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;

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;

Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. As the fifties dawned, so did urban flight. All of the necessities of life began to be available outside of the city core, and the banks followed suit. Puget Sound first build a temporary branch adjacent to the Lakewood Center that took in 2 million in deposits by the end of its first year. On October 5, 1953, this permanent facility opened in an elegant building that included two fireplaces and piped in music. ("Banking on Independence" by Provorse)

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

A large Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan sign tilts dramatically as it is being removed from its Pacific Ave. location on January 30, 1967. Two large cranes block part of the roadway while workers stare at the proceedings. Hunt's Office Supply is next door; Security Building in the distance. This same sign was photographed on June 30, 1958, prior to its erection at the savings & loan. (See D115285-12) The savings & loan had decided that they had outgrown their 40-year-old name and therefore sponsored a contest to let the public pick the new name. Prizes included a weekend at the Winthrop Hotel, free dinners, a limo ride, receipt of income on $1,000,000 for five days at 5% annual rate; entries were to be postmarked by 3-31-67. The new name, Lifetime Federal Savings & Loan Association, was announced in an ad in the June 15, 1967, News Tribune. Ralph H. Clawson of Tacoma was the first prize winner. Mrs. Janet A. Pierce of Tacoma and Gertrude Olinghouse of Sumner were the 2nd and 3rd prize winners. Photograph ordered by Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan. (TNT 2-2-67, D-3, TNT 6-15-67, A-4)

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970; Hoisting machinery; Hunt's Office Supply (Tacoma);

Exterior view of Bank of Tacoma's Lakewood branch. The Lakewood branch of the Bank of Tacoma celebrated its grand opening on Tuesday, March 21, 1967. Located at 9919 Bridgeport Way, it was managed by Joe Pelky. The bank's name and logo are prominently displayed outside the modern structure. Photograph ordered by the Bank of Tacoma. (TNT ad 3-20-67, p. 15)

Bank of Tacoma (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Banking--Lakewood;

Exterior view of Bank of Tacoma's South Tacoma branch, taken on January 9, 1968. Originally established as South Tacoma State Bank in 1963, the bank changed its name to Bank of Tacoma in 1965. At the same time, it moved its headquarters to downtown Tacoma near So. 11th & Pacific. This contemporary stone edifice at on South Tacoma Way became a branch of Bank of Tacoma. Late in 1967, the Bank of Tacoma opened its newest location on Sixth Ave. and welcomed a new president, David Williams. Photograph ordered by Bank of Tacoma.

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

The Central Bank, located at Sixth & Pine, was one of the main occupants of the Hendry Block in 1928. William Hendry built the brick building in late 1924 and Central Bank opened its doors in March of the following year. Other tenants included a dentist, a physician, a printing firm and radio shop. TPL-8201; G18.1-042; BU-10,803;

Central Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Hendry Block (Tacoma);

ca. 1892. Merchants National Bank building at the corner of South 11th Street and Pacific circa 1892. Cablecar tracks can be seen going up 11th. Built in the heart of the Tacoma financial district, the Merchants National Bank was considered a "modern bank" upon its completion in 1891. The bank had reorganized in 1884 and was led by Walter J. Thompson. He remained its president until May of 1893 when bank failures swept the nation. Although Nelson Bennett, a director of the bank, agreed to assume the presidency and attempted a last minute influx of money to save the bank, the bank failed to open its doors on June 1, 1893. ( Hunt: "The Bank Failures of 1893,"History of Tacoma, Vol. 2, p. 110-115-article)

Merchants National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1890-1900;

ca. 1887. This view of the Tacoma National Bank bldg. in the 900 block of Pacific Avenue was taken circa 1887. The building was constructed at 923 Pacific about 1885 and an addition at 921 Pacific built in 1888. The Tacoma National Bank occupied the first floor of the structure with Drs. Munson and Misner, homeopathic physicians and surgeons, above. Washington Fire Insurance Company may have had offices there as well. J.S. Howell & Son had their real estate office in the building next door, at left. The building on the right contained a U.S. Post Office (113 S. 10th) and what appears to be a photography studio. At the far right edge of the photograph is part of the elegant Tacoma Hotel, 913 A Street. Streets above were rough and unpaved although sidewalks had already been constructed in front of these commercial facilities. (copy of original) Bi-Centennial Project # 75346-48; BU-13076, TPL-3787

Tacoma National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Commercial streets--Tacoma--1880-1890; Tacoma Hotel (Tacoma); Post offices--Tacoma;

ca. 1941. Teller windows and Christmas tree in lobby of Puget Sound National Bank for the Christmas season circa 1941. Square columns, open beam ceiling, and what appears to be either granite or marble embellishments.

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

Puget Sound National Bank, vault with open door.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - Puget Sound National Bank

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior of Bank of Washingotn. Board room with long table and leather chairs.

Business Enterprises - Financial Institutions - Banks - Tacoma - National Bank of Tacoma - National Bank of Washington

Bank executives pose at the company party held October 19, 1940 at the Tacoma Country and Golf Club celebrating the 55th anniversary of the National Bank of Washington. Seated middle of the front row is Chairman of the Board of Directors and President of the bank Samuel Jackson. In the center of the standing row is Bank Director Henry Foss. Over 200 officers and members of the staff of the Tacoma home branch and the surrounding area branches attended the dinner and dance. (T. Times 10/19/1940, pg. 7)

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Anniversaries--Tacoma--1930-1940; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--Commemoration; Tacoma Country & Golf Club (Tacoma); Foss, Henry O., 1891-1986; Jackson, Samuel M.;

Interior of Broadway Branch, Puget Sound National Bank. View of vault.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Vaults (Strong rooms);

Ray Gamble has brought a few of the carved elephants in his collection to display at the new offices of Central Bank. He and the staff at the new branch are seen behind the counter where the carved elephants are displayed. Tacoma businessman Ray Gamble owned the largest collection of elephants in the world.

Bankers--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; Central Bank (Tacoma)--People; Central Bank (Tacoma); Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Collectors--Tacoma;

William D. Hopping Sr., president of the Tacoma Savings and Loan Association and State Chairman for the National Thrift Campaign, dropped a coin into the savings bank of seven year old Bonnie Jean Will to kick off Thrift Week, Jan. 17-23, 1951 while Gerrit VanderEnde, Pierce County Chairman of the Thrift Drive, looked on approvingly. The campaign, with the slogan "Save...It's the American way to success," was designed to place emphasis on the old time philosophy of Benjamin Franklin which encouraged thrift and savings to build up individual security and the nation. Thrift Week began on Jan. 17th, the national birthday of Ben Franklin "the Apostle of Thrift." The nation wide campaign was being pushed as an all-out effort to help hold down post-war inflationary forces which were threatening the economy. (TNT 1/16/1951, pg.1 & 8-11)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Girls--Tacoma--1950-1960; Coin banks; Hopping, William D.; Will, Bonnie Jean; VanderEnde, Gerrit; National Thrift Week (Tacoma);

Cornerstone ceremony. Bank executives from Tacoma and Seattle lay the cornerstone to the new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. From left to right are James Byers, J.K. Ewart, C.T. Chandler, G.T. Pierce, Ward Estey, Maxwell Carlson and A.H. Brouse at the site of the new annex. Carlson was the president of National Bank of Commerce (Seattle) and Brouse, trowel in hand, was the National Bank of Washington president. One of the highlights of the formal opening was the placing of a specially designed copper box in the cornerstone which contained historical documents for future generations. (TNT 11-17-51, p. 9)

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

Exerior view of Puget Sound National Bank in Lakewood. The temporary Lakewood branch of the Puget Sound National Bank was completed and ready for occupancy in March, 1952. The branch was located at 6207 Mount Tacoma Drive S.W. , an addition of the Lakewood Center. View of bank shows it to be a one-story building, colonial in architecture, with porch and shutters. There is also a weathervane on the roof. Construction of the new branch was completed in less than one month. According to the 1953 City Directory, Charles McClallum was listed as Assistant Cashier and Branch Manager and F.A. White, Assistant Manager. Photograph ordered by Condon Co. (TNT 3-21-52, p. 9)

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

Man at desk in wood paneled office of the National Bank of Washington, surrounded by numerous floral arrangements. This is possibly C.T. Chandler, vice-president, in a photograph taken on August 2, 1952. In 1955 Mr. Chandler would be elected vice-president of Transamerica with an office in San Francisco.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma)--People; Flower arrangements;

Floral displays decorate the lobby and main floor of the new National Bank of Washington's 12th and Pacific building in November, 1951. The building is an annex of the main branch and will house the installment credit department. Customers can also make deposits and withdrawls, including transactions through drive-up windows. A.H. Brouse is the president of National Bank of Washington; in his ten year term, he has seen bank assets grow 100 million dollars. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)

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

Twenty-three men are seen around the large table for the last board meeting in the old board room at the National Bank of Washington. A landscape mural is seen on the far wall above the wainscoting. Skylights can be seen above the table. The National Bank of Washington had recently completed an annex across the street at 1201-03 Pacific Avenue. A.H. Brouse was president of the bank at this time.

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

Puget Sound National Bank, Lincoln Branch. Back of teller area showing stool, cupboards, cubbies for forms and adding machines. Herbert Hunt, popular Lincoln Branch manager, who had been with the bank for 20 years, increased the bank's staff to accommodate the larger facilities. (TNT 10/14/1951, pg. C-15)

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

The temporary quarters for the new Puget Sound National Bank on K Street were two war-surplus Quonset-type buildings joined by a shared entrance. Located on So. 11th and "L" Streets, the bank was constructed and opened within 10 days. On June 25, 1951, the doors were opened to bank customers. It took an additional 13 months to build the permanent K Street branch. In the meantime, the bank did not lose its sense of humor regarding the temporary branch; it commissioned a commercial artist to paint a sign showing a can opener with the caption, "This is the key to Puget Sound National Bank." (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 106)

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

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Pacific 1st Federal. Merchants National Bank had stood at this location from 1890. The name of the building was changed to the Equitable Building in 1898. In 1922 it became the home of the Pacific Savings and Loan Association and the name was changed again in 1939 to become Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan Association. The appearance of the building changed significantly when the cornice, damaged in the 1949 earthquake, had to come down.

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

Puget Sound National Bank advertised that they had the most competent, well trained people and specialists in every area of money management. They have steadily and continuously grown and by 1970, Puget Sound had 24 bank branches throughout the Tacoma area. Interior view of Puget Sound National Bank Tacoma Lincoln Branch and their staff.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

Puget Sound National Bank opened its first branch in Tacoma in 1895. They have continually grown and expanded throughout the years. They provide a highly localized financial service to many new businesses and industries, and assist with the expansion of established firms. Exterior view of Puget Sound National Bank of Tacoma Lincoln Branch. TPL-8202

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Facades--Tacoma--1940-1950; Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma);

The Bank of California was the first bank in Tacoma to offer drive-up banking to its customers. Alfred B. Cummings, owner of Porter-Cummings Co., Inc. a men's clothing store, drove his car along Court A between 10th and 11th Streets behind the bank and handed his deposit to Wallace H. Waite, teller. Publicity shots ordered by Mr. Hernly, Batsford, Constantini & Gardner, Seattle. (T.Times, 3/23/1948, p.9)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cummings, A.B.; Waite, Wallace H.; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Mr. A.B. Cummings, owner of Porter-Cummings Company, men's clothiers, decided to try the newly opened drive-up banking services at Bank of California in March of 1948. The teller, Wallace H. Waite, is protected by a special bullet-proof glass window and steel bars. Mr. Cummings liked the new service, the first of its kind in Tacoma, and predicted it would help relieve congestion from customers parking along Pacific Avenue to stop for a short visit to the bank. Bank of California had been at this downtown location since 1928 and the drive-up window was located in the alley back of the bank. (T.Times, 3/23/1948, p.9-article & alternate photograph)

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Cummings, A.B.; Waite, Wallace H.; Automobiles--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Pearl Gunn, a teller at Bank of California was held up by a man she described as "tall, dark, very handsome, well dressed, cool and calm". The man approached her window with a large manila envelope, he was holding what appeared to be a gun with a blue and white bandana over it, and asked her to fill it with money. The good looking criminal left with $1500 in $5's, $1500 in $10's, $3400 in $20's, $1000 in $50's and $1000 in $100's totaling $8400. Pearl Gunn stated she was petrified about the incident (T. Times, 5/6/48, p. 1).

Bankers--Tacoma; Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Robberies--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Gunn, Pearl;

New safe deposit vault at Pacific First Federal, Condon Co., Roscoe Smith. Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan was proud of their new safe deposit vault on the ground floor of its building at Pacific Avenue and South 11th Street. The new vault was one the of largest and most modern in the Pacific Northwest, and employed the latest safety devices. Tacoma's first escalator provided convenience to patrons which connected the vault lobby with the savings and loan lobby on the second floor. (TNT,11/30/1949, p.9)

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Vaults (Strong rooms)--Tacoma; Banks--Tacoma; Waiting rooms--Tacoma--1940-1950;