The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-25
NO BANK UNION, BUT NEW TRUST
 COMPANY, MAYBE

BANKERS CONTINUE TO REPUDI-
 ATE IDEA OF CONSOLIDATING
 FTRST-BRIDGEPOR NATIONAL
 WITH PEQUONNOCK, BUT AS fSERT POSSIBILITY THAT ONE
 OF SEVEN UNUSED TRUST COM
 PANY CHARTERS MAY BE U1l-
 LIKED ANY OLD TIME.
 Nothing has been done to consoli- date the Bridgeport and Pequon- nook National banks. 1t is not likely that anything will be done. Talk is the only foundation for the rumor." Thus said Vice President Frank N. Benham of the st-Bridgeport Ma tional bank, this morning. MT. Bcn- ham complained that he had been misquoted as saying there was a founoation for the rumor.
 e. MT. Benham said that talk of bank consolidation had been confused with the talk of the formation of another trust company. He said that there S.ce seven or eight unused charters foe~trust companies in Bridgeport. The directors of the PeqNonnock National bank own one of these charters. He, himself had had an idea in the past of having an interest in a trust com
  at anytime to see some of the talk bear fruit. When he did not know. It was a big proposition, he said, and could not be eliminated over night.
 A reporter talked with another banker, who is director in the First Bridgeport National bank. He said, "I don't believe any of that talk of the consolidation of the Pequonnock and the Bridgeport Nationala. l would know about it if any such thing as that was afoot."
 Vice-President Benham said that the charters of trust companies were very broad and they had many d. vantages not enjoyed by a National bank.
 He said trust companies are very profitable in terminal cities. There are many bonds ana stocks which have to be registered with trust company and the company gets revenue from this source besides taking the man. agement and settlement of estate. In business.
 In conclusion Vice President Benham said: There is nothing to the consoli- dation. We have not sought it and it is only talk''
 Another banker who is not connect ed with either of the two banks that are the subjects of the consolidation
 
 the First National Banks consolidated there have been all kinos of consoli- dation stories afloet. I don't think there is anything to it, although new trust company is quite probable. Of course we have trust company now. It wants to become one of the city's repo sitories for public funds. There has not been business enough here in the past for another institution of the same kind. Much of the business done by Bridgeporters with trust com panieS has been done in New York. The city has suffered from being so near New York. There is no use in starting trust company unless you get the right people back of it. The fact that there is so many charters kicking around Bridgeport not in use shows tEat the trust company idea has not intereste1 financial men in the past. But now it is different There is no doubt that Bridgeport could stand another trust company. Busi- ness is booming and Bridgeport is growing. Here it is the month of February when we usually hope to get some rest because business is tagging, but business Keeps going ahead all the time and there is no sign of a let up. Bridgeport is not too small for another trust company any longer, and wouldn't be surprised to see one of those lazy charters put to work most any time"