The exterior of the Bank of California building. The Bank of California was formally established in 1864 in San Francisco. As early as that same year the bank had out-of-state activities in Nevada opening the Virginia City agency. The bank expanded by organizing the Mission Bank of San Francisco in 1903 and purchasing the London and San Francisco Bank in 1905. The London and San Franciso Bank had established a Portland branch in 1882, a Tacoma branch in 1889, and a branch in Seattle in 1901. In 1910 the Bank of California was granted a national charter and its oficial name became the Bank of California, National Association. Prior to that time it had operated as a state bank under California banking laws. Thus, at the time of its admittance as a national bank, the Bank of California was already operating in four states: California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. For many years it was the only national bank to operate in more than two states, until banking laws were changed in the 1980's. (Partners in Progress 1865-1950, James J. Hunter)
Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma;