National Bank of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA (Charter 546)

Postcard showing the National Bank of Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ca1900s. Courtesy of Adam Stroup

National Bank of Germantown/NB of Germantown & TC, Philadelphia, PA (Chartered 1864 - Open past 1935)

Town History

Chew Mansion, Main Street above Johnson, Germantown circa 1902. Scene of the Battle of Germantown 1777 where Washington unsuccessfully attacked the British under Howe.

Chew Mansion, Main Street above Johnson, Germantown (ca1902). Scene of the Battle of Germantown, 1777, where Washington unsuccessfully attacked the British under Howe.

Germantown is an area in Northwest Philadelphia and is in Philadelphia County. Founded by German, Quaker, and Mennonite families in 1683 as an independent borough, it was absorbed into Philadelphia in 1854. The area, which is about six miles northwest from the city center, now consists of two neighborhoods: 'Germantown' and 'East Germantown'.

Germantown has played a significant role in American history; it was the birthplace of the American antislavery movement, the site of a Revolutionary War battle, the temporary residence of George Washington, the location of the first bank of the United States, and the residence of many notable politicians, scholars, artists, and social activists.

Today the area remains rich in historic sites and buildings from the colonial era, some of which are open to the public.

Philadelphia had 70 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 62 of those banks issued National Bank Notes. Philadelphia also had 27 Obsolete Banks that issued Obsolete Bank Notes during the Obsolete Bank Note Era (1782-1866).

Bank History

Bank of Germantown $1 Obsolete Note with pen signatures of Charles W. Otto, Cashier and Wm. Wynne Wister, Vice President. This polar bear vignette is one of the most dynamic to appear on obsolete notes and some Canadian issues. The American Bank Note Company engraved the plates. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Organized October 20, 1864
Chartered October 25, 1864
Succeeded Bank of Germantown
Bank was Open past 1935
Merged with the Girard Trust Corn Exchange Bank taking that name, September 11, 1953

The Bank of Germantown, established in 1814, was founded by Charles J. Wister, (1782-1865). It was succeeded by The National Bank of Germantown in 1864 with Charles Wister's son, William Wynne Wister, elected president. The bank was located on Main Street near Market Square, Germantown, Philadelphia. The address is now Germantown Ave. at School House Lane. As the only national bank in Germantown, it held a distinctive place within this historically interesting residential and manufacturing district. The title of the bank would change to the National Bank of Germantown and Trust Company, Philadelphia on March 21, 1929.

In January 1865, the directors were:  Charles Magarge, William Wynne Wister, Charles J. Wister, William Green, Owen Sheridan, William N. Johnson, Nathan L. Jones, Jabez Gates, John Rittenhouse, Ezra Comfort, Nicholas Rittenhouse, Jr., Norton Johnson, and John S. Haines.

In May of 1953, influential stockholders of the 139-year old, $40 million National Bank of Germantown and Trust Co., an institution founded 37 years after the historic Battle of Germantown, organized to defeat a merger with the $550 million Girard Trust Corn Exchange Bank, third largest in Philadelphia and 117 years old. Proponents of the merger felt that the 700 stockholders would be better off financially as would the community through the greater capital and more diversified services of a massive bank. A two-thirds vote was necessary to ratify the merger. With the approval of the necessary numbers of stockholders and the State and Federal authorities, The National Bank of Germantown and Trust Co. merged and became the Girard Trust and Corn Exchange on Sept. 11, 1953.

Official Bank Title(s)

1: The National Bank of Germantown, Philadelphia, PA

2: National Bank of Germantown and Trust Company (3/21/1929), Philadelphia, PA

Bank Note Types Issued

Original Series $2 bank note with pen signatures of Charles W. Otto, Cashier and Wm. Wynne Wister, President. This variety has a comma following Germantown. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

Series of 1875 $1 bank note with pen signatures of Charles W. Otto, Cashier and Wm. Wynne Wister, President. This variety has a period following Germantown. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

1929 Type 1 $10 bank note with printed signatures of John C. Knox, Cashier and Walter Williams, President. Courtesy of Heritage Auctions, www.ha.com

A total of $7,014,140 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1864 and 1935. This consisted of a total of 976,465 notes (782,792 large size and 193,673 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	3x1-2	1 - 15000	Comma after bank name
1: Original Series	4x5	1 - 7500
1: Original Series	3x10-20	1 - 2900
1: Series 1875	3x1-2	1 - 4040	Comma after bank name
1: Series 1875	4x5	1 - 14241
1: Series 1875	3x10-20	1 - 1521
1: 1882 Brown Back	4x5	1 - 24845
1: 1882 Brown Back	3x10-20	1 - 8871
1: 1902 Red Seal	4x5	1 - 8500
1: 1902 Red Seal	3x10-20	1 - 6000
1: 1902 Date Back	4x5	1 - 28165
1: 1902 Date Back	3x10-20	1 - 20734
1: 1902 Plain Back	4x5	28166 - 59350
1: 1902 Plain Back	3x10-20	20735 - 42930
2: 1929 Type 1	6x5	1 - 13650
2: 1929 Type 1	6x10	1 - 7414
2: 1929 Type 1	6x20	1 - 1912
2: 1929 Type 2	5	1 - 33834
2: 1929 Type 2	10	1 - 17349
2: 1929 Type 2	20	1 - 4634

Bank Presidents and Cashiers

Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1864 - 1936):

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

Philadelphia, PA, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia,_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://bbdata.banknotehistory.com
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Thu., Jan. 12, 1865.
Philadelphia and Notable Philadelphians, Moses King, Blanchard Press, Isaac H. Blanchard Co., New York, 1902, p. 56.
J.A. Livingston, Quad-City Times, Davenport, IA, Wed., May 6, 1953.
The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philadelphia, PA, Wed., Sep. 16, 1953.