Carl L. Phillips, Bank President, and Mayor Harold Tollefson, left, pose with a mannequin depicting banking one hundred years ago in the lobby of the National Bank of Washington. As the city of Tacoma prepared for the week long celebration of the 100 year anniversary of the Northwest Territory, centennial displays went up all over town. Tacoma's main connection with the centennial was that in 1853 Tacoma's DeLin mill shipped the first lumber from Commencement Bay.

Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Lobbies--Tacoma--1950-1960; Tollefson, Harold M., 1908-1985; Centennial celebrations--Tacoma;

Bank of California- customer parking and drive up banking window. The Bank of California heavily advertised its convenience features- a free parking lot, drive up teller windows and a rear bank entrance just steps from the parking lot. The drive up windows now had two tellers, making banking quicker and easier. The banking institutions tried to make banking in the downtown area more attractive, as business deserted the downtown area for the suburbs. The fifties saw the beginning of the desertion of downtown Tacoma as a retail area. (TNT 10/11/1953, pg. A-4)

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

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;

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;

New Puget Sound Bank at Lakewood, ordered by the Condon Co. The permanent location of Puget Sound Bank was built in the Lakewood Center, facing Mt. Tacoma Dr. S.W. The red brick faced colonial with white trim was designed to match the existing architecture at the Center. The new building was three times the size of the temporary building. It measured 50 feet wide by 120 feet long, with 12,000 square foot of floor space, including a full basement. The building was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and Ketner Bros. Inc. served as contractors. (TNT 9/6/1953, pg. A-10)

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

National Bank of Washington; Branch & Senior management of bank. Twenty men and one woman gather around the boardroom table. Carl L. Phillips, president of the bank, sits at the head of the table with C.T. Chandler, vice-president, to the right. The man to the right of Chandler in the chair is unidentified. The bank was known from 1913-1938 as the National Bank of Tacoma and was housed in the Italian-Renaissance building at the northeast corner of 12th and Pacific, that since 1971 has housed the Tacoma Art Museum.

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

The ladies' lounge in Puget Sound National Bank, Lakewood branch. The ladies' lounge, which opened off the lobby, was fully furnished in an early American motif and accented with its own fireplace. It added a truly elegant touch to the bank. The employees had their own lounge in the basement, also with a fireplace. (TNT 10/20/1953, pg. C-6)

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

Interior of the trust department at the Bank of California, ordered by Botsford, Constantine and Gardner. Seated at desks on the right are Frank C. Carmody, Assistant Trust Officer- front, and Edward S. Walker, Trust Officer, at rear. On the left are Mr. McLeod, front, and Mr. Williams, at rear. To the left is a counter arrangement with three people behind it labelled Trust Department. At the right rear, the door is open to an interior office, perhaps belonging to one of the Vice Presidents of the bank.

Banks--Tacoma; Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Carmody, Frank; Walker, Edward;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is a customer accessible area. It appears to be occupied by bank or loan officers. The officers occupy large wooden desks with comfortable leather chairs beside the desks for customers.

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

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;

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This is possibly the employees' cafeteria where a single person is on duty in the clean and sparkling kitchen. A large commercial mixer can be seen to the right, while a woman fills plates with today's special in front of a commercial range. The counter in front has coffee pots on the warming plates as well as coffee cups and prepared food on the self serve shelves.

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

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be the employees lounge with chairs and sofa provided for comfortable seating. A tall commercial ashtray stands beside a coffee table covered with magazines. Books available for reading occupy shelves along the back wall. Dining tables and chairs are provided for employees to have lunch.

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

Remodeled departments at the Bank of California. This appears to be a non public accessible accounting area. Pairs of women confer over sheets of figures. Large adding machines sit to the right of the desks. Windows high in the walls and florescents supply lighting.

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);

Modern office furniture and boldly geometric flooring provides a distinct contrast to the chandeliers and Italian Renaissance style of the Bank of California building in March, 1954. Two employees are pictured working on a balcony within the building; one is examining the contents of a filing cabinet while the other sits at a wide, metallic desk operating the telephone system. An adding machine and telephone are also visible. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Office Supply Co.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Office equipment & supplies; Chandeliers; Telephones; Tacoma Office Supply Co. (Tacoma);

Modernistic furniture and design are present in the newly remodeled Pierce County Savings & Loan Association. The savings and loan had an open house for the public in March, 1954. The building was initially built in 1888 by Col. J. M. Dougan and housed a variety of businesses. It was purchased by the Pierce County Savings & Loan in 1950. Walter C. Steel was listed as president in the 1954 City Directory. First organized in Auburn in 1925, assets now total over five million dollars. Photograph taken for the TNT. (TNT 3-22-54, p. 6,7)

Pierce County Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma;

A long, sweeping semi-circle with matching curves in the terrazzo floor provides a sleek design to the newly remodeled Pierce County Savings & Loan Association. Tellers await customers behind connected rich walnut counters; a multi-panel mural of Mount Rainier graces the wall. Marshall Perrow was the architect of the remodeling project; Kirkebo & Sons, the contractors. The savings and loan held an open house for the public in late March, 1954. Photograph taken for the TNT. (TNT 3-22-54, p. 6, 7)

Pierce County Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma; Murals--Tacoma;

A large multi-panel photo mural of Mount Rainier greets customers as they enter the new Pierce County Savings and Loan building in March, 1954. Bank staff are clearly visible; there are no walls to make individual offices in this portion of the bank. The building was originally built in 1888 by Col. J. M. Dougan; the Pierce County Savings and Loan Association bought the site in 1950. Marshall Perrow is the architect of the remodeled building with Kirkebo & Sons as contractors. Remodeling began in November, 1953. Photograph taken for the TNT. (TNT 3-22-54, p. 6,7)

Pierce County Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Financial facilities--Tacoma; Murals--Tacoma;

Interior of Bank of California building. Built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Bank of California building was designed in the Italian Renaissance style with interiors of walnut and Travertine masonry. This elevated view of the bank's lobby highlights the enormous skylight, arched windows, chandeliers and tiled flooring. John Graham was the architect involved in the Bank of California building and J.E. Bonnell & Son, contractors. TPL-8452

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

Exterior of Bank of California Building. Constructed in 1928 from Wilkeson sandstone and granite, the Bank of California building on Pacific Avenue was designed by architect John Graham and built by contractors J.E. Bonnell & Son. Enormous Ionic columns dwarf passersby; these four columns cost $3,500 apiece. The bank's name is engraved in large letters above the columns.

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

Reno Odlin, President of Puget Sound National Bank, and Mrs. Horace Fogg, Tacoma artist, gaze up at his portrait on its presentation to the Lakewood branch of the bank. The life size oil portrait of Odlin's head and shoulders was painted by Mrs. Fogg to be displayed in the lounge of the bank. It is one of a series of portraits of well known Tacomans painted by the artist. Mrs. Fogg studied art in Florence and other European cities and specialized in portraits. She painted only for her pleasure and that of her friends, preferring not to sell her paintings. (TNT 1/9/1955, pg. D-9)

Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Portraits; Fogg, Horace--Family;

Reno Odlin, president of Puget Sound National Bank, poses in front of his own portrait. This is the formal presentation of the portrait, painted by Tacoma artist Mrs. Horace Fogg, at the Lakewood branch of the bank. The portrait was unveiled January 6, 1955 for bank officials and a few close friends to see for the first time. The unveiling was followed by a buffet supper hosted by Mr. and Mrs. Odlin, with Mrs. Fogg as the guest of honor. The oil painting is one of a number of portraits made by Fogg of well known Tacomans. (TNT 1/9/1955, pg. D-9)

Bankers--Tacoma; Puget Sound National Bank (Lakewood); Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Portraits;

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.;

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;

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;

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;

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;