The history of banking in Texas from the Republic era through the Great Depression is a tale of uncertainty, distrust and confusion, but it is not without a cast of heroic figures. This is the story of the pioneering institutions and individuals that laid the foundation for the current system of banking in Texas, despit enormous legislative and economic obstacles. The Texas Revolution, repeated constitutional prohibitions on banks, civil war and unstable economic conditions hampered the development of an established system of dependable institutions. From the embattled history of the first bank chartered in Mexican Texas (The Commercial & Agricultural Bank) to far more obscure firms, the essential facts are here. The product of years of research drawing on primary documents, this work has been cited extensively in subsequent works relating to Texas and southern banking. Originally published in 1930 by the Fort Worth National Bank upon the death of the bank's founding father, this title has been out-of-print since. This new edition has been wholly revised and re-designed for improved readability.