Seattle-First National Bank. Two Sixth Avenue banks would open their doors in December of 1972; Seattle-First National Bank celebrated its grand opening on December 9th with Washington Mutual Savings following on December 13th. This is a view of the Sea-First branch taken a few months later on April 29, 1973. A large sign with the now-familiar red "1" welcomed customers and invited them to use the expeditious motor banking. The "Highland Hills" branch had moved from old quarters at Sixth & "L" but remained a full service facility with three drive-up windows. Color photograph ordered by Seattle-First National Bank, Seattle.

Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

ca. 1973. 1973 Richards stock footage. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan presented a colorful sight during the Christmas holiday season with twinkling lights on outdoor landscaping and brightly illuminated building. This is the Commerce Street view of the savings and loan; Puget Sound National Bank's lighted spire can be seen in the background. This snapshot was taken either during the 1972 Christmas season or shortly thereafter.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Christmas decorations;

Close-up view of Seattle-First National Bank's "Highland Hills" branch. A row of small trees has been planted along the sidewalk border of the new Sea-First branch on Sixth Avenue. This April, 1973, side view of the bank shows the three drive-up lanes of the bank which are under cover. A "cash machine," a concept first introduced in Pierce County by Seattle-First, is outside the front doors. Color photograph ordered by Seattle-First National Bank, Seattle.

Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Washington Mutual Savings Bank. Washington Mutual Savings Bank opened their first Pierce County branch in mid-December of 1972. The single-story building was located at 6616 Sixth Ave. (Sixth & Mildred) and featured a new brickwork technique utilized by noted local architect Robert Billsbrough Price. David C. Van Hoose was the branch's first manager. Color photograph ordered by Washington Mutual Savings Bank, Seattle.

Washington Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Tacoma Commercial Bank's new branch. Tacoma Commercial Bank, a "Tacoma Landmark since 1972," opened their first branch on March 16, 1974, at 7020 Pacific Ave., on what was apparently the site of the old King's Drive In No. 1. The one-story structure was built of wood with a shake roof. It had a drive-up window for patrons' convenience. An imposing stand-alone sign rising high above power lines advertised the bank's presence. Included on the sign was a digital clock feature; it may also have listed the date and temperature as well. Gary M. Hershey was appointed the branch's first manager. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Commercial Bank. (TNT 3-3-74, H-11 article; TNT Ad 3-12-74, A-3)

Tacoma Commercial Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

United Mutual Savings Bank. This photograph of the new headquarters of United Mutual Savings Bank was taken on January 28, 1975, just two weeks before its formal dedication. This is a view of the six-story precast concrete building from the 11th & Broadway side. Photograph ordered by United Mutual Savings Bank.

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Board of Directors- Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association. Retired Chairman of the Board Gerrit VanderEnde (seated, far left) and current Chairman and president H. Dewayne Kreager (next to Mr. VanderEnde) were among the directors of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association who met on April 16, 1975. Retired Puget Sound National Bank Chairman Reno Odlin was also present, seated on the extreme right. The color photograph was taken on the thrid floor, reception area. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1970-1980; VanderEnde, Gerrit; Kreager, H. Dewayne; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979;

New downtown United Mutual Savings Bank building. Located on 11th St. between Broadway & Commerce, the statewide headquarters of United Mutual Savings Bank was formally dedicated on Friday, February 14, 1975. Mayor Gordon Johnston presided over the noontime dedication ceremonies. He and United Mutual Savings Bank president Howard Scott placed documents in a sealed time vault. The six-story structure, built of precast concrete, cost $6,000,000. It was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. The bank would subsequently take out several large ads in the News Tribune thanking the public for their attendance at the dedication. (TNT 2-13-75, B-2 - article; TNT 2-17-75, A-16 - ad)

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1970-1980;

New United Mutual Savings Bank headquarters. This view of the massive new savings bank building is believed to be looking from So. 11th St. The structure, dedicated on Friday, February 14, 1975, was located on So. 11th between Commerce & Broadway. Other views of the building are shown on D165624, image 3 and image 1. The six-story precast concrete building was designed by the Tacoma architectural firm of Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by McDonald Construction Co. It apparently took nearly two years to complete.

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Bank of Washington Plaza. Towering over its neighbors is the new Bank of Washington Plaza on 12th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The National Bank of Washington and Pacific National Bank had merged effective August 16, 1970. The bank's new name was the Pacific National Bank of Washington with headquarters in Seattle. The Tacoma headquarters would remain in the 24-story plaza tower shown above. Goodwin Chase, former Chrm. of the Board of (National) Bank of Washington, became the president of the consolidated bank. The highest tenant level of the Bank of Washington Plaza tower was actually the 22nd floor with air conditioning units and other service facilities on levels above. View of the Bank of Washington Plaza taken on February 23, 1971. Occupants peering through the nearly 2000 solar bronze windows would have sweeping views of Mount Rainier and the Tacoma landscape. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific. (TNT 5-17-70, p. 1- article; TNT 8-17-70, p. 30 -article)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Modern barber shop in the Bank of Washington Plaza. Portraits of four presidents overlook the customers of this modern barber shop in February of 1971. Walls are painted with bold stripes and checkered linoleum is found in the shop's work areas. A man reads a newspaper while he is waiting for his hair to be cut. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Barbershops--Tacoma; Barbers--Tacoma;

Unidentified executive enjoying view of the Tacoma tideflats from his office in the new Bank of Washington Plaza on February 23, 1971. His desk is placed next to one of the many bronze windows of the 24-story tower. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Windows--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Bank of Washington Plaza. Diners are pictured leaving the new O'Brien's restaurant located below street level in the Bank of Washington Plaza complex on February 23, 1971. People could use the large curving staircase to journey from the tower building to the restaurant and shops located beneath. A large circular fountain added to the peaceful view. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980; O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma);

Circular fountain at the Bank of Washington Plaza. Diners at the new O'Brien's restaurant have a lovely view of the large fountain and courtyard outside their floor-to-ceiling windows. A spiral staircase leads from the street level down to the fountain and restaurant. The fountain is illuminated at night. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific. (TNT 11-1-70-, A-16 - Emily Walker column)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma);

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. officials. Chrm. of the Board Gerrit VanderEnde of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. poses with his association's branch managers in the courtyard of the main branch on May 15, 1970. Mr. VanderEnde is seated second from the right. Color photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma--1970-1980; VanderEnde, Gerrit;

Bank of Washington Plaza with no visible exterior signage. Sunlight reflects off the multitude of bronze windows in the new Bank of Washington Plaza at 12th & Pacific. An unusual part of the building complex is the large fountain accessible by curving stairs beneath the level of the actual tower. Seven trees are planted in the concrete surrounding the fountain space. The 24-story Bank of Washington Plaza was dedicated on January 9, 1971.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Bank of Washington Plaza Building. The staff and management of Pacific National Bank of Washington stand before the brand new 24-story Bank of Washington Plaza tower in late December of 1970. Although the building would not be formally dedicated until January 9, 1971, staff had already moved into their new home. The Pacific National Bank of Washington was created in 1970 with the merger of Tacoma's National Bank of Washington, who had begun construction of the plaza, and Seattle's Pacific National Bank. This photograph was used for a full page ad in the News Tribune on January 7, 1971, inviting one and all to attend the official dedication of the new skyscraper in two days. The address listed for the plaza was One Washington Plaza. Photograph ordered by Pacific National Bank of Washington. (TNT ad 1-7-71, D-1)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

On October 13, 1970 a photographer from the Richards Studio leaned out of an unfinished window of the Bank of Washington building at 1201-23 Pacific Avenue and captured this abstract image of the plaza below. The spiral at top center is the unfinished staircase that when completed would lead to the fountain, restaurant and shops that were planned for the lower level of the plaza. The small circles that surround half of the spiral were designated to hold trees. On the lower edge, two men are working on a scaffold suspended from the side of the building. The plaza became Wells Fargo Plaza in 1997. (Photograph ordered by Labor Advocate Publishing Co.) TPL-9547

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Bank of Washington Plaza. Pacific National Bank of Washington wished its customers, and all of Tacoma, happy holiday greetings from its recently completed Bank of Washington Plaza, 1201-23 Pacific Ave., in December of 1970. Sparkling red bulbs in the windows of two of the upper floors spelled out "Merry Christmas." Tacoma's National Bank of Washington and Seattle's Pacific National Bank had merged effective August 16, 1970, to create the Pacific National Bank of Washington with headquarters in Seattle. The Bank of Washington Plaza in downtown Tacoma would become the Tacoma headquarters. With assets over 700 million dollars, the new merged bank would have over 1800 employees and 60 branches. The Pacific National Bank of Washington would formally open its doors in Tacoma on Monday, December 14, 1970. (TNT 8-17-70, p. 30 - article; TNT 12-9-70 - article) Color photograph ordered by the public relations department, Pacific National Bank of Washington.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;

It was a brisk 49 degrees in April 1971 when this photograph of the National Realty Building, then Puget Sound National Bank, was taken from a building across the street. The building was sandwiched between Peoples department store and the National Bank of Washington (later home to the Tacoma Art Museum). The landmark structure, with its familiar spire, was at one time the tallest building on the West Coast, and the first built to withstand earthquakes. Puget Sound National Bank, established in 1890, would promote itself as an independent, "hometown" bank. It would merge with Key Bank in 1993. Photograph ordered by De Vac, Minneapolis, MN.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Peoples (Tacoma);

ca. 1971. Color exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank. Brilliant blue skies cast a warm glow over the downtown Tacoma business district, seeking to melt the residue of snow that is still present on the sidewalks and on Pacific Avenue. The venerable Puget Sound National Bank, once the tallest building on the West Coast at a narrow 16 stories, is flanked by Peoples department store and the newly opened Tacoma Art Museum (former home of National Bank of Washington). The familiar blue and white sign with P & S entwined is attached to the skyscraper. Color photograph ordered by DeVac, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, on November 18, 1971.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Peoples (Tacoma); Tacoma Art Museum (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Department stores--Tacoma--1970-1980; Galleries & museums--Tacoma--1970-1980; Business districts--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Branch managers of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association met at the Main office on February 18, 1972, to have their annual photograph taken in the courtyard. Gerrit VanderEnde (seated third from left) had just retired as chairman of the board. He had come to Tacoma in 1948 to serve as president of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan. Mr. VanderEnde had previously been president of the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco and also been the city manager of Berkeley, California. Deposits were $42 million when Mr. VanderEnde first arrived; in 1972, deposits had skyrocked to more than $565 million. Pacific First Federal had become the 20th largest savings & loan in the country. It now had ten branches and two loan offices in Washington and Oregon. H. Dewayne Kreager, president, (believed to be seated in dark suit next to Mr. VanderEnde) would remain as president and also become chairman of the board. Mr. VanderEnde would continue as director and as chairman of the board's executive committee. (TNT 2-6-72, D-11 article; TNT 2-9-72, D-11 article) Color photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1970-1980; VanderEnde, Gerrit;

Interior view of Seattle-First National Bank Highland Hills branch, taken on day of bank dedication, December 9, 1972. The bank has yet to open formally for business but this is the view that customers would see when they walked through the large glass doors of the contemporary designed bank. There is a feeling of openness with the lack of cubicles or cages and the use of "natural" earthtones in the decor. Sea-First had moved its Sixth Ave. branch from Sixth & "L" to the Highland Hills area on Sixth. There would be 3,720 sq. feet of bank space in the brick and cedar building. Color photograph ordered by Seattle-First National Bank. (TNT 4-30-72, D-12- article on new bank plans)

Banks--Tacoma; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma); Building dedications--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Interior of new Seattle-First National Bank Highland Hills branch. This appears to be prior to opening hours at the new Sixth Ave. location of Seattle-First National Bank on December 9, 1972. Behind the counter is plenty of desk space, room enough for a typewriter and several adding machines. Tables and chairs to the left side of the room are probably for loan officers to conduct business. A sign outside the building points customers to the "Firstbank Cash Machine;" Seattle-First was the first to employ ATM machines in Pierce County where access to cash was possible 24 hours a day. Color photograph ordered by Seattle-First National Bank.

Banks--Tacoma; Seattle-First National Bank (Tacoma);

The Stadium branch of United Mutual Savings Bank would celebrate its grand opening on June 26, 1972. Free Elgin watches would be given out to depositers of fifty or more dollars. The chalet-styled bank building was located at North 1st and Tacoma Avenue North. Photograph ordered by United Mutual Savings Bank. (TNT Ad 6-25-72, A-16)

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Washington Mutual Savings Bank building. Washington Mutual Savings Bank entered the Pierce County market by establishing a branch at Sixth & Mildred in December of 1972. Local architect Robert Billsbrough Price designed the single story building using a new brickwork technique. Rather than having individual bricks laid in place by hand, Mr. Price decided to have entire brick walls and column piers prefabricated, cut to fit and later erected on the foundation. Space would also be allowed for a 44-car parking lot. Fitzpatrick-McIntyre were the general contractors of the $750,000 project. Photograph ordered by Washington Mutual Savings Bank. (TNT 7-23-72, D-8 -article on plans; TNT 12-12-72, p. 36-article on opening)

Washington Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Exterior view of Bank of Tacoma's South Tacoma branch, taken on January 9, 1968. Originally established as South Tacoma State Bank in 1963, the bank changed its name to Bank of Tacoma in 1965. At the same time, it moved its headquarters to downtown Tacoma near So. 11th & Pacific. This contemporary stone edifice at on South Tacoma Way became a branch of Bank of Tacoma. Late in 1967, the Bank of Tacoma opened its newest location on Sixth Ave. and welcomed a new president, David Williams. Photograph ordered by Bank of Tacoma.

Bank of Tacoma (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Three Bank of California officials lend a helping hand in the remodeling process of their Pacific Avenue building in August of 1968. They are building plywood walls in the main lobby to provide noise and dust protection. Daily operations would continue during the construction period with directory boards listing temporary locations of the various departments. Only one area of the bank at a time would be affected during the extensive interior remodeling. John Graham & Co., architects of the original edifice, would also be in charge of the $600,000 project. Photograph ordered by Bank of California. (TNT 8-18-68, A-19)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma--1960-1970; Plywood;

It was business as usual at the Bank of California even during remodeling in the summer of 1968. The major face-lifting project was expected to last until the end of November. Although remodeling would entail new carpeting, chandeliers, and oak wall paneling, the elaborate ceiling would be retained. Great sheets of plastic and fresh plywood kept dust and noise at bearable levels as work progressed in the main lobby. The barricade, 75-feet long and 8-feet high in front of the savings teller windows and new accounts area, was on the north side of the office building. A directory board prominently displayed against a check-writing counter helped customers find the temporary location of various services. Detailed maps were also provided on the lower part of the directory board. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California. (TNT 8-18-68, A-19)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Remodeling--Tacoma--1960-1970; Lobbies--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Bank of California exterior, taken on July 25, 1968. Built in the Italian Renaissance style of Wilkerson sandstone and granite by J.E. Bonnell & Son in 1928, the Bank of California's four Ionic columns made for an impressive sight on busy downtown Pacific Avenue. A contemporary touch has been added with the installation of a narrow vertical sign to the building's exterior with the bank's name on it.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);