x10 1 - 19761
1: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 10030
1: 1902 Plain Back 4x10 1 - 7185
2: 1902 Plain Back 4x5 1 - 34125
2: 1902 Plain Back 4x10 1 - 29863
2: 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 13874
2: 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 7148
2: 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 31500
2: 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 17952

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1876 - 1935):

Presidents:

Cashiers:

Other Known Bank Note Signers

  • No other known bank note signers for this bank

Bank Note History Links

Sources

  • Columbus, GA, 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
  • Historic American Buildings Survey, C. (1933) Bank, 1048 Broadway, Columbus, Muscogee County, GA. Columbus Muscogee County Georgia, Documentation Compiled After 1933. [Photograph] Retrieved from the Library of Congress, https://www.loc.gov/item/ga0422/.
  1. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., July 29, 1951.
  2. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., Oct. 14, 1934.
  3. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Sun., Mar. 27, 1938.
  4. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., July 29, 1951.
  5. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1895.
  6. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Tue., Dec. 29, 1896.
  7. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1901.
  8. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Wed., Jan. 11, 1911.
  9. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Tue., Jan. 11, 1921.
  10. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Tue., June 9, 1925.
  11. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Sun., Mar. 27, 1938.
  12. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Fri., Jan 15, 1926.
  13. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., July 29, 1951.
  14. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., Nov. 6, 1955.
  15. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Wed., Jan. 9, 1935.
  16. ↑ Ledger Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Fri., Jan. 4, 1935.
  17. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., Nov. 6, 1955.
  18. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., Nov. 6, 1955.
  19. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Sun., Nov. 14, 1965.
  20. ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Wed., May 26, 1982.
  21. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Wed., Oct. 27, 1982.
  22. ↑ Ledger-Enquirer, Columbus, GA, Sat., Oct. 17, 1959.
  23. ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Tue., Jan. 27, 1987.
  24. ↑ The Columbus Ledger, Columbus, GA, Mon. Feb. 16, 1987.
  25. ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Sun., Dec. 20, 1987.
  26. ↑ The Atlanta Constitution, Atlanta, GA, Mon. Aug. 17, 1987.
Retrieved from "https://banknotehistory.mywikis.wiki/w/index.php?title=National_Bank/First_NB,_Columbus,_GA_(Charter_2338)&oldid=56841"