St. Landry clarion. (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, 1919-08-09
FIVE LAFAYETTE
BANKS MERGE

UnQouDCoQly the greatest
transaction ever undertaken in South
west Louisian is now undergoing the
formalittes necessary to consumma-
ton in the merger of four state banks
in the parish with the Bank of Lafa-
yette, and thereby creating the great
est financial institution in the South
west. These banks were those of:
Broussard, Carencro, Lafayette, Scott
and Youngsville.
The four smaller banks will hold
their stockholders meetings IN Aug
ust 80. to vote upon the proposition of
combining their assets and business
with that af the Bank of Lafayette. On
the eleventh day of September, the
Bank of Lafayette will hold its stock
holders meeting for the purpose of
voting upon the merger and to in
crease the capital stock and change
the name and enlarge the board of
directors. When all these formalities
are completed the Bank of Lafayette
will have a capital of not less than
100000 and deposits of more than
$4,000. 0O0.
The Bank of Lafayette will be the
mother bank" of the merged institu-
tions. It will change its name to the
Bank of Lafayette & Trust Company
and will operate the four banks join
ing it by the merger route as branch
banks. It is clearly stated by Presi-
dent Mouton and Cashier Barry that
the consolidation is ito be a coopera-
tive achievement, not n of a cen
t~ralization plan. Each of the four
banks will add a few words to its
name and continue to operate under
the same management as at this time.
Each such bank will have its repre-
s~entatives on the board of directors
of the parent institution and to all in
tents and purposes will maintain its
individuality while enjoying the fruits
of increased prestige, influence and
practically unlimited resources for
any financial deal that may arise in
future in its individual community.
This merger has been talked in
formally for many months. The de-
mand for increased banking facilities
in the growing and developing com-
munities served by the four smaller
banks indicated to their stockholders
the necessity and desirability of form
ing some such connection IS found
in a merger with a larger banking in
finally came to a head in called meet
ings of the stockholders, held within
the past week or ten days, at which
the only practical plan presented
seemed to be a merger with the Bank
of Lafayette.
When this sentiment among the ar
ious stockholders vas a~seertained the
merger plan began to develop and the
meetings to be held next month are
the outcome. At these meetings the
merger proposition will be submitted
to formal vote, following favorable ae-
ton upon which the liquidators will
be appointed to complete the legal
formalities of the merger. The final
formalitfes will occur at a meeting Of
all the interests following the meet
ing of the Bank of Lafayette stock
holders on September II.
1t is almost impossible sfor an ordi-
nary mortal to grasp the gull meaning
of this great undertaking in an off
hand way. The value ofssuch an in
stitution as will follow Sthe merger
cannot be overestimated b a material
factor in the developraeng of both city
and parish, for the various communi-
ties in which the four branches will be
operated will benefit in a proportionate
degree with the city, the home of the
parent institution.
The consolidation will mean that
the Bank of Lafayette, and through it
the four joining banks, will be placed