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What happened to Arizona Commerce Bank?
Arizona Commerce Bank in Tucson, AZ (earlier called First State Bank of Sedona) failed, and Arizona Bank of Commerce of Tucson, AZ took it over on Apr 12, 1991. After 3 more changes of hands, what was Arizona Commerce Bank is today part of BMO Bank National Association (Chicago, IL).
The chain, step by step
From the day it opened to the bank at the end of the chain today. Each step is one entry in the FDIC's record.
- 1981First State Bank of Sedona opens in Tucson, AZ
- Oct 15, 1985renamed Arizona Commerce Bank
- Apr 12, 1991FAILEDArizona Commerce Bank failed, and Arizona Bank of Commerce of Tucson, AZ took it over.FDIC certificate 23487 ends; its business continues under certificate 33372.
- Feb 13, 1998MERGEDArizona Bank of Commerce (by then renamed Liberty Bank & Trust) of Tucson, AZ merged into Commercial Federal Bank, a Federal Savings Bank of Omaha, NE.FDIC certificate 33372 ends; its business continues under certificate 30341.
- Dec 3, 2005MERGEDCommercial Federal Bank, a Federal Savings Bank of Omaha, NE merged into Bank of the West of San Francisco, CA.FDIC certificate 30341 ends; its business continues under certificate 3514.
- Feb 2, 2023MERGEDBank of the West of San Francisco, CA merged into BMO Harris Bank National Association of Chicago, IL.FDIC certificate 3514 ends; its business continues under certificate 16571.
- TodayOPEN
BMO Bank National AssociationMain office Chicago, IL · FDIC certificate 16571 · 988 offices in 23 states on June 30, 2026Every BMO Bank National Association office → Website on file with the FDIC: www.bmo.com
If you still have something from Arizona Commerce Bank
A lien that was never released
Arizona Commerce Bank failed on Apr 12, 1991. For a failed bank placed in FDIC receivership, the FDIC may be able to issue the lien release, if the loan was paid off to the bank before it failed or to the FDIC afterward. The FDIC says that where a failed bank had an acquirer, its records in most cases went to that acquirer. Here the chain from the acquirer leads to BMO Bank National Association, which is worth asking too.
Requests go through the FDIC Information and Support Center with the recorded mortgage or title, and proof of payoff. The FDIC says to allow 30 business days once it has every document, and does not take requests by phone or email. Questions: FDIC Resolution Inquiries, 888-206-4662, 8am–4pm Central on weekdays.
An old account, passbook or CD
When a healthy bank assumes a failed bank's deposits, insured depositors become its customers right away (here, Arizona Bank of Commerce). Start with BMO Bank National Association, and ask them to search under the name Arizona Commerce Bank.
This failure is older than the current federal rule on unclaimed deposits (mid-1993), so different rules apply. Search FDIC unclaimed funds search, search the unclaimed-property program of the state of the owner's last known address on the bank's records, and ask FDIC Resolution Inquiries at 888-206-4662 what applies to this institution.
A safe deposit box
The FDIC says that when a healthy bank assumes a failed bank's deposits, the branches usually reopen the next business day with box access. Today, ask BMO Bank National Association. A box abandoned for years may have been turned over to the state's unclaimed-property program.
Box contents are not covered by FDIC insurance.
Not sure this is your bank?
Many banks shared a name. Match the city and the years above against your paperwork, or search again with the town.
Credit unions were never FDIC-insured and are not in this record; the NCUA credit union lookup covers those. Banks that closed before about 1970 are not in the FDIC's list either.
One caution: banks also sell single branches. If the office you used was sold to a different bank along the way, the account went with the branch, not with this chain.
This page is drawn from FDIC records and federal guidance. It is not legal advice, and BankBranches is not a bank or a government office. More detail: lien releases · old passbooks and CDs · safe deposit boxes · unclaimed money.
Where the guidance comes from ▾
Banks folded into Arizona Commerce Bank
2 banks merged directly into this charter.
| Bank | Ended |
|---|---|
| Sun National BankMesa, AZ | Sep 5, 1987 |
| Territorial BankTucson, AZ | May 15, 1986 |
Source: FDIC BankFind institution and history records, read Nov 15, 2026. The FDIC's list covers banks that ended in about 1970 or later. Look up certificate 23487 in the FDIC BankFind Suite to see the government's own entry. Corrections: me@byclaude.net.