ca. 1958. Interior of Pacific 1st Federal Savings building, Villa Plaza. The 2000+ sq.ft. savings & loan opened at the Villa Plaza Shopping Center on January 2, 1958. It held an open house from January 2-10th. Tones of brown and gold decorated the building's interior. Its lobby had a white granite fireplace. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Northwest and served more than 57,000 families at the time. It had its main office in downtown Tacoma and branches elsewhere in Washington and Oregon. Rudolph J. Tollefson was the Villa Plaza location's first manager. He had been associated with the savings & loan since 1935 and prior to that had been employed by the University National Bank in Seattle and Bank of California in Tacoma. Mr. Tollefson was the brother of Congressman Thor Tollefson and Tacoma Mayor Harold Tollefson. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960;

The North Pacific Bank T & T sign shows the time to be 12:10 p.m. which corresponds to the smaller clock in the window of the bank. The T & T sign would also give the current temperature. The North Pacific Bank had been in the same South Tacoma location since 1914. It was run by Clarence W. Wallerich, president, Bert R. Magnuson, vice-president and Peter K. Wallerich, cashier. Clarence Wallerich also owned the South Tacoma Motor Co., Western States Investment Group, City Motor Co., and managed the City Insurance Agency. The one-branch bank, which offered general banking and safe deposit vaults, had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000 in 1958.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The National Bank of Washington opened temporary quarters in a 40 foot trailer at the Villa Plaza in April, 1957, while their permanent Lakewood branch was being constructed. Flowers were planted in concrete block borders for a homey effect. Here on April 1, 1957, two men shake hands on the steps leading to the bank. The man to the left is believed to be branch manager, Marc H. Miller. The permanent branch, built on the Villa Plaza's north wing, would celebrate its open house on July 13, 1957. Customers would enjoy a rare "behind-the-scenes" look at bank operations during the open house. The new 50' X 104' structure would officially open for business on July 15, 1957. Photograph ordered by National Bank of Washington. (TNT 3-15-57, p. 9, TNT 7-11-57, A-6)

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; Signs (Notices);

Exterior- Puget Sound National Bank. The 84th & Pacific branch of Puget Sound National Bank was a long-time fixture in the city's southend. It was headed by Ralph Hubbard from its inception. Mr. Hubbard treated his customers with his own personal touch. According to "Banking on Independence," Mr. Hubbard had a following of customers who would not bank with anyone other than Ralph." Puget Sound National Bank followed the philosophy that allowed them to name branch managers who were capable of running their branches profitably and were able to attract and retain customers. Puget Sound National Bank, long known as the largest independent bank in the state, was purchased by KeyBank in the early 1990's. The 84th & Pacific branch is still open for business at the same location. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co., possibly for advertising purposes. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 107-08)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

National Bank of Washington, exterior of new bank located at 54th & Pacific. Lea, Pearson & Richards served as architects on this brick, tile and aluminum building. Bonnell Construction Co. was the general contractor. The 40 x 100 foot building was of modern design with a Roman brick and ceramic tile exterior. The north side of the building was almost entirely plate glass and polished aluminum. The building had two convenient entrances- Pacific Ave. and the north side of the building and a covered walk extended around the building. The large parking area had room for 70 cars. The lobby was 3,600 sq. feet with room for tellers, officer's quarters, new accounts, conference rooms, bookkeeping and a modern safe deposit vault. The vault was fire and earthquake proof. The lobby had brown striped mahogany woodwork and counters of frosted walnut formica. The mezzanine had a large lounge and a compact kitchen for employees and the partial basement housed record storage and the heating plant. A.M. (Lee) Nordi was branch manager. The bank had an Open House for the public on the afternoon of January 29th, which promised a behind the scenes look at the bank. (TNT 1/27/1955, pg. A-5)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

ca. 1953. Bank of teller stations at the permanent Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The main lobby had walnut panelling and recessed fluorescent lighting. It was arranged for the comfort of the banking customer. A counter on the left side of the picture supplies forms and writing space for the customer. Designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, the facility was both elegant and practical. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-9)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

New Puget Sound Bank at Lakewood, ordered by the Condon Co. The handsome permanent building was located in the Lakewood Center, facing Mt. Tacoma Dr. S.W. The elegant building had walnut panelling the the lobby, a customer's lounge with a fireplace off the main lobby, an employee's lounge that also had a fireplace and piped-in music. Lakewood's deposits by the end of 1953 were in excess of $3.1 million. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg A-10, "Banking on Independence," by Barry Provorse.)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is the women's lounge. Two women share a conversation as they smoke in the seating area, while two women converse as one checks her makeup in the mirror in the vanity area. Several ashtrays are available in the seating area, as public smoking was not only tolerated but expected in the fifties.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be the accounting department. Some young women run long strips of figures on what appear to be large adding machines. Other women check receipts at a high counter.The women are dressed in working attire, dresses, suits or skirts and blouses.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

A row of Bank of California employees is hard at work on March 10, 1954. Each employee is sitting at a wide metallic desk equipped with seven drawers. This may be the bookkeeping section of the bank; several desks have adding machines on them. Large windows give plenty of natural light; each desk also has a narrow lamp. The man on the far left of the picture may be Frank Busch, as the nameplate on the lamp indicates. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Office Supply.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Calculators; Office equipment & supplies; Lamps; Tacoma Office Supply Co. (Tacoma);

Charles McCallum, manager, Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. McCallum had been with the bank for 16 years and came to Lakewood the previous Spring to serve as manager of the temporary bank. Puget Sound Bank's philosophy was to name branch managers who were capable of running their operations profitably and were personable enough to attract customers. Their power was the equivalent of vice presidents at the Main Office and the bank aimed for managerial continuity at the branches. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-3 & "Banking on Independence" by Provorse)

Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood; McCallum, Charles;

Exteriors of United Mutual Savings Bank, 125 So. 11th, and Household Finance Corp., 117 So. 11th. United Mutual Savings advertised itself as Tacoma's only insured savings bank and HFC, as the name indicates, made loans. The building is classical in design, with its symmetrical facade and carved columns.

United Mutual Savings Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Household Finance Corp. (Tacoma);

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association; drilling at site of the new savings and loan association. Raymond T. Winden, left, vice president of the association, inspects the drilling on a vacant lot at 9th and A St., the future site of the association's downtown headquarters. Built across the street from the bank's old headquarters, the new building would be modern in appearance and built of aluminum and glass with black granite trim. An exploratory hole is being drilled in hopes of finding enough water to operate the proposed air conditioning system. Called "reverse-cycle" air conditioning, the process pumps water up from far below ground to both heat and cool the building. The association building would be the first downtown to use this process, also used in the Public Utilities building. (TNT 4/5/1956, pg. A-13)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Drilling--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Drilling & boring machinery; Winden, Raymond T.;

Tacoma Savings and Loan, new building. The steel framework is going up for the new savings and loan headquarters, built across the street from their historic original office in the Bowes building. The new building would be a modern edifice of glass and aluminum. The first floor would house customer service, insurance department, offices for departments, safe deposit vault and safe deposit boxes. The mezzanine reached by the spiral staircase houses offices, conference room and record vault. A community room for meetings was located in the Basement, which also included the microfilm room, supply storage and employees' lounge.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

The steel framework rises for the new Tacoma Savings and Loan Association building. When completed, the building would consist of a basement, main floor and mezzanine, with a structure that could support two additional floors when needed. It would have luminous ceilings acoustically treated for sound absorption, indirect lighting and electrically operated fiberglass drapes, 22 feet long from floor to ceiling. (TNT 6/27/1957)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Studio portrait of C.T. Chandler, vice-president of National Bank of Washington. Chandler was elected Vice president of Transamerica and would be taking up his new duties in San Francisco in February of 1955. He would be heading up a new department set up by Transamerica to consolidate the activities of several branch banking systems. Chandler joined the National Bank of Washington October 1, 1938 as assistant vice president, coming from San Pedro, California. (TNT 1/5/1955, pg. 18)

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Bankers--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Chandler, C.T.;

When erected in 1910, Puget Sound National Bank's main branch was the tallest building west of the Missouri River. Later buildings were constructed to rival the bank's height but it remained a focal point on Pacific Avenue. It dwarfed its neighbors, Peoples store and the National Bank of Washington. A large plaque on the side of the building indicates that the bank was established in 1890. Puget Sound Bank was the first to use a T & T sign, clearly visible, which gave the time and temperature to passersby. A "hometown bank," Puget Sound National Bank was absorbed by Key Bank in the early 1990's. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. TPL-6569

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

Bright lighting and wall mirrors make this room in the Bank of California appear larger than it probably was. It is likely that this room was used as an addition to the bank's safe-deposit vault location. The small cubbyholes with separate doors and locks were probably available for bank customers who wished to examine the contents of their boxes in complete privacy. Photograph ordered by Bank of California.

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

A cheerful Bank of California employee is ready to welcome visitors to the bank's grand reopening on December 11, 1968, as extensive remodeling has finally concluded. She is perched on the edge of a desk with two winged angel statues before her. The bank was offering free gifts to those opening new accounts or adding to previous ones. Gifts were prominently displayed on the pegboard behind her. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California.

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

The main lobby of the Bank of California is empty at the moment on November 20, 1968. The bank had undergone an extensive face-lift beginning in the summer of 1968 but had arranged that only one area of the bank would be affected at a time. Employees continued to work during the remodeling process delivering customary service to their patrons. This view is of the saving accounts area on the north side of the building. New 8-foot chandeliers with Belgian glass globes hung from the 45-foot ceiling in the banking hall. In addition, recessed fluorescent lighting in the ceiling improved the lighting in the bank. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California. (TNT full-page ads 12-10-68, p. 10, 11; TNT 12-10-68, p. 39)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Chandeliers;

VIP party. The massive banking hall of the Bank of California was filled with people on January 18, 1969, as they enjoyed cocktails and catered buffet dining. The Bank of California had recently concluded a month of celebration regarding the extensive remodeling of the 1928-era building. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California.

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

This room in the remodeled Bank of California may have been used for bank staff primarily. It does contain a steel vault and a U-shaped desk with telephone and typewriter. The room overlooks an office area with filing cabinets against the wall. Photograph ordered by the Bank of California.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Vaults (Strong rooms)--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;

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);