Rows and towers of safe-deposit units greet customers of Pacific First Federal Savings in June, 1957. Each box is numbered and two keys would be necessary to open each individual box, much as is done in 2002. Carpeted floors would muffle the tread of many footsteps. Pacific First Federal Savings was located at the corner of 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The Romanesque-style building was constructed in 1891 as the home of Merchants National Bank. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;

An alluring hula girl mannequin beckons Bank of California customers to protect their vacation funds by purchasing American Express travelers cheques. The June, 1957, display suggests that, whether visiting Hawaii or South Dakota, a cautious vacationer should play it safe by using travelers cheques instead of carrying large amounts of cash. A giant sea shell, a towel, a model Northwest Airlines plane, two palm trees and copious amounts of "sand" in the midst of a bank lobby would certainly draw the attention of the bank's vacation-minded customers. American Express launched its travelers cheque business in 1891; they introduced their travel charge card in 1958. (Photograph ordered by Bank of California.)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Merchandise displays--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mannequins;

A teller smilingly tabulates deposits at the drive-up window of Lakewood's Puget Sound National Bank. Drive-up service was becoming very popular in the 1950's as a convenience for busy customers who could not spare the time to enter the bank. Thick glass would protect the teller from robbers; customers would simply place their transactions in bins which would be accessible by the teller. Payments for loans, checking and savings deposits and withdrawls would all be accomplished without the customer ever leaving his car. Photograph ordered by Condon Co. (TNT ad 4-3-58, B-7) 10-JUN-2014

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

Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior- Puget Sound National Bank. Bank officials, realizing that the city's southend continued to grow, placed a branch of Puget Sound National Bank at the corner of South 84th and Pacific Avenue. The branch had a large neon sign and also a time/temperature device above. The Main Office of the bank had a similiar "double T" sign placed at their Pacific Avenue headquarters only four years before. The 84th & Pacific branch was managed for many years by Ralph Hubbard. The bank is still in its same location 45 years later; it is now owned by KeyBank. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Clocks & watches; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

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);

It might have been somewhat cramped in this trailer but the National Bank of Washington strove to provide good service to their customers while their permanent Lakewood branch was being constructed. It appears that the temporary quarters of the Villa Plaza branch was set in the middle of a parking lot during April, 1957. John R. Whisler, assistant cashier, and Marc H. Miller, manager, have nameplates on adjoining desks; there is also room for two teller windows. Photograph ordered by National Bank of Washington. (TNT 3-15-57, p. 9)

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

ca. 1957. Exterior of the National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The bank sponsored an open house on July 13, 1957, at its new banking office located in the north wing of the Lakewood shopping center. It was one of eight Tacoma area offices. The one-story building was 50-feet wide, 104-feet deep and totaled 5,200 square feet. The exterior was constructed of mottled blue ceramic tile with large areas of plate glass. The facility was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by general contractor Merritt Construction. Six teller units, a conference room and officers quarters were located on the east side lobby. There was a modern vault in the rear. The Villa Plaza-Lakewood branch of the National Bank of Washington had as its first manager Marc H. Miller. (TNT 7-11-57, A-6-article & alt. photograph; A-7 full page ad)

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

Aerial photograph of downtown Tacoma to show the spired Puget Sound National Bank building at 11th and Pacific (1119 Pacific Ave.) To the building's left is Peoples Department Store at 1101-07 Pacific and to its right is the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific, the 2002 location of the Tacoma Art Museum. Behind facing A Street is the Federal Building and the Post Office at 1102 A Street. The city appears divided into a grid of large office buildings. The streets, left to right, vertically are Commerce, Pacific and A Street. They are divided by, top to bottom, by 11th Street and 12th Street. Left to right at the top of the picture are the Rust building at 950 Pacific, the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific and the Tacoma Building at 1017-21 A Street. Across 11th Street from the Tacoma Building is the Perkins building at 1101 A Street.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

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;

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 entrance in the barricade to the bleacher seating, the best seat in town to watch the ongoing construction of the Tacoma Savings & Loan building. The new home office was being built across the street from its former headquarters. The city's oldest savings & loan was constructing a new aluminum and glass office building at this site. The new building would be 95 x 73 feet, on a lot that measured 120 x 75 feet. It had a basement, ground floor, mezzanine and penthouse for a total square footage of 21, 096 plus room for 2 additional floors. (TNT 6-27-1957)

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

Plywood barricade around the construction site for the new headquarters for Tacoma Savings & Loan; ordered by Simpson Plywood Barricades. The barricade reminds passerby that despite the inconvenience of the construction site, the bank is building for the future. Founded in 1899, it is the city's oldest savings & loan. The new headquarters is being built across the street from the current facility, and the bank has a branch at the Lakewood Center. Ketner Brothers are the general contractors for the project.

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

The barrier wall has gone up, anticipating the beginning of the construction of the new home-office headquarters of the Tacoma Savings and Loan. The Savings & Loan was founded June 28, 1899 in a lawyer's small office with assets of $2,000. At 57 years old, it was Tacoma's oldest and most respected savings and loan. Signs on the fence read "No knotholes in this fence. Get it all from a bleacher seat. Bleacher seats reserved for sidewalk superintendents, watch the show from a bleacher seat." Arrows point around the right hand fence where the bleachers must be located. The building, as designed by Lea, Pearson and Richards, would have modern glass and aluminum silhouette. Its main entrance would be on 9th, with a side entrance on Court A with a drive up window and space for 7 cars.(TNT 5/2.1956, pg. D-4)

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

Ground breaking for the new Tacoma Savings & Loan building, ordered by the Condon Advertising Co. Two of the three men present look anxiously up at the wrecking ball that will be used to break up the concrete where the new building will stand. The three men are bank officers Raymond Winden, vice president, W.D. Hopping, president, and Donald Kohler, secretary. Built across the street from the bank's current headquarters, the new building would be a modern edifice of aluminum and glass. It will have a basement, main floor, mezzanine and the ability to accomodate two additional floors when needed. The new building is estimated to be ready for occupancy in 10 months. Founded in 1899 in a lawyer's office while Tacoma was still a rowdy youngster with planks for sidewalks, Tacoma Savings and Loan is the city's oldest savings and loan. (TNT 5/2/1956, pg. D-4)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Winden, Raymond T.; Hopping, William D.; Kohler, Donald;

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.;

ca. 1956. Artist's rendering of the proposed Kent branch of the National Bank of Washington. The building was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects.

National Bank of Washington (Kent); Banks--Kent--1950-1960;

ca. 1956. The grand building at 11th & Pacific was the home of Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association for decades. The Merchants National Bank was the Romanesque structure's first tenant back in 1891. The brick and marble edifice had two entrances, one on 11th and the other on Pacific, to catch traffic on both streets. It would eventually be demolished about 1961 and a new Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building be constructed on the same site. BU -11,004

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

ca. 1956. Artist's rendering of the planned new branch of the National Bank of Washington in Buckley, Wa. Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. The design is compact and one story, with lots of floor to ceiling windows to supply natural lighting. Buckley is located 2 1/2 miles south of Enumclaw on the White River. It was originally a saw mill and logging center. The planned location for the bank is the corner of Main and River Ave. It would have a square footage of 4276 sq. feet, cost $75,000 and take approximately four months to complete. It would have six teller windows, safe deposit boxes, a community meeting room and a lounge and kitchen for employees. Carl Nilsen and Son were the contractors. (TNT 7/15/1956, pg. B-5)

National Bank of Washington (Buckley); Banks--Buckley--1950-1960;

Exterior of National Bank of Washington's Industrial branch on the Tideflats. National Bank of Washington was the first to offer complete banking facilities to the more than 200 businesses on the Tideflats and their numerous employees. It was also handy to the growing communities of Federal Way, Browns Point, Fife and Milton. The building was built of "pre-stressed concrete" with the northwest side of floor to ceiling glass for natural lighting.

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

The National Bank of Washington, Industrial branch, on the Tideflats opened to the public on July 1, 1955. Robert B. Price was the architect and Concrete Engineering Co. was the contractor for the new bank. The building was Tacoma's first example of "prestressed concrete construction." The 102 foot by 48 foot building was completely fireproof. The northwest side of the building was floor to ceiling glass, providing natural light. The 4300 sq. foot lobby contained tellers space, officers' quarters, conference rooms and vaults. The mezzanine had storage facilities, the employees' lounge and a compact kitchen for employees. Phillip C. Hultman was the branch Manager. Photographs ordered by the Howard R. Smith Co. (TNT 6/29/1955, pg. A-3)

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

National Bank of Washington, exterior of new industrial branch on the Tideflats. The 15th banking office of National Bank of Wa. opened for business July 1, 1955. It offered, for the first time in the industry, complete banking facilities to the more than 200 industries and their 11,000 employees on the Tideflats. The branch was also convenient by car to Browns Point, Dash Point, Northeast Tacoma, Federal Way, Fife and Milton. It had ample free parking for customers. (TNT 6/29/1955, pg. A-3)

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

Interior view of the National Bank of Washington, 54th & Pacific branch. Lea, Pearson and Richards served as the architects on this branch bank built in 1955. Construction was of brick, tile and aluminum. The front of the bank was almost entirely plate glass window. The lobby measured 3600 square feet and had brown striped mahogany woodwork with frosted walnut formica counters.

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

Exterior view of the National Bank of Washington, 54th & Pacific branch. The 40 x 100 foot building was of modern design. It was build of Roman brick and ceramic tile. The north side of the building glittered, being made almost entirely of plate glass and polished aluminum. Customers could enter from Pacific Avenue and also from the north end of the building.

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

Exterior view of the National Bank of Washington, 54th & Pacific branch. Lea, Pearson and Richards served as the architects on this branch bank built in 1955. Construction was of brick, tile and aluminum. In the fifties, the banks followed the flow of population out of the cities and into the suburbs. While leaving their grand financial institutions open downtown for the largely business trade, small friendly neighborhood branches were built to attract individual customers. The branches offered lots of parking and efficient, convenient services.

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

The new Puget Sound National Bank at Midway. Puget Sound National Bank opened in Midway, part of unincorporated King County, in 1955 but because of state banking regulations it was run as a separate bank until Midway was incorporated by the city of Kent in 1959. To finance the new bank, Reno Odlin personally borrowed $160,000 from Wells Fargo Bank and became its president and sole stockholder. On 5/1/1955, Midway signed an agreement with Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma that provided the fledgling bank with equipment, credit overlines, personnel hiring and the use of the newly completed building, provided rent-free. The following day, the bank opened its doors as Puget Sound National Bank of Midway. The bank was located on Pacific Highway 99 at the intersection of the Kent Des Moines Highway. The rambling ranch style building of green stone and "Texture One-Eleven," introduced by the DFPA, would serve the growing communities of Kent, Des Moines, Federal Way, Burien and Auburn. It had interior walnut paneling, terrazzo floors and exposed Douglas Fir beams. Puget Sound Bank did not venture out of Pierce County again until 1970. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse & TNT 5/1/1955, pg. C-23)

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

Exterior of the new National Bank of Washington building at 54th and Pacific, featuring ceramic tile for Gladding, McBean & Co. The new bank was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards, Architects. It was of modern design with an exterior of Roman brick and ceramic tile. The north side of the 40 x 100 foot building was almost entirely plate glass and polished aluminum. In keeping with the tide of population out of the city center and into the suburbs, the banks followed the flow and opened branch offices.

National Bank of Washington (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;

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.;