National Banks of Fort Worth, Texas

1877 - 1935

This site is devoted to the history of the National Bank Note Era for Fort Worth, Texas.

Between 1877 and 1935, 15 different banks in both Fort Worth and North Fort Worth were granted a Federal Charter to have currency issued under their own individual bank name, however, only 13 elected to do so. Below please find a brief synopsis (as I continue to research) on each bank listed. Eventually, I hope to have memorabilia (or better yet, Bank notes) on each available bank. The bulk of items listed are from my personal collection, however small that is…

As a life-long resident of Fort Worth, I am also researching the history of these banks, and have discovered that some of the original buildings still stand today. Years have passed since some of these buildings housed a bank. A clothing store, city government offices, shoe store, apartments, and a restaurant are what now occupy 5 different buildings that housed some of these banks prior to 1935. Fortunately, these buildings have stood the test of time, and for someone's imagination to reuse instead of tear down and rebuild as is too often the case today.....Las Vegas for example comes to mind.

If you happen to own any Bank Notes from any Fort Worth bank (or anywhere in Texas), I would like to ask if you could send me information about the note(s), such as Serial Numbers, Signatures, etc.  I am trying to build a Census, to help determine the actual number of notes that exist today.    Please contact me at my email address below - THANK YOU!!

Bank Name # of Notes Currently Recorded	Operating Dates	Items to view (if any...yet)
First National Bank 40	1877 - today	$ 5 - 1875 1^st Charter $10 - 1882 Date Back Note $50 – 1902 3^rd Charter Note Old and Current Building Pictures, History
City National Bank 2	1877 - 1895	$5 – 1875 1^st Charter Note Title Proof, Existing Building, History
Traders National Bank 4	1882 - 1916
Fort Worth National Bank 60 – Large Size 61 – Small Size	1884 - today	RARE $5 & $10 1902 Date Back Notes $5, $10, and $50 1902 Plain Back Notes $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 - 1929 Type 1 Notes Ledger sheet from 1879-1881; History
State National Bank 5	1884 - 1914
Merchants National Bank NONE	1887 - 1893
Farmers and Mechanics National Bank 32	1889 - 1927	$5 1882 Brown Back Note $5 1902 Date Back Note - RARE $5 1902 Plain Back Note
American National Bank 12	1893 - 1919	$10 Brown Back
North Livestock Bank NONE	1894- 1897
Stockyards National Bank 3 - Large on 1^st Title (North FW) 10 - Large on Current Title 9 - Small Size	1903 - 1934	Bank Note, Pictures of Building, Check, History
Western National Bank 8	1904 - 1915	$20 1902 Date Back Note, Watch Fob, Pictures of Building, 1910 Check, 1909 Letterhead
Exchange National Bank 1	1906 - 1914
Texas National Bank 31 – Large 4 - Small	1923 -1930	$10 & $20 1902 Plain Back $10 1929 Type 1 note, Checks, Building Images.
Bibliography and Thank You's

 I am constantly looking to add to my collection, both historically and inventory-wise. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or possibly something to add!

Thank you for visiting!

Jim Fitzgerald

jamesfitz@prodigy.net

Updated 3/12/04