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Commercial National Bank & Trust Company
By LaTour Genealogical Collection
Contract of Sale |
Housing & Urban Developement Loan |
1980-Appearance Bond |
Completion of Contract of Sale
1987-Appearance Bond |
Homer D. Self Family Trust |
Contact |
References
| Commercial National Bank & Trust Company |
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Location Muskogee, OK
Built/Founded:
Architect:
Architectural style(s): Other
Added to NRHP:
NRHP Reference#:
Governing body:
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Commercial National Bank & Trust Company
Corporate History
Shanties forming early down-town Muskogee in the
1890s included a one-room frame structure on the
east side of Main Street where John H. Dill opened
the door to banking customers under the name
"The Commercial Bank." Dill began with $700 and a
strong belief in the future of Indian Territory.
With steady growth and the need for expansion, the
bank moved sereral times, once to the northwest
corner of Broadway and Main Streets.
David N. Fink was named president of Commerical in
1911 and served as a leading contributor to the
city's growth and stability. In 1912 Commercial
moved into the new Muskogee skyscraper, The Barnes
Building, with its spacious lobby. Following a
merger with The Exchange National Bank,
Commercial
moved into The Flynn-Ames Building,
(Dennis T. Flynn
and Charles Bismark Ames), which
became the Commercial National Building at Third and
Broadway. A change of ownership occurred in 1926
when Cornelius F. Lynde and James Fred Darby
purchased a controlling interest in the
institution. The reorganization brought in a
gentleman as president who became the bedrock of
Commercial.
Louis Welton Duncan
Louis W. Duncan planted the seeds of an oak with his skills of leadership. He steered the bank through the GREAT DEPRESSION with quiet strenght and courage. In fact, Commercial was one of the first (1) institutions to reopen at the earliest date permitted after the "Bank Holiday" was decreed in 1933. During World War II Commercial even had a legal branch bank (unheard of in Oklahoma) at nearby Camp Gruber. Duncan proudly watched as the bank and Muskogee settled into a period of steady growth
and stability. He, along with directors and officers like Bert O. Baker and Morton Woods, Jr., were building the bank's foundationfor the future.
In 1966 Commercial Bank closed the year with $24,852,000 in total assets and a new president. Bert Baker took over the reins and quickly led the bank through a complete renovation of the building, followed by the formation of Commercial Landmark Corporation, one of the first (1) bank holding companies in Oklahoma. By 1971 Commercial, based originally on $700 in assets, had become the largest bank in Muskogee. Under Baker's leadership, Commercial has almost doubled its assets every five (5) years, finishing 1981 at more than $150 million.
During the 1970's innovative management by Commercial brought ideas into reality with programs like data processing, automatic teller machines, and extended banking hours.
In addition, Commercial Bank has one of Oklahoma's outstanding art and antique collections, open to the public during banking hours.
Directors of Commercial Bank and Trust Company are: Bert O. Baker, Chairman of the Board; Jerry D. Baker, President; Dave L. Blakeburn, Senior Vice President; R.P. Campbell; David Richard Clark;
James M. Coburn; Donald R. Cole; Thruman Curtsinger; Louis W. Duncan, Chairman Emeritus & Honorary Director; A.G. Hayes; Lee Howser; Austin Kenyon; Robert L. Morhart, President, Commercial Landmark; Richard D. Newkirk; W.H. Pool; William H. Ricketts; Donald Rex Robertson;
W.E. Rowsey Jr., Paul J. Shierl; Edmund Synar; Joe Teaff; Taft Welch; and Morton Woods Jr., Executive Vice President.
Commercial Bank Sold
Commercial Bank and Trust Company and banks at Talequah, Fort Gibson, and Tulsa was sold to a Wichita firm.
Fourth Financial Corporation aquired Commercial Landmark Inc. which had assets of $456.2 million and deposits of $418 million.
Ownership of the Commercial holdings will occur with Fourth Financial exchanging shares of its stock for all the shares of Commercial Landmark Corporation. Those transactions involve.
* Commercial Bank and Trust Co. of Muskogee, $224.2 million.
* First Bank and Trust of Tahlequah. $139.6 million.
* Commercial Bank and Trust of Tulsa. $78 million.
* First Bank and Trust of Fort Gibson. $18.4 million.
The banks names will be changed to Bank IV of Oklahoma as they become part of Fourth Financials chain of 27 Oklahoma banking locations.
Presidents at the Commercial Banks will remain the same. Jerry B. Baker at Commercial of Muskogee. John A. Baker at Commercial of Tulsa. Boyd Copeland at First Bank of Fort Gibson, and Tony Stockton at First of Talequah.
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