Phenix Bank and Chatham Bank

Phenix Bank was established in 1812^[7][8] as the banking division of the New York Manufacturing Company, which made cotton looms and supplies. As the banking division initially focused on selling wire, it was named Wire Bank, becoming an independent institution in 1817 under the name Phenix Bank, with headquarters at 24 Wall Street.^[9] In 1894, the Lombard & Ayres company of New York was worth $1,000,000, and the majority of its assets were kept in the Phenix National Bank in London, where Josiah Lombard was the director.^[10]

The Chatham Bank was established in 1850.^[7][8] On August 14, 1910, it was reported that George M. Hard had resigned as president of Chatham National Bank after fifty years with the bank, and had been elected chairman by the board. ^[11] Shortly after becoming a member of the Chatham board, after Hard,^[11] Louis Graveraet Kaufman became the president of Chatham National Bank of New York,^[5] although only after receiving special dispensation allowing him to remain president of First National Bank of Marquette.^[12] When Kaufman became president of Chatham,^[4] the bank's deposits were about $7,000,000.^[4]

1911: Merger of Phenix and Chatham

In 1911, Chatham National Bank of New York's president brought about a merger^[7] with Chatham National Bank of New York and Phenix National.^[6] In the early 1911 deal, Chatham National paid $1,880,000 to absorb the asset of the Phenix National Bank, creating Chatham and Phenix National. Deposits of the two banks as of January 7, 1911 was $17,957,209.^[2] The New York Times wrote that the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company was helped to be started by "J. Pierpont Morgan, the renowned American financier."^[13] At one point, the Astor and Goelet estates were identified with the institution.^[8]

1915-1924: Acquisitions and branches

In 1915, Century Bank was absorbed, as well as its branches, and Chatham National Bank became the first national bank to operate branches in the same city with the main bank.^[4] In January 1915, there were negotiations for Chatham and Phenix National to buy and liquidate the Mutual Alliance Trust Company in its entirety. Chatham and Phenix Officers at the time included George M. Hard as chairman, Louis G. Kaufman as president, and three vice presidents.^[3] The merger was completed on January 14, 1915. The value of the merged institutions was $32,000,000. At the time, Kaufman was president of the Chatham, with Kaufman putting the deal through.^[7] In July 1915, the bank was in talks to potentially become a state institution.^[14] As of December 31, 1915, Chatham-Phenix was third in the United States for most profit earned on capital stock.^[15] By the end of 1916, the bank had deposits of about $86 million. At the time, Chatham and Phenix was "the only national branch which operates local branches, of which it has twelve," reported the Times.^[16] The bank moved into the Singer Building on December 30, 1916.^[17] On July 3, 1917, Chatham & Phenix National Bank and other institutions donated Red Cross dividends to the Red Cross War Finance Committee.^[18]

In January 1921, the Times reported that the Chatham and Phenix Nation Bank was "one of the few institutions in New York which enjoyed an increase in deposits during the year just ended." Also, the bank was one of the "few members of the Federal Reserve Bank which finished the year with no debt to that Bank, either bills payable or rediscounts."^[19] On November 7, 1921, Chatham and Phenix announced it had purchased New York County National Bank, to become a twelfth branch of the larger company.^[8] At the time, Chatham and Phenix had deposits of around $163,000,000.^[8] As of March 9, 1921, Chatham and Phenix National was one of four national banks in New York City operating branch offices, also including the Mechanics and Metals National, the Irving National, and National City Bank.^[20] Chatham and Phenix National Bank was one of 12 to support the Woodrow Wilson Foundation in January 1922, by accepting donations to establish an annual prize for "meritorious public service."^[21] As of March 10, 1922, deposits at the bank were $145,104,322, up from December 31, 1921 deposits of $141,741,371. In March total resources were placed at $176,614,626.^[22]

1925-1931: Addition of Trust Co. of New York

Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company of New York was organized in 1925 with resources of around $300,000,000 after it merged with Metropolitan Trust Company of New York, which had been founded in 1881.^[23][24] At the time of its formation, it was one of the ten largest banks in the United States.^[4]

On June 15, 1928, financier Louis L. Horch arranged for the American Bond and Mortgage Company to underwrite a bond of $1,925,000 to cover costs of the Master Apartments. The bonds were 6% Guaranteed Sinking Fund Gold Bond Certificates held under a trust mortgage with the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company.^{[25][26][note 1]} In 1929, Kaufman was made chairman of the Chatham Phenix Allied Corporation, an "investment concern of $50,000,000 capital."^[4]

1932: Merger with Manufacturers Trust

In 1932, the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company merged with the Manufacturers Trust,^[4][9] which had been formed in Brooklyn in 1914.^[9] Kaufman became chairman of the executive committee of the new organization, resigning the same year.^[4] By the time Kaufman retired in 1932, the bank had increased 50-fold in size from its formation in 1911.^[27] On March 21, 1934, Chatham-Phenix National Bank served as a trustee in the receivership of the American Fuel and Power Company.^[28] In May 1935, an employee won a judgement against the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company and the Chatham Phenix Corporation, after a stock sales offer Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company made in August 1929 to its employees was deemed "sales talk."^[1]

In 1961, the Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company was formed through the merger of Manufacturers Trust and Hanover Bank.^[13] The New York Times wrote that "Manufacturers Trust had its beginnings in the Chatham Phenix National Bank and Trust Company... and the Manufacturers Trust Company, which was founded in Brooklyn in 1853 as the Manufacturers National Bank."^[13]