Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth, TX (Charter 3131)
Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth, TX (Chartered 1884 - Liquidated 1989)
Town History
Fort Worth is the fifth-largest city in Texas and the 12th-largest city in the United States. It is the county seat of Tarrant County, covering nearly 350 square miles into four other counties: Denton, Parker, Wise, and Johnson. According to the 2020 U.S. census, Fort Worth's population was 927,720. Fort Worth is the second-largest city in the Dallas–Fort Worth–Arlington metropolitan area, which is the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in the United States.
The city of Fort Worth was established in 1849 as an army outpost on a bluff overlooking the Trinity River. Fort Worth has historically been a center of the Texas Longhorn cattle trade. It still embraces its Western heritage and traditional architecture and design. Nearby Dallas has held a population majority since the 1950s, and Fort Worth has become one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States in recent years, particularly in the 21st century, and has more than doubled its population since 2000.
As a stop on the legendary Chisholm Trail, Fort Worth was stimulated by the business of the cattle drives and became a brawling, bustling town. Millions of head of cattle were driven north to market along this trail. Fort Worth became the center of the cattle drives, and later, the ranching industry. It was given the nickname of Cowtown.
During the Civil War, Fort Worth suffered from shortages of money, food, and supplies. The population dropped as low as 175, but began to recover during Reconstruction. By 1872, Jacob Samuels, William Jesse Boaz, and William Henry Davis had opened general stores. The next year, Tidball and Wilson established a private banking house which became Tidball, Van Zandt, and Company in 1874.
Fort Worth had 14 National Banks chartered during the Bank Note Era, and 12 of those banks issued National Bank Notes. North Fort Worth had 1 National Bank chartered during the Bank Note Era, The Exchange National Bank of North Fort Worth, Charter 8287, and it issued National Bank Notes.
Bank History
- Organized December 31, 1883
- Chartered March 4, 1884
- Succeeded Tidball, Van Zandt & Co.
- Absorbed 3221 March 3, 1914 (State National Bank, Fort Worth, TX)
- Assumed 4004 by consolidation which included circulation of 4848 February 2, 1927 (Farmers and Mechanics NB, Fort Worth, TX)
- Absorbed 6822 December 31, 1934 (Stockyards National Bank, Fort Worth, TX)
- Bank was Open past 1935
- For Bank History after 1935 see: FDIC Bank History website
- Bankers Magazine Succession Info (1863-1909):
- Texas American Bancshares Inc. failed July 20, 1989. Merged with government financial assistance into Texas American Bridge Bank, NA, Fort Worth, TX
- Texas American Bridge Bank, an interim institution to oversee the failed banks until they were fully acquired by Deposit Guaranty Bank of Dallas
The oldest banking institution in Fort Worth was founded by Tidball and Wilson in 1873 as a private banking institution. In 1874, Major K.M. Van Zandt, Major J.J. Jarvis and John Peter Smith bought out the Wilson interests and the firm became Tidball, Van Zandt & Co. In 1884 it became the Fort Worth National Bank.
On March 4, 1884, the Comptroller of the Currency authorized the Fort Worth National Bank to begin business with capital of $125,000. The American National Bank of Dallas was also authorized to begin business with capital of $500,000. The Fort Worth National Bank had as officers K.M. Van Zandt, president, Thos. A. Tidball, vice president and Noah Harding, cashier. Directors were K.M. Van Zandt, Thos. A. Tidball, Noah Harding, J.P. Smith, J.J. Jarvis, and E.J. Beall.
Consolidation with the State National Bank
On January 28, 1914, the boards of directors of the State national Bank and the Fort Worth National Bank met and decided to consolidate the two institutions. More than 75% of the stock of each bank was represented at the meetings and favored the consolidation. Additionally the Waggoner Bank and Trust Company was taken over by the stockholders of the Fort Worth National Bank. The Waggoner Bank became the Fort Worth Savings Bank and Trust Company, an adjunct of the Fort Worth National Bank, and moved into the newly constructed State National Bank building. Both E.E. Baldridge and F.M. Sherwood of the State National Bank became officers of the Fort Worth National Bank.
The State National was founded in 1884 by W.H. Harrison. The Waggoner Bank and Trust Co. started as the Hunter-Phelan Savings Bank and Trust Co., originally located at Eighth and Houston Streets. It became the Waggoner Bank and Trust Co. and moved temporarily into quarters with the State National Bank at 506-8 Main Street in 1913 pending construction of a new building.
After liquidation of the State National Bank's assets into the Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth had a $10,000,000 banking institution.
Consolidation with the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank
Elmer Renfro in January 1898 took a job as a collector for the American National Bank (Charter 4848), became assistant cashier in 1904 and a few years later was made cashier. The American National merged with the Farmers & Mechanics National Bank (Charter 4004) on December 1, 1918 and Renfro was made cashier of the consolidated institution. Again on December 31, 1926, when the Farmers and Mechanics merged with the Fort Worth National, Renfro became cashier of the Fort Worth National, serving in that position until his election as cashier and vice president in 1931.
On January 2, the Fort Worth National Bank announced the consolidation of the Farmers and Mechanics National Bank. The Fort Worth National Bank opened the morning of January 3, 1927 in the former quarters of the Farmers and Mechanics National on Main at Seventh Street. The combination of two of the oldest and strongest banks in the city resulted in an institution with resources over $39,000,000.
On February 2, 1927, the Comptroller of the Currency confirmed the consolidation. The consolidation was approved by and new officers were elected by shareholders on January 31. R.W. Fender was advanced to vice president from cashier of the old Fort Worth National Bank and represented the bank in Washington to obtain the confirmation. Two other officers of the old Fort Worth National were promoted with Fender--K.V. Jennings and E.P. Van Zandt, former assistant cashiers advanced to assistant vice presidents. Five officers from the Farmers and Mechanics National were included in the new institution. Elmer Renfro, F&M cashier was named to succeed Fender. Guy J. Price, Jr., R.C. Hearne, and B.H. Martin, F&M vice presidents were given similar rank and S.O. Hartman, F&M assistant cashier, retained that rank. Maj. K.M. Van Zandt, head of the Fort Worth National Bank since its birth in 1873, continued as president of the new bank. Others elected included: R.E. Harding, E.E. Bewley, W.M. Massie, B.H. Martin, vice presidents; D.G. Weiler, W.E. Welch C.W. Braselton, W.B. Cayee, assistant cashiers. Directors elected were: K.M. Van Zandt, B.L. Anderson, W.R. Bennett, E.E. Bewley, William Bryee, Alexander Cobden, R.V. Colbert, G.E. Cowden, Jr., T.B. Ellison, R.W. Fender, R.E. Harding, R.C. Hearne, H.B. Herd, Van Zandt Jarvis, John P. King, J.B. Laneri, A.J. Long, Edgar J. Marston, B.H. Martin, W.M. Massie, William Monnig, Sr., Guy J. Price, Jr., E.G. Rall, W.D. Reynolds, Glen Walker and C.A. Wheeler.
Consolidation with the Stockyards National Bank
On Monday, October 15, 1934, the merged Stockyards National Bank and Fort Worth National Bank opened for business with combined deposits of approximately $35,000,900, making it the fifth largest in Texas. W.L. Pier, president of the Stockyards bank assumed his new duties as a vice president of the Fort Worth National and W.M. McDonald, cashier of the North Side bank became assistant cashier of the Fort Worth National. Pier said the merger was a result of the new policy of Armour and Co., packers, not to operate banks. The Stockyards bank was founded in 1903 by Armour in conjunction with Swift and Company with Swift subsequently relinquishing interests in the bank. Armour & Co., the only stockholder of the Stockyards bank, liquidated assets as required by national banking law.
- 03/25/1974 Main Office moved to 500 Throckmorton Street, Fort Worth, TX 76102.
- 10/01/1982 Changed Institution Name to Texas American Bank/Fort Worth, National Association.
- 11/06/1987 Acquired Texas American Bank/Riverside (FDIC #16513) in Fort Worth, TX.
- 11/06/1987 Acquired Texas American Bank/West Side (FDIC #16592) in Fort Worth, TX.
- 11/06/1987 Acquired Texas American Bank/Ridgmar (FDIC #22044) in Fort Worth, TX.
Official Bank Title
1: The Fort Worth National Bank, Fort Worth, TX
Bank Note Types Issued
A total of $19,778,670 in National Bank Notes was issued by this bank between 1884 and 1989. This consisted of a total of 2,273,004 notes (1,522,196 large size and 750,808 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 4x5 1 - 1075 1882 Brown Back 3x10-20 1 - 8468 1902 Red Seal 4x5 1 - 7000 1902 Red Seal 3x10-20 1 - 8500 1902 Date Back 4x5 1 - 39000 1902 Date Back 3x10-20 1 - 28900 1902 Plain Back 4x5 39001 - 215990 1902 Plain Back 3x10-20 28901 - 136328 1902 Plain Back 3x50-100 1 - 3188 1929 Type 1 6x5 1 - 68694 1929 Type 1 6x10 1 - 36392 1929 Type 1 6x20 1 - 9750 1929 Type 1 6x50 1 - 2196 1929 Type 1 6x100 1 - 712 1929 Type 2 5 1 - 28152 1929 Type 2 10 1 - 12937 1929 Type 2 20 1 - 3255
Bank Presidents and Cashiers
Bank Presidents and Cashiers during the National Bank Note Era (1884 - 1989):
Presidents:
Cashiers:
- Noah Harding, 1884-1905
- Oscar D. Wells, 1906-1908
- Elmo Sledd, 1909-1914
- William Munford Massie, 1915-1918
- Robert William Fender, 1919-1926
- Elmer Renfro, 1927-1935
Other Known Bank Note Signers
Bank Note History Links
Sources
- Fort Worth, 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
- Bankers' Magazine, Vol. 108, Jan. 1924-June 1924, p. 351.
- The Dallas Daily Herald, Dallas, TX, Wed., Mar. 5, 1884.
- Fort Worth Daily Gazette, Fort Worth, TX, Sun., Mar. 23, 1884.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Thu., Jan. 29, 1914.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Sun., Jan 2, 1927.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Thu., Feb. 3, 1927.
- Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Tue., Oct. 15, 1934.
- Fort Worth Star Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Tue., Oct. 16, 1934.
- Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth, TX, Thu., Aug. 31, 1944.