The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-01-19
COMMERCIAL BANK IS TAKEN OVER BY
 AMERICAN TRUST Announcement Made Yes terday Morning in Simul-
 taneOus Statements
TRANSFER CAUSES
 LITTLE COMMOTION
Adams Explains Transacti0n---VOl- ume of Business Was Too Small To Be Profitable - Third
 Bank Absorbed

The American Trust and Savings bank yesterday morning absorbed the Commer- cial Bank and Trust company. The form CT bank received all thee deposits of the latter bank before aank.ing hours yes terday and during the ear'y part of the morning an announcement WAS made that the American Trust had aTSa d to take oyer the business of the ComEsf al Bank and Trust company. .a Of the latter w. J. Adams v, Nresi- dent He succeeded to that posiH ,ben Maj. John D. Elliott resigned soA ,,aae years ago and has operated thV @eA since that time However, during the past few months business has been at
 rather low ebb and it was considered worth while to permit the elder and bigger
 bank to take over the smaller one and
 details have been worked upon for the rast 72 hours, it is stated.
 Simultaneous Statements Issued MT. Adams. who has been president of the Commercial, issued statement yes- terday simultaneously with w. W. craw ford, president of the American Trust, in which the former said that the volume of business had been found to be less than profitable and that all of the assets had been transferred to the American Trust The Commercial Bank and Trust com pany is the successor of the Commercial State bank. The latter was organized in 1905 by Maj John D. Elliott. and was suc- ceeded by the Commercial Bank and Trust company in 1912. Since that time the bank has occupied the lower floor of the Clark building at Fourth avenue and Twentieth street. Dr. Adams. who is president of the Adams Drug company, has labored steadfastly for the success of the bank, but it is said the last few months have been too much for the smaller institution to weather.
 Early yesterday, J. W. Hughes, cashier of the Commercial, was at the American Trust advising depositors of the former about the transfer. In addition, W. w. Crawford, president of the American Trust, was making friends with the other banks depositotrs and telling them how much pleased his bank would be to make friends with them and render them what ever services they desired. The result was that very little commotion took place and the American Trust fell heir to a large amount of business brought over from the 1500 accounts of the Commercial. During the morning these two state ments were issued, the first by President Adams and the second by President Crawford.
 Transaction Is Explained
 Birmingham. January IS, 19i6
 "The Commercial Bank and Trust com- pany has found the volume of it's business too small to be profitable. We have. therefore. conveyed all of our assets to the American Trust and Savings bank. and arranged with 1t to pay all of our depositors, in cash, on demand.
 We are grateful to our patrons for the business they have given us and we feel that we have done them and ourselves a valuable service In transferring our assets to bank. whose stability is unques- the community are constantly increasing. COMMERCIAL BANK AND TRUST
 COMPANY,
 By w. J. ADAMS, President"
 Birmingham, January IS, 1915.
 We have arranged to take over the business of the Commercial Bank and Trust company We feel that our act in so doing is Another forward step by our bank. We will extend to the depositors of the Commercial Bank and Trust com pany every courtesy and accommodation. and trust they will all become our patrons and friends.
 AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK,
 By W. w. CRAWFORD. President" This is the third bank absorbed by the American Trust The Alabama National bank was absorbed in 1905, the Peoples Savings Bank and Trust company in 1911. and the Commercial yesterday. No an- nouncement has been made yet as to the employment of the men who have been with the Commercial. w. T. Lathem, who was vice president. Is considered one of the best young bankers in town. and will more than likely go with some bank pr. Adams will devote his time to his popular drug store. while H. D. Lyman, J. w. Hughes and the other men of the Commercial will probably be taken care of in local banking circles
 n