Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-10-19

! the northwest corner of Fourteenth
and Ct streets northwest, in one of
which the late John r. Waggaman
had his office, while across the street
stood the Old Foundry Methodist
Church. to the spacious modern of
flee building, located on the same
site, that now shelters its manifold
activities and is an attractive add-
ton TO Washington's business sky
line.
The far sighted vision Of the men
who, in 1904, met TO organize a pro
gressive, up-to-date national bank"
foresaw the Greater Washington that
was TO be
When the expansion of war years
came the Commercial National Bank
was ready for it and through all the
stress of those strenuous months
lived up to its motto of Personal
Service"
The personnel and resources of the
institution were placed at the serv-
ice of the Government, and it heartily
co-operated in Liberty loans and war
savings stamp campaigns.
The bank was most fortunate in its
first president as in subsequent hold
ers of that Office. This official. Fred
erick Z. Stevens, was public-spirited
and prominent capitalist of New
York City. Interested in a number
OF utility enterprises in the metrop-
oils, Mr. Stevens came to Washington
primarily because of his interest in
the Washington Railway and Elec-
trio Company of which he was at one
time an officer. He became much en-
crossed in the project OF the new bank
and with the organizing directorate laid
the foundation deep and strong for
| permanent prosperity.
Success followed the organization
of the bank. Its aim of personal SER
vice was appreciated and it was not
| many months before it had become a
community fixture and a potent in
| fiuence in banking circles and the
people realized the new bank was
| here to stay.
Takes Over West End.
1t flourished to such an extent that
before long it absorbed the old West
End National Bank, a pioneer banking
institution, and merged it with the
Commercial National, and later built
an addition to its banking house on
Fourteenth street.
Its growth was SO rapid that in 1917
it tore down its old bank building
and erected in its place the present
beautiful stone structure, one of the
most beautiful buildings in the city
and contains one of the finest bank
ing rooms in the South. Besides it's
utilitarian features, the bark struc-
ture is greatly admired for the beauty
of its architecture, not only by the
laity. but by local and outside archi-
tects as we'll.
The capital of the bank at the time
OF its organization was 100000. but
owing to increased deposits. its cap
ital has been increased twicc-once
in 1911, when it was raised to $3.50. 1000.
and still later to its present capital
of 81, 100000.
Record of Deposits.
The deposits of the bark on the
day it opened amounted to s3Sa.ooO.
and there has been a steady increase
of deposits during its present exist
ence, until on October 10, the last
call Of the controller of currency, its
total resources 316.496. 1852
Mindful of the interests of it's Glen
tele, the Commercial Natior al Bank
has paid particular attention to its
savings department and it's insured
savings plan, teaching by precept and
example the needed lessons of thrift
and care of the future that make Sc
cure many thousands of families and
homes in this city.
given by a bank than the cultivation
of such habits of prudence on the
part of its customers.
The OmciaI Roster.
The present officers ares r. Golden
Donaldson, president; James b. Rey-
nolds, vice president; James II. Baden,
vice president and cashier; Laurence
A. Slaughter, vice president, and Hay
den Johnson, general counsel and trust
officer.
A native Washingtonian, R. Golden
Donaldson, the president. has been
a master builder of many business
enterprises and undertakings and has
reputation as a financier. He has
taken part in many civic movements.
The vice president Of the CONNER
ciaI National Bank, James B. Rey-
nolds, as a financial expert and execu-
tive was brought to public notice as
Assistant Secretary of the Treasury.
In accepting this position with the
Commercial National Bank he full
filled a long ambition to become a
permanent resident of the Capital and
to play a part Of it's business life.
James H. hayden, as vice president
and cashier. has the esteem and con-
fidence of the community.
Laurence A. Slaughter, another
vice president Of the institution, has
the distinction of being the youngest
executive of the CONNIE rcial National
Bank and one of the coming young
err group of bankers of the city His
good judgment and precision and in