Cummings v. National Bank was a case heard by the United States Supreme Court in 1879. The case involved a dispute between the National Bank of St. Louis and the estate of William Cummings, a deceased debtor. The National Bank had loaned Cummings money and had taken a security interest in certain real estate owned by Cummings. After Cummings' death, the National Bank sought to foreclose on the real estate, but the executor of Cummings' estate argued that the National Bank had no right to do so because the loan had been made without the approval of the Comptroller of the Currency, as required by the National Bank Act. The Supreme Court held that the National Bank had the right to foreclose on the real estate, despite the fact that the loan had not been approved by the Comptroller. The Court reasoned that the National Bank Act was intended to protect the public, not to benefit individual debtors. Therefore, the Court held that the National Bank had the right to foreclose on the real estate, even though the loan had not been approved by the Comptroller. The Court also held that the executor of the estate was not entitled to any damages for the National Bank's failure to obtain the Comptroller's approval.

In Cummings v. National Bank, the Supreme Court was asked to determine whether a national bank could be held liable for negligence in failing to pay out funds from an account belonging to a deceased person. The majority opinion found that the bank had no such liability and thus dismissed the case. However, Justice Field dissented from this decision, arguing that banks should not be allowed to escape responsibility when they fail in their duty of care towards customers. He argued that if banks were able to do so without consequence then it would create an unfair situation where customers are unable trust them with their money or other assets. Furthermore, he noted that allowing banks immunity from liability would lead them into acting recklessly and taking advantage of those who have entrusted them with their finances due to lack of accountability on behalf of the institution itself.