Crocker Expands

Large among San Francisco banks are Crocker First National, Crocker First Federal Trust Co. and American Trust Co. Last week these three institutions merged into one, became rival to Amadeo Peter Giannini's many-branched Bank of Italy. Resources of the merged companies will be more than $400,000,000; deposits more than $330,000,000.

Details of the consolidation have not been announced, except that William Henry Crocker will undoubtedly head the united banks. American Trust Co. has long been associated with the name of John Drum, but as Banker Drum's resignation as American Trust Co. president shortly preceded the merger, it did not appear that the new institution would be at all a Drum enterprise. To most Californians, Banker Crocker is perhaps more a symbol than an individual--a symbol of wealth, position, dignity, correctness. He is the only living son of Charles Crocker, who was one of the founders of Southern Pacific railroad. The Crocker First National Bank was created by Charles Crocker with the single sweeping gesture of writing a check for $500,000. Banker Crocker inherited the First National, has many times multiplied the family wealth. At Yale (class of '82) he specialized in boxing, now plays excellent golf and rides daily. He arrives at his office at 9:05, leaves at 4:55. At the Burlingame station his horse and groom await him. He smokes $1 cigars, occasionally takes a cocktail. Outside interests include politics (he is a Republican National Committeeman). University of California and Lick Observatory, to which he has quietly made large gifts. He weighs 180 pounds, stands 5 ft. 8 in., rounds out an impression of correct fastidiousness with an evenly white, severely trimmed mustache and goatee.