The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1902-02-13
Representatives of the Commercial
National of Chicago Come to Ke-
nosha to Secure Branch.
SEEK TO MAKE A PURCHASE
Negotiate With 81. B. Robinson for the
Merchants and Savings Bank-C1aim
Third Bank Certainty.

Frank Ma1oney and Frank Komp, of
the Commercial National bank in
Chicago, are in Kenosha today seeking
for building in which to open
bank. Mr.. Komp has been IN the city
for several days looking into cond1-
tions and he stated this morning that
he had decided to open new bank IN
Kenosha as soon as he could close
negotiations for the lease of a room.
1t is understood from the statements Of
the men interested in the deal that the
bank will be branch of the Com
mercia1 National, which is one of the
strongest financial concerns IN Chi
cago. The two men have been negoti-
ating with H. B. Robinson for the
purchase of the building and business
of the Merchants and Savings bank,
but as yet these negotiations have not
been satisfactory and it is more than
pro bab1e that there will be thru
bank in the city.
Both Mr.. Komp and Mr.. Ma1oney
seemed we'll pleased with the opening
Kenosha presented and they consider
that bank at the south end of Main
street would prove profitable invest
ment. There is nothing secret about
the negotiations and the gentlemen as
soon as they decided to locate in Keno
sha went to the officials of the First
National bank and announced their
intentions. AS the bank they repre-
sent is so well known throughout the
West it is more than probable that
they will receive warm welcome in
the financial circles of the city.
In speaking of the new bank this
morning Mr.. Komp said that he had
decided to locate in Kenosha, but that
as yet the plans for the bank we're
little undecided. He said that if pos
sib1e the company would prefer to
start IL business with the good will
and property of the Robinson bank,
but that if this was impossible the
bank would be started with a small
capital and depend on the patronage
granted for it's future. He stated that
capitalists controlling more than three
millions of dollars were ready to back
the bank and were interested in the
negotiations now under way.
It is known that the two young men
visited several property owners and
that they have made a start in the
work of securing building in the
event that they failed to make satisfac-
tory terms with the Merchants and
Savings people. Some time ago it
was reported that the Robinson bank
was negotiating for sale with Chi
cago parties and at that time it was
limited that both the Commercial Ma
tiona1 and the Continental National in
Chicago were looking for chance to
locate branches in Kenosha.
From the statements made by the
representatives. of the Chicago bank it
is evident that they mean to begin
business as soon as possible. The
success of the banks in the city at the
present time seems to indicate that Ke-
nosha county is a bic to sustain third
bank and the right kind of competi-
ton would probably be an aid rather
than hindrance to the banks now
firmly established in the city.
The negotiations will be concluded
in few days and at that time the Chi
cago men will make a more public an
nouncement of their plans.