The McKinley Hill Banking Center of National Bank of Washington had been open for six months in August, 1965. It was the bank's 16th office in the Tacoma area and had hosted a "bankwarming" on February 27, 1965. Located at the corner of Harrison St. and McKinley Ave., the contemporary 3700-square foot building was constructed of travertine stone and vertical resawn cedar siding. A large parking lot and drive-up window was built for the convenience of the bank's customers. Local architects Lea, Pearson & Richards designed the building which was built by Levage Construction Co. Richard Blamey, executive officer and Donald Rhodus, assistant cashier, were in charge of the banking center. A 25-foot "money ribbon" was cut at the time of the bank's opening and the money donated to the Tayet School for Handicapped Children. (TNT 2-26-65, p. 11)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);
In June of 1965 the employees of the Puget Sound National Bank dressed in costumes from the "Gay 90s" to celebrate the bank's 75th anniversary. A beautiful, multi-layer cake with a giant 75 on top was baked for the occasion. The bank, originally named the Puget Sound Savings Bank, opened on June 10, 1890 at 2422 Pacific Avenue. From 1890 to 1965 the bank survived the financial panic of 1893, the Great Depression and several name changes. In the 1990s they were taken over by KeyBank. (Photograph ordered by Puget Sound National Bank.)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1960-1970; Cakes--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Occupants of the second-floor patio deck and people in the courtyard below could all enjoy the sight and sound of George Tsutakawa's bronze water fountain located on the premises of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association's downtown main office. Shaped in the form of a dark lily, the fountain would provide many years of pleasure before it was moved ten years later to the savings and loans' new Lakewood branch near the Villa Plaza. It would be replaced with a "dandelion" fountain. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Courtyards--Tacoma;
Close-up of bronze fountain designed by George Tsutakawa of Seattle for Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association's new building at 1102-08 Pacific Ave. Shaped in the graceful form of a lily, the fountain was installed in time for Pacific First Federal's grand opening in late September, 1964. Careful placement of shrubs and benches made this courtyard a peaceful place in which to reflect. Japanese cherry and Japanese pine, cut maple, azales and rhododendrons were all installed by landscape architects Chaffee-Zumwalt. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Courtyards--Tacoma;
Courtyard of new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. building. This late October, 1964, view of the serene courtyard attached to the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Assn. was taken from 11th & Commerce St. Benches are placed strategically so that customers, or merely those wanting to take a quiet break, can enjoy the splashing fountain designed by famed artist George Tsutakawa, a University of Washington professor of art. A second-floor patio deck overlooks the courtyard and is decorated with small shrubs. Photograph ordered by Lea, Pearson & Richards, architects.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Courtyards--Tacoma;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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;
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.;
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;
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;
Richards stock file. Six years after construction of the new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building at So. 9th & A Sts., work was begun in January, 1963, on expanding much needed parking for the facility. Shovels and cranes have already peeled away part of the building exposing brickwork. One passerby has paused to watch the machinery in action. Tacoma Savings & Loan had acquired the building at 816 A St. formerly occupied by Fuel Oil Service with the intention of demolishing the building to provide more parking space. The $50,000 project was headed by the architectural firm of Lea, Pearson and Richards who had designed the present Tacoma Savings & Loan building. (TNT 1-16-63, A-9)
Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Construction--Tacoma--1960-1970;
Two women on May 4, 1962, admire display of artwork hung in the new National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza. The woman with her hand on the picture frame is local artist Gertrud DuBrau Kogler. Mrs. Kogler, a native of Germany, was the exhibit chairman of the Lakewood Artists. She was a prolific painter whose work varied from still life, impressionistic and abstract. The paintings on display at the Bank of Washington probably included her artwork. The bank would be celebrating its grand opening that same week.
National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Paintings; Kogler, Gertrud DuBrau; Artists--Lakewood; Paintings;
Night exposure on May 4, 1962, believed to be Lakewood's National Bank of Washington's newer branch at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. Located in the northern section of the shopping center, 60 feet off Gravelly Lake Dr., it would be officially opened in a "bankwarming" on May 12, 1962. Designed by noted architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, the two-story tall structure would have a white precast tile with marble aggregate exterior. Benches, small circular fountain, and landscaping accentuated the bank's modern look. Photograph ordered by National Bank of Washington. (TNT 9-13-61, A-8, TNT 5-9-62, B-4
National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood;
View of one-story Pacific First Federal Savings building on March 14, 1961. Clock mounted on building indicates it was nearly 3:30 in the afternoon when this photograph of the Villa Plaza branch was taken. Pacific First Federal was a mutual savings institution with branches in the Northwest; established in 1907, its headquarters were in downtown Tacoma. Rudolph J. Tollefson, assistant vice-president, was listed in the 1961 City Directory as being in charge of the Villa Plaza location.
Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Clocks & watches;
An unidentified employee of the Puget Sound National Bank put the bank's new IBM 1210 Reader Sorter through its paces for (l to r) Robert G. Gordon, Vice President and Cashier, and Harold Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, on January 13, 1961. In 1959 PSNB became the first bank in the State of Washington - and the second on the west coast - to convert to the use of computers. The other banks in the northwest resisted computerization, and attempted to talk PSNB out of taking this radical step, because they felt that banking customers would not accept being numbered. (Banking on Independence; the first century of Puget Sound Bankcorp, c1990)
Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Temporary quarters for the Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan in Sumner would be this 50' house trailer until a permanent building could be constructed at the corner of Alder & Maple Sts. Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards would be commissioned to design the 1600 square foot permanent structure. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan had been in business since 1925. On December 2, 1960, Edwin G. Cook III, manager, is photographed just prior to entering the bank. The Sumner branch would hold its open house in its new building on May 5, 1961. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle. (TNT 10-12-60, C-12, TNT 5-3-61, A-18)
Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Sumner); Banks--Sumner; Trailers--Sumner; Signs (Notices); Cook, Edwin G.;
Overview of National Bank of Washington's Motor Bank taken on October 24, 1960. The drive-through unit had opened six months before at the old Pioneer Building site on 12th & A Sts. in downtown Tacoma. Quick transactions could be processed without leaving one's vehicle and access was provided for walk-up patrons. A 40-car parking lot was provided with parking free for one hour. Bank's annex is across the street.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Night exposure of National Bank of Washington sign and parking. The neon signs welcoming patrons to the National Bank of Washington's drive-up windows and indicating the location of customer parking are bright beacons in the surrounding April 25, 1960, darkness. The Motor Bank opened that day in the Old Pioneer Building site on A St. Two walk-up windows for pedestrians and two drive-up windows allowed customers to cash checks, make deposits or loan payments, conveniently and quickly. The covered motor banking unit was located on the north end of the bank parking lot. (TNT 4-24-60, A-4, B-7)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970;
View of new National Bank of Washington Motor Bank at night. The National Bank of Washington's Motor Bank opened on April 25, 1960, in the Old Pioneer Building site at 1202 A St. That building was razed in late 1959 and a compact drive-through unit constructed. The motor bank, built out of Wilkeson sandstone, covered 18,000 square feet including a convenient parking lot. The 40-car parking lot was provided by the bank in case more banking transactions were needed to be conducted in person at the Main office or the bank annex across the street. Parking was free for one hour. (TNT 4-24-60, A-4, B-7)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970;
