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                                           G HE WESTERN BANK is an institution that has had a successful
                                                 career for more than twenty years. It was incorporated under the
                                                 laws of Kentucky in [865, its name then being the Western Itnsur-
                          X . l :;:;0: ance and Banking Company, with a capital stock of 250,000. In May,
                                           1872, a niew insurance law having been enacted, the bankig business
                                           had to be separated from that of the insurance, and the bank became the
                                           WESTER-N BA--x-, with a capital of 250,000, at which amount its stock is
              X       2          2         instill capitalized, while the insurance husiness was still carried on. but
                                           with a capital distinct from that of the bank. The first President of the
                                           Company was r Mr. C. Henry Fink, a prominent German citizen.  The
                                           pressure of other business required his resignation atInd in i868 he was
                                           succeedled bv Mr. A. F. Coldewev, who still holds the office.
                                               The officers of the batnk have always pursued a conservative policy,
                  about '7s , an  t upu  n  niie and have built up a large and eminentlu  a safe business, confining the
                  s toperations of the company to legitimate banking. Much of its business
                                           comes from the large German population of the city, the location of the
                                           institution being favorable to this strong element in the commerce of
                                           Louisville. The bank receives deposits, makes collections here and
                                           elsewhere, having a large correspondence throughout the South-west,
                                           solicits business from merchants and manufacturers in Louisville, and
                                           deals largely in foreign and domestic exchange. The bank has regularly
                A. F. CeL  selko           paid large dividends, in one year, when the Louisville banks charged a
                                            high rate of interest, having paid sixteen per cent. It now pays a semi-
annual dividendoffourpercent  Thesuccess of the houseis demonstratedhby the extent ofits depoits whichaverage
about 750oo0o, and its surplus and undivided profits of  sineo a large accumulation on its capital stock. The last
statement of the bank, made June 30, c 887, is as follows:
    AssruTS: Loans and discounts, 666,236.55u; fixtures and furniture, 3,750; real estate, S4,ooo; cash on hEand, i2,-
664.49; due from banks, So,ins.6r; bonds and stocks, 189,394i9; total, in,46, 1o6 074.
    LIABILITIES: Capital, 2,50,000; surplus and profits. 55,958.3o; unpaid dividends, 468; deposits, 735,722.13;
due to banks, 4,012.31 ; total, i,o46, i6o. 74.
    The Directors of the bank are A. F. Coldewey, i. hrippenstapel, J. Dolfinger, Wi. Springer, C. Stege, H. Dune-
kake, C. J. Raible, C. Jenne, and Fred W. Keisker. The first Cashier of the bank was Mr. Jacob Krieger. Mr. B.
Frese now fills that office. He has been in the bank sixteen years; was Teller eleven years, and was elected Cashier
January x, [887, succeeding Mr. Hen-y Hurter, who died in the foregoing mouth aiid who was one of the most popular
men in this city. Mr. Frese is well-known as one of the progressive young business men of Louisville, and is courte-
ous and engaging in manner, as well as enterprising in business.
    The WE0STERN INcSnRANyCE COMPAi-ann   has a capital stock of cen,.0t and a surplus of 6oooo. A great deal of
the fire insurance business of Louisville is done by local companies, which, though they have not the great capital of the
Eastern and foreign companies, are equally as safe as they, since they do business only in a limited territory, in which
they can make a personal inspection of the risks offered, and are not liable to write policies on buildings or goods that
are unsafe, either from natural causes or because of the questionable character of their owner. The WESTERN INSLaR-
ANCE CohPANY does a business of this safe character, accepting insurance in only small amounts. The advantages of
the system are apparent in the statements of the company, which moves along easily and prosperously while larger
companies are crying out at the great losses they sustain, making it a serious question whether they can continue to
operate on their present plan. The WESTERiN does a purely local business, but last year wrote risks to the amount of
2,500,the, and its business is constantly increasing. It takes so few hazardous risks that in i886 its losses were only
2,ooo. The company pays a semi-annual dividend of five per cent. Its officers and board of directors are the same
as those who manage the affairs of the bank, with the exception of Mr. H. Miller, who is the solicitor for the insurance
company. The company is also local agent for the Springfield Fire and Marine Insurance Company of Springfield,
Massachusetts.
    The offices of the bank are located in its own building, At No. 3og West Market street, where it established itself in
x868, having before that done business on Main street.
    The President of the bank, Mr. A. F. Coldewey, is one of the most prominent German citizens of Louisville. He
was born in Oldenburg, Germany, in [829 and came to America in [849, at once locating in Louisville and engaging in
the furniture business until i865, by which time he had acquired a fortune sufficientli' large to enable him to retire from
business. But in iW6 he accepted the Presidency of this bank which he has so ably managed. The constant growth of
the business of the institution is illustrated by the fact that since December, 1885, the deposits have increased about
2oo,ooo. This prosperity is due to the wise and conservative management of Mr. Coldewev, who is recognized as one
of the safest as well as one of the most far-sighted business men in Louisville, and whose long career as the President
and active manager of the bank has given him a commercial following that is of the first importance. The clerical force
of the bank and insurance company is composed as follows; Julius Hinzen. Jr., Teller; John Henseler, Individual Book-
keeper; Harry Dunekake, Jr., General Ledger Book-keeper; Oscar D. Coldewe-, Insurance Book-keeper; Carl Stege, Clerk.
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