In 1963 United Mutual Savings Bank advertised that it was "Tacoma's ONLY Savings Bank." The above photograph is United Mutual's No. 26th & Madison branch, one of three in the city. Designed by architects Harris, Reed & Wilson, the new branch had a circular floor plan. The bank was mushroom-shaped with the upper story overhanging the lower. It would be holding an open house on Saturday, June 29, 1963, to become acquainted with its new northend neighbors. Photograph ordered by Gardner Advertising Agency. (TNT 6-28-63, p. 14)

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

National Bank of Washington manager A.M.(Lee) Nordi bids a customer goodbye on August 29, 1963. He is standing next to the open doors facing the north side of the building; that side of the bank was almost entirely plate glass and polished aluminum. The bank, located at So. 54th & Pacific Ave., had been built in 1955. This picture was used in a large ad run in the October 29, 1963, News Tribune, which advised that customers could expect to receive a cordial welcome from Mr. Nordi, a veteran banker, and financial counseling tailored to their specific needs. National Bank of Washington was advertised as the "Bank of Personal Service." (TNT 10-29-63, p. 2)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1960-1970; Nordi, A.M.;

Three employees of Puget Sound National Bank are prepared to put the bank's new IBM 1419 check-sorting machine into operation on September 30, 1963. The main office's basement was fully equipped to handle bank processing matters. Gene Amar, assistant cashier in the electronic department, Mary Lee Fanger and Eleanor Anderson (seated) look at the machine which is capable of sorting and reading 96,000 checks an hour. In 1962 Puget Sound National Bank processed some 10.4 million checks and deposits. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank. (TNT 10-6-63, B-7)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Machinery; Amar, Gene; Fanger, Mary Lee; Anderson, Eleanor;

Exterior of bank. The above photograph, taken on January 4, 1964, is believed to be the National Bank of Washington branch at McChord Air Force Base managed by John Helm. The National Bank of Washington had 14 branches in the Tacoma area, including Fort Lewis and McChord. The modern branch had wall-to-wall glass windows and a convenient night deposit drop near the main entrance. The McChord branch at 550 A St. was officially opened on October 25, 1963, when Chairman Goodwin Chase and base commander Co. Kenneth Glassburn cut a dollar-bedecked ribbon.

National Bank of Washington (McChord); Banks--McChord;

The National Bank of Washington held the Northwest's biggest ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1 p.m. on August 8, 1964 at its new Tacoma Mall Branch located at 4301 So. Steele Street. A 350-foot ribbon completely encircled the building and the public was invited to join the ceremony. A "bank-warming" with refreshments, gift corsages for the ladies, and door prizes followed. The 8,300 square foot circular, glass-enclosed building was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by Strom Construction. This building was torn down around 1995. (Photograph ordered by the News Tribune.) (TNT 8-7-64, p. 4)

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

National Bank of Washington main locations at 12th & Pacific Avenue. The National Bank of Washington had three buildings plus a parking lot in the vicinity of 12th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma in 1963. Building on the left is the original bank built in 1921 in the Italian Renaissance style. Across the street is the bank annex while the motor bank, built in 1960 with its 40-car parking lot, is directly behind.

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

Main branch of the National Bank of Washington. Built in 1921 in the Italian Renaissance style and constructed of Wilkeson sandstone, the National Bank of Washington occupied a prominent location at 12th & Pacific. By 1963, the bank had both an annex and motor bank located nearby. Serving Washingtonians since 1885, National Bank of Washington had fourteen convenient offices in the Tacoma area and a total of 32 banking offices in the state. TPL-9205

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

Janette Dunmire and her sons Mark and Christopher are pictured walking toward the Parkland branch of Puget Sound National Bank on a late December, 1963, day. The branch was located at 122th & Pacific Ave. According to the 1963 City Directory, it was headed by Assistant Cashier Melvern W. Eagan. Mrs. Dunmire was the wife of Ken Dunmire, a photographer on the staff of Richards Studio from 1955-1964. Photograph ordered by Cole & Weber Advertising for insertion in Puget Sound National Bank's annual report. It was also used in advertising promoting the new branch of the bank. The building is now a florist shop. (photo identification supplied by Ken Dunmire)

Puget Sound National Bank (Parkland); Banks--Parkland; Dunmire, Ken--Family;

In May of 1964, construction was well under way on the distinctive new branch of the National Bank of Washington being built at 4301 South Steele Street, close to the new Tacoma Mall. The 7,000 square foot, circular building was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Its massive, curved concrete vault area was completed as was the framing for the roof and walls. Once completed, the marble exterior would contain large areas of glass and trim. (TNT 7-07-63, A-1) Photograph ordered by National Blower & Sheet Metal Co.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970; Progress photographs;

Publicity photograph for Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. Chairman of the Board Gerrit VanderEnde, at end of the table, and Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. department heads pose for a group portrait on July 21, 1964, in the firm's boardroom. All seem prepared with folders for the meeting. There are four women in the group, perhaps noting the rise of women in management positions. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma--1960-1970; VanderEnde, Gerrit;

ca. 1964. National Bank of Washington's Tacoma Mall branch under construction. Passersby stop to watch as the new Tacoma Mall branch of the National Bank of Washington nears completion in the summer of 1964. The circular building with its wall-to-ceiling glass windows and marble exterior would provide to be an arresting sight. Landscaping would be added later around the perimeters of the bank. The bank would take out several full page ads inviting the public to a "bankwarming" and ribbon-cutting ceremonies on August 8, 1964. 100 people would be asked to cut the 350 foot ribbon. Branch manager Howard Walters and his staff would provide tours of the new facility. Photograph ordered by the National Bank of Washington. (TNT Ad 8-7-64, p. 3)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Building construction--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Although the street sign states "S. 11th St." and "Commerce," the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association's new building was actually on Pacific Ave. close to the Puget Sound National Bank. It would have a grand opening in September, 1964. View of busy intersection with people waiting to cross the street and also admiring the new bronze fountain, shaped like a lily, which was recently installed by artist George Tsutakawa. Ten years later, the fountain would be moved to Pacific First Federal's new Lakewood branch near the Villa Plaza and replaced by a "dandelion" fountain. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Signs (Notices);

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association employees were shown hard at work monitoring the Univac 490 Real Time System equipment on August 31, 1964. The Univac 490 was a 30-bit word core memory machine with 16K or 32K words and a 4.8 microsec cycle time. It was manufactured by the Remington Rand Univac Division of Sperry Rand Corporation. (http: //encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com/UNIVAC%20490) Photograph ordered by the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Computers;

Interior of bank taken on January 4, 1964. A typical day at Villa Plaza's National Bank of Washington branch shows customer utilizing drive-up window, customers transacting business at the foreign currency exchange desk and at teller's window, and visiting with bank officials. Metal sculpture of birds hanging from ceiling was done by Tom Hardy of Portland; it was entitled "Flight of Birds" and was made of welded steel with embellished wing tips in gold leaf.

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Sculpture--Lakewood;

Vault at new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building. This photograph, taken before business hours on September 10, 1964, shows the enormous vault door at the new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building. The circular door is swung wide open. Past the interior barred steel door are tall cabinets of metal safe deposit boxes.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma;

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Chrm. of the Board Gerrit VanderEnde (seated, extreme left) and his company's branch managers pose for a group portrait on July 22, 1964. The photograph appears to have been taken at the headquarters boardroom at 11th & Pacific. Pacific First Federal Savings had seven locations in the Pacific Northwest including branches in Bellingham, Seattle, Longview, Portland, Eugene and Springfield. Tacoma was the home office, established in 1907. It would have a grand opening of its new building in late September, 1964. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Bankers--Tacoma--1960-1970; VanderEnde, Gerrit;