Introduction
This bank traces its roots back to June 16, 1812 when Camden’s first bank was incorporated. It was known as The State Bank at Camden, and retained that name until June 2, 1865, at which time it became a National Bank and its title was made The National State Bank of Camden. This bank did business until the late 1920s at the corner of North 2nd and Market Streets. The National State Bank of Camden merged with the First National Bank under the name First National State Bank on July 1, 1922.
1927 was a significant year in the history of the bank. On July 1, 1927 another merger took place, this time with the Camden National Bank, the new and large institution now being known as the First Camden National Bank & Trust Company. The President of the new institution was F. Morse Archer. A contract was awarded December 1927 for the construction of the new bank building for the First Camden National Bank & Trust Company, to be erected at Broadway & Cooper Street, at a cost of approximately $825,000.
By nature of the bank’s presence in the community, the bank’s President was an important person in Camden’s affairs. The following is a list of the bank’s Presidents through 1950: William Rossell — James Sloan — Richard M. Cooper — John Gill — Israel W. Heulings — Heulings Lippincott — F. Morse Archer — Henry Knepper.
When the bank celebrated its 130th anniversary in 1942, directors included David Baird Jr. and Congressman Charles A. Wolverton.
National State Bank Building — For Sale, 2004
Phil Cohen, September 2004: “Sometimes I’ve got to put the History in second place and the Now first, and this is one of those sometimes! Got a million and change? If so, or reasonably good credit, you can own your own bank… well, you can own your own bank building. To tell you the truth, at $1,100,000 I think this building is a steal, as it’s adjacent to Rutgers, the Waterfront, Campbell Field, and a short walk to all public transportation including the River Line light-rail to Trenton and the ferry to Philadelphia. If I had the money, I’d be living there!”
Building — Built in 1926. Refurbished 2000, roof: 2003. 4 zone heating & cooling. Full basement – 4,738 square feet. Security/Fire System (monitored). Security lighting — battery backup. Network wired (partial or full). Telephone wired throughout. 1st floor handicap accessible. Total area is approx 9,500 sq feet plus useable basement.
Common Areas — Conference room, kitchen, dining, bathrooms 1st floor, bathrooms 2nd floor. Document storage 1st floor, conference area 2nd floor, server room 2nd floor.
Location — Speedline to Philadelphia, Lindenwold 3 blocks. River Line 1 block. Proposed tram 2 blocks. City Hall, Courthouse 3 blocks. Route 676 entrance 6 blocks. Ben Franklin Bridge 5 minutes. Center City Philadelphia 15 minutes. Tweeter Center 5 blocks. Bounded by Rutgers University, L-3 Communications, Victor Building. Campbell’s Field 3 blocks. Aquarium & USS New Jersey 5 blocks. Many restaurants close by.
Sale Price: $1,500,000 — Rental: $19.00 square foot NNN
Historical and Industrial Review of Camden, N.J.
1890
The National State Bank of Camden,
Second & Market Streets.
A review of the manufacturing and commercial interests of Camden would be very defective without some account of the leading banks, the supporters and arbiters of trade transactions. The oldest and one of the most solid of the fiscal corporations of the city is the National State Bank, which is equally notable for its age—having been chartered originally as long ago as 1812—and for the careful reliability of its management and its consequent uninterrupted prosperity and success. It was created under the Act of the Legislature of New Jersey of January, 1812, authorizing the establishing of State Banks at Trenton, Camden, and other places, in February of that year, and commenced business on June 16, the first President being William Russell, and the first Cashier Richard M. Cooper, the names of members of the Cooper family and of most of the prominent Camden families having always been found on its list of officers from its inception. A copy of the original advertisement of the Bank, taken from a newspaper of those days, and giving directors’ or discount days, with a form for notes, and also publishing the arrangements for applications for discount in Philadelphia, still hangs in the private office of the Banking House.
In 1829 the Legislature extended the old act of incorporation until 1852, and in 1849 another act gave a further extension for twenty years after the expiration of the then existing charter. When the system of National Banks was inaugurated, it merged its character of a State Bank in that of a National one, and on June 2, 1865, became the National State Bank of Camden, John Gill being President, and Jesse Townsend, Cashier.
A general banking business is transacted, embracing all the usual details of deposits, loans, discounts and collections, the latter department being a specialty of this bank, which collects through its correspondents in all the chief cities, especially in Philadelphia and New York, the Girard Bank acting as its agent in the former city, and the Importers’ and Traders’ and the Ninth National in the latter. The discount days are Tuesday and Friday at 10 o’clock A.M. The capital is $260,000, with a surplus of an equal amount.
The volume of business is very large, as might be expected in a corporation of such high standing and with such a long and unimpeachable record; and notwithstanding the competition of more recently established corporations, is continually increasing, this Bank, it is safe to say, is doing a larger business than any south of Trenton, which fact is not only gratifying to its patrons, but an eminent proof of its uniformly conservative and careful, while yet energetic management. The Bank is noted in financial circles for the value of its stock, having always been a large dividend paying institution, which important element adds greatly to its impregnable character.
The bank building is a commodious and substantial one, and was enlarged and improved in 1875. It stands on the original site, at the N.W. corner of Second and Market streets, in the center of the business part of the city. For the convenience of Philadelphia patrons the Bank has an office at 223 Market street in Philadelphia.
The officers are: President, Mr. Heulings Lippincott; Cashier, Mr. Wilbur F. Rose; and Directors, Messrs. Israel W. Heulings, Thomas W. Davis, Joshua W. Lippincott, Benjamin F. Archer, John S. Bispham, Emmor Roberts, William Watson, Edward Dudley, John Gill, John T. Bottomley, Calvin S. Crowell, and G. Genge Browning.
Photos — 1915
National State Bank — 1915
National State Bank — Advertisement, 1915
Bank Directory — March–December 1916
National State Bank, Camden, N.J.
Heulings Lippincott, President — F. Morse Archer, Vice President — A. D. Ambruster, Cashier — S. C. Kimble, Assistant Cashier — J. T. Frazee, Notary Public
Directors: Heulings Lippincott — Richard H. Reeve — Edward Roberts — Israel Roberts — John H. Perkins — F. Wallis Armstrong — William D. Sherrerd — A. D. Ambruster — Robert H. Comey — Ralph L. Freeman — F. Morse Archer — Killam E. Bennett — John T. Dorrance — Walter P. Sharp — Henry H. Lippincott
Philadelphia Office, 223 Market Street — H.B. Lippincott, Agent — A.P. Rutherford, Notary Public — Discount Day, Tuesday
First Camden National Bank Celebrating 130th Anniversary
Camden Courier-Post —
Institution Started Business at Second and Market Streets in 1812—16 Years Before City Was Incorporated
By OSCAR MAGNUSON
First Camden National Bank and Trust Co. is celebrating its 130th anniversary today.
There are no special exercises to commemorate the reaching of another milestone by the oldest bank in South Jersey.
The bank, which started business at Second and Market streets June 16, 1812—16 years before the City of Camden was incorporated—will observe its birthday with “business as usual.”
It will be “business as usual,” too, for the president of the institution, F. Morse Archer, who is the seventh head of the bank. Archer will mark his 25th year as president of the bank next January.
Aided City's Growth
In the years that have elapsed the bank has been a factor in the development of the city, the county, the state and the nation. As it has through the years, the bank today is bending every effort to help the nation in its trying hour.
As the bank has grown in importance, so has the city. Sixteen years after the incorporation of the bank Camden’s population was only 1143—that’s when the city was founded in 1828. The last census, that of 1940, gave the city’s population as 117,777.
When “First Camden” began business there were only two banks in New Jersey—the Trenton Banking Co. and the Newark Banking Co.
Second street was then known as Queen street, and two properties were bought for $4300 for the new bank. On June 16, 1812, the board of directors held its first meeting in the banking house.
During the first year of business the director became impressed with the need for establishing an agency in Philadelphia, and a branch was opened in what was then known as Church alley in Philadelphia. At that time there were only six banks in Philadelphia.
In 1862 the bank came to the aid of the government and loaned it $100,000 at 4 percent interest.
Long Tenure For Presidents
Presidents of the bank since the incorporation have been William Rossell, James Sloan, Richard M. Cooper, John Gill, Israel W. Heulings, Heulings Lippincott and Archer. Long service has marked the tenure of “First Camden” presidents. Cooper served 29 years, Gill 44 years and Lippincott 30 years.
Besides the main office at Broadway and Cooper street the bank has a downtown branch at Broadway and Sycamore street; another in Haddon Heights, and the Philadelphia branch at 223 Market street.
In addition to Archer officers of the bank are Burleigh B. Draper, executive vice president; LeRoy A. Goodwin and William D. Sherrerd, vice presidents, all of whom are also directors; J. W. Rockafellow, assistant vice president; Paul R. Mills, cashier; William K. Cook and Julian K. Potter, assistant cashiers; Jay Knox, trust officer; M. C. Lawrinson and J. J. Bannan, assistant trust officers; Clarence S. Sullivan, William B. Manlove, James J. Lutz and Emory C. Bowers, assistant cashiers, and G. R. Burton, auditor.
Other directors are David Baird Jr., Ralph D. Baker, William T. Boyle, Eugene F. Haines, Edward B. Humphreys, William T. Read, Charles W. Russ, Edward E. Shumaker, J. B. Van Sciver Jr., Lawrence M. Verga and Charles A. Wolverton.
Photos
National State Bank Building — March 16, 2003
National State Bank Building — 2003. Photo courtesy of John Cianfrani.
First Camden National Bank and Trust Company
Back in the day, local banks could print money! This five dollar bill was issued by the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company in 1929.