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While the internet has been upon us for many years, specific information about currency issued by national banks in Arizona remains almost as scarce as the banknotes themselves. Hopefully, this blog will in a small way change that. Relevant information on the banknotes, as well as other information such as the buildings (then & now), ephemera, signers, and related history will be displayed. While the goal will be accuracy, it is understood that this will not always be the case and feedback\corrections are welcome.

What Are National Banknotes?
National banks were authorized by Congress in 1863. One of the provisions within the enabling legislation provided for currency issuing privileges. Once chartered, a bank could buy certain bonds of the U.S. government, deposit them with the Treasury, and receive up to 90% of that amount in currency printed with the banks name. The bank then circulated the currency locally thru loans and other transactions.

In response to a serious financial downturn resultant from the Panic of 1907, "Other Securities" were as well additionally accepted for backing national banknotes between 1908 and 1916.

The note-issuing privilege was withdrawn (suspended) in 1935, primarily due to the Federal Reserve System (Est. 1913) having assumed primary responsibilty for the issuing of currency.

Charter Periods
First Charter Period : 1863-1882 (Also known as Original Series)
Second Charter Period : 1882 - 1902 (AKA Series of 1882)
Third Charter Period : 1902 - 1922* (Series of 1902)
Fourth Charter (So-Called) Charters initially granted or renewed from late 1921 through June 30th, 1922, when Congress passed an act extending the Third Charter to 99 years. Later, the term would change to "in perpetuity". This term is not official, and many do not understand what actually would constitute a "Fourth Charter" note. In Arizona, it is believed that only #12198, The First National Bank of Holbrook, would qualify.

If a bank was chartered (or rechartered) within one of these charter periods, that was the series of national banknotes they would issue until their charter was renewed. After 1922, all notes were of the 1902 series. When currency designs were standardized in 1929, small-size notes were issued.


List of Issuing Banks from Arizona (Click on links at left)
Over 12,000 national banks nationwide issued curreny at one time or another during the note-issuing period (1863-1935), including the following from Arizona.

I
2639 : The First National Bank of TUCSON (1882-1885)
3054 : The First National Bank of PHOENIX (1883-1884)
3122 : The First National Bank of PRESCOTT (1884-1885)
3728 : The National Bank of Arizona at PHOENIX (1887-1926)
3728 : First National Bank of Arizona at PHOENIX (1926-1935)
4287 : The Consolidated National Bank of TUCSON (1890-1935)

II
4440 : The Arizona National Bank of TUCSON (1890-1928)
4729 : The PHOENIX National Bank (1892-1935)
4851 : The PRESCOTT National Bank (1892-1916)
5720 : The TEMPE National Bank (1901-1935)

III
5821 : The First National Bank of CLIFTON (1901-1923)
6439 : The First National Bank of TOMBSTONE (1902-1926)
6579 : The First National Bank of GLOBE (1903-1924)
6591 : The Sandoval National Bank of NOGALES (1903-1904)
6591 : The First National Bank of NOGALES (1903-1935)

IV
6633 : The First National Bank of DOUGLAS (1903-1935)
7182 : The First National Bank of BISBEE (1904-1908)
7591 : The First National Bank of YUMA (1905-1929)
8193 : The GLOBE National Bank (1906-1910)
9608 : The YUMA National Bank (1909-1929)
10998 : The First National Bank of FLORENCE (1917-1933)
11012 : The NOGALES National Bank (1917-1931)
11020 : The First National Bank of FLAGSTAFF (1918-1931)
11030 : The First National Bank of MESA (1918-1932)

V
11159 : The TUCSON National Bank (1918-1923)
11559 : The Commercial National Bank of PHOENIX (1919-1931)
12198 : The First National Bank of HOLBROOK (1922-1935)
12581 : The First National Bank of WINSLOW (1924-1935)
13262 : First National Bank in PRESCOTT (1928-1932)

Appendices \ References & Acknowledgements