The Washington times., 1925-02-18
Z \ D NAT |OVAL
HAS LONG
CAREER
Has Held Dominant Position
IN Banking Circles for
Over Fifty Years
By RICHARD HATTON>

i i =
| Memories of financial Washing
ton of half century ago as well
as a vivid picture of the business
! enterprise of the present day center
about the Second National Bank.
which has held its dominant posi-
ton in the older business section
Of Washington throughout the
years, and which is. today, one Of
the strongest and most thriving
financial institutions in the city.
Organized In 1872.
The Second National Bank was
organized in 1872 and its early
board of directors contained the
names of some of the oldest fam.
lilies in the District of Columbia
The first board was composed Of
John C. McKeldon, James 4. Bar.
bour, Thomas Il. Tullock, George
w. Balloclx. w. w. Burdett, q. n.
Gulick. Francis H Smith. Louis
clephane, Thomas L. Hume, n. b.
Fugitt and John o. Evans. Every
one of these names will ring with
familiar sound in the ears of old
feature of the history OF this bank
is that in ftfty-three years Of ac.
tivity 1t has had only five presi-
dents: John O. McKeldon, Mathew
Ct. Emery, w. v. Cox, Cuno H.
Rudolph, and the present executive
head. Victor B. Deyber
Beginning its operations In the
early days of the development OF
the city the Second National estab.
lished its first banking quarters in.
q temporary location All 63l II
street northwest From the very
beginning the institution progressed
in substantial manner, and it
was not long until ii was occupying
a new location at 5O9 Seventh
street. In connection with this.
then, new banking structure it II
OF interest to note that the new
quarters of the bank were located
in the first building in washington
constructed with an iron front. In.
spite Of the DEVELOPMENT OF the
city,s business district the Second
National Bank has remained in its
early location and. although its
building has been tremodeled to meet
increasing business requirements
and its, equipment has kept pace
with modern banking needs, the
officers OF the institution hold BY
the Seventh street business district
Incidentally, the tide Of business
which, for time surged to the
north and west Is sW4 oging back TO
the early business centers and, to-
day, the Second National Bank is
the pivotal point in rapidly re-
developing business section.
The growth Of the Second Ma
tional Bank is typical of the growth,
Of the city of Washington, and has
kept steady pace with the develop
ment of the city. Constant and
steadily upward Is the record dis
closed by the statements of the in
stitution through the years that
compose its more than half CEN
fury of service to the business in
terests, and the citizens of the Dis.
time the bank has 81 surplus and
profits Of over $4,000 and deposits
OF more than a million and q half
dollars In the last ten to fifteen
years the business expansion of
the commercial district of which
Seventh street is one of the main
arteries has expanded to a. remark.
able degree and the Second Ma
tional Bank has maintained its posi-.
ton as the financial center of this
thriving business section.
Historical Traditions.
There are many historical bust.
ness traditions centeripg around the
old Second National and, although
there has been large business ex-
pansion in other sections of the
city, 1.-The Seventh street section is
now experiencing q rejuvenation,
and is throbbing with an activity
which is felt and encouraged by
the bank that has remained through
the years practically in its original
location.
Since the foundation Of the Sec
ond National Bank it has organized
a savings department which has de-
veloped rapidly, and, a few years
ago, a trust department was added
to its service.
The years of greatest advance
during a long and successful ca.
reer as one Of the leading financial
institutions of the District of CO.
lumbia have been under the prog.
ressive management of it's present
officers. These are: Victor b. Dey-
Der. president; Samuel J. Prescott,
chairman of the board: s. r.
Waters. vice president: Jacob C. Eek
loft, vice presidellt; Jacob Scharf.
vice president; Walter w. NARROW,
cashier; j. K Seyboth, assistant
cashier, and M. d. Esch, assistant