United States National Bank of Galveston

United States National Bank of Galveston
Industry Finance and Insurance
Founded 1874
Headquarters Galveston, Texas
Products Banking
Website USNB.com (defunct)

The United States National Bank of Galveston [USNB] was a federally chartered bank in Galveston, Texas. It was founded in 1874 and was merged into Frost National Bank in 2000.[1] It was the last of 33 banks chartered in the US that used the forbidden title "United States" in its name.

History

The bank was founded in 1874 by the Kempner family as Island City Savings Bank.[2] In 1902 the decision was made to rename the bank the Texas Bank & Trust Company. Finally, on December 31, 1923 the bank would receive its last name, United States National Bank.[3][4]

The Galveston bank would be the last to be chartered using this name, as in 1926 the United States Congress banned the use of the words "Reserve", "United States" and "Federal" in bank titles.[5] Under a grandfather clause, banks that already had titles incorporating those words were allowed to keep them.[3][5]

On May 3, 1982, Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. issued shares of common and redeemable preferred stock for all of the outstanding preferred and common stock of United States National Bancshares, Inc. and Galbank, Inc. which together owned all of the capital stock of United States National Bank of Galveston and Sugar Land State Bank.

The USNB building in downtown Galveston.

Afterwards Cullen/Frost Bankers, Inc. continued to operate United States National Bank (USNB) separately from its flagship Frost National Bank for nearly two decades.[1][5] As new financial services legislation allowed banks to broaden the services they offered customers, Cullen/Frost folded the USNB charter into Frost's in 2000. With this action, the last bank using the federally forbidden United States National Bank title ceased to exist.[5]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "F.A. "Andy" Odom, president of the Galveston branch of Frost National Bank". Texas Banking. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  2. ↑ Gary Cartwright (1998). Galveston: A History of the Island. TCU Press. ISBN 0-689-11991-7.
  3. 1 2 Shannon Buggs. "Isle bank joins Frost 18 years after buyout". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  4. ↑ "IH Kempner". Handbook of Texas Online. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
  5. 1 2 3 4 Elder, Laura (2010-09-16). "Frost Bank puts building on the market". Galveston Daily News. Retrieved 2010-09-16.
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