Commercial National Bank
Beeville, Bee County, Texas
Marker Inscription
The Commercial National Bank of Beeville traces its history to January 1893 when several prominent citizens met to organize a financial institution. elected as officers were Dr. L.B. Creath, A.G. Kennedy, John I. Clare, and D.C. Stone. The bank opened in May 1893 with a capital stock of $50,000. Housed on the northwest corner of the courthouse square in a two-story brick edifice, the bank was successful from the beginning. Profits were posted from it first quarter of business, and by 1895 stockholders received a dividend of four percent. The bank building was remodeled in the 1930's and was modernized and expanded in the 1950s. a new banking facility was added south of the original structures in 1965 and included drive-in teller windows. A banking facility was added at Chase Field Naval Air Station in 1967. The main bank building added more space and drive-in windows in 1976 and 1982. A branch bank was added in 1985 at College North Shopping Center, and in 1991 the First State Bank of Mathis was established as a branch bank. Many prominent citizens have been associated with the bank, including state legislators. The bank continues to support and serve the community.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In January 1893 several prominent Beeville citizens gathered to organize a bank, and the Commercial National Bank opened that May with $50,000 in capital stock at the northwest corner of the courthouse square. Profitable from its first quarter, it paid dividends by 1895 and expanded steadily across the twentieth century—adding drive-in windows, a branch at the Chase Field Naval Air Station, and outlets around the region.
Why it matters
A hometown bank's century of growth mirrors the financial coming-of-age of small-town Texas, from frontier commerce to a modern branch economy.
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Related people
- · L. B. Creath
Themes & tags
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Bee County
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Carved largely from San Patricio County in 1857 and organized in 1858, Bee County took its name from Barnard E. Bee, who served the Republic of Texas as secretary of war, secretary of state, and minister to the United States. A cattle region since Spanish colonial times, it became an important beef producer after 1865 and gained its first railroad, the San Antonio and Aransas Pass, in 1886. Oil was discovered here in 1929, and the county seat has been at Beeville since 1860.