NATIONAL STATE BANK BUILDING

 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
                  1^st floor handicap accessible
                   Total area is approx 9500 sq feet plus useable basement

This bank traces is 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 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 President through 1950.

 When the bank celebrated its 130th anniversary in 1942, directors included David Baird Jr. and Congressman Charles A. Wolverton. 

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.

National State Bank
of
Camden
1915

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Bank Directory - March-December 1916

Camden Courier-Post - June 16, 1942