Exterior - new bank building. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association built a new bank building in Portland, Oregon, in 1957. View of Oregon structure shows a multi-story modern corporate style of construction. It emphasized balance and regularity with particular emphasis on the vertical. The building was probably constructed of steel and concrete with many glass windows. As with the Tacoma headquarters of Pacific First Federal Savings, the Portland branch had a revolving corner clock. Photograph ordered by Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Portland); Banks--Oregon--Portland;

Rear of Bank of California building. A rear view of the Bank of California building shows Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan to the right and the Hopper-Kelly Co. to the building's left in a photograph taken on September 23, 1957. Rather than having an anonymous facade, the bank had large signage near the rooftop. Although the Hopper-Kelly Co. building may have been remodeled up front, the rear view appears untouched. Photograph ordered by Bank of California.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Hopper Kelly Co. (Tacoma);

Exterior of Bank of California. Impressive Ionic columns decorate the exterior of the Bank of California building in the busy business district encompassing Pacific Avenue. Built in the Italian Renaissance style by J.E. Bonnell & Son, contractors, the bank was opened for business on October 8, 1928. By 1957, the Hopper-Kelly Co., dealers in musical instruments and appliances, moved in next door. The portion of Hopper-Kelly fronting Pacific Avenue appears to have had three floors. The building on the other side of the Bank of California was the Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan. Photograph ordered by Bank of California.

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Hopper Kelly Co. (Tacoma); Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Interior- Tacoma Savings & Loan. The new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on So. 9th Street had been opened for several months at the time of this November 21, 1957, photograph. The spacious first floor, measuring 96' by 75', included the customer service area as well as the safe deposit vault. There were no apparent walls in the customer service area; desks and bank employees were in plain view of customers. View of teller stations, semi-circular staircase, and employee work area which are all on fine carpet. Office furniture is very modern and sparse with movable chairs; desks are cleared except for telephone, ashtray, pen set, typewriter and tray. For another view of first floor, see A107589-1. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment, Inc.

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banking--Tacoma; Office furniture; Office equipment & supplies--Tacoma--1950-1960;

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;

ca. 1958. Exterior view of a newly constructed Pacific 1st Federal Savings building located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. A large outdoor clock would be later mounted above the lower roof extension. The financial institution opened their Villa Plaza branch on January 2, 1958. The 2000+ sq. foot structure had an exterior of pre-cast marble Mosaic and large roof-to-ground windows. It was designed by Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards. Pacific 1st Federal was the largest savings & loan in the Pacific Northwest with offices in Washington and Oregon. It served more than 57,000 families. Rudolph J. Tollefson of the well-known Tacoma family of Tollefsons was the first branch manager at the Villa Plaza location. He had been with Pacific 1st Federal since 1935. (TNT 1-2-58, A-6-text only)

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

The one-branch North Pacific Bank had been in the South Tacoma area for over 40 years. Located at the corner of South 56th & South Tacoma Way, the bank was a brick structure designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon. Protruding from the bank's exterior was a Time and Temperature sign, a combination which was becoming more common in the 1950's. The sign was designed to show both the actual time and temperature at that location. Attached to the sign was a smaller one indicating the bank offered 3% time certificates. Photograph ordered by American Sign & Indicator Corp., Chicago.

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

Puget Sound National Bank had a drive-in branch at South 13th & A St. downtown. There were two drive-up teller windows in the customer parking lot. The drive-up tellers, opened on April 1, 1958, replaced the less convenient singular drive-up window at the rear of the main bank building on Court A. Now a bank customer could cash checks, make checking/savings deposits, and pay loans without getting out of his car. Puget Sound Bank called itself "Tacoma's Friendly Bank" with convenient neighborhood branches and free customer parking. Under the capable hands of Reno Odlin, the bank's deposits had increased almost 50% between 1950 & 1960. This was accomplished through internal growth and not through the purchase of other banks or mergers. Photograph ordered by the Condon Co. (Provorse: Banking on Independence, p. 116, TNT ad 3-31-58, p. 15))

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

A new exterior sign for Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan has just been delivered to the building site on Pacific Avenue early on June 30, 1958. The Sunnen crane is in the process of lifting the sign from the truck bed in preparation of its erection. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan was located at 1007 Pacific Avenue, flush between the Bank of California and Hunt's Office Supply. The W.H. Opie Co. can be spotted at the corner with the Security Building across the street. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Two employees of Sunnen Auto Freight & Heavy Hauling Co. steady the enormous vertical sign for the Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan Assn. on June 30, 1958. A portable crane has lifted the sign in preparation for its erection. In order not to cause a traffic hazard, the work was accomplished at 6 o'clock in the morning. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

Even at 6 o'clock in the morning, cranes plus electric signs still equaled a fascinating draw for spectators. Military personnel are among those viewing the erection of a new Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan sign on the edge of the narrow building. The savings & loan was located between Hunt's Office Supply and the Bank of California on Pacific Avenue. A large sign on the side of the building indicated that a 3 1/2% dividend was paid currently on accounts with savings federally insured up to $10,000. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Signs (Notices); Hoisting machinery;

A Sunnen crane carefully lifts a new Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan exterior sign into place early in the morning on June 30, 1958. The tall vertical structure has three separate horizontal signs welded a few feet apart. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan was located on Pacific Avenue between the Bank of California and Hunt's Office Supply. The building was constructed in 1888; it had been remodeled in 1954. Deposits were now federally insured up to $10,000. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle.

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Tacoma);Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960; Hoisting machinery;

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;

View of downtown streets. This December 9, 1958, photograph was taken looking toward South 12th and Pacific from South 12th & A Streets in downtown Tacoma. National Bank of Washington's main branch, constructed of Wilkeson sandstone, is on the right side; across the street is the newer annex which housed the installment credit department. An underground, and well lit, tunnel was built to connect the two bank buildings. The main branch was to later become the home of the Tacoma Art Museum. Photograph ordered by National Bank of Washington.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

ca. 1959. Reno Odlin, shown with Puget Sound Bank visitor Mrs. Wesley Clark from Fox Island, and the bank's new leased computer, the IBM 305 RAMAC (Random Access Memory Accounting Computer.) In 1959, Puget Sound Bank became the first bank in Washington and the second on the west coast to use computers. The IBM 305 and, because of the computer's 3,000 heat generating tubes, a new air conditioner were installed in the bank's basement. The computer used punch cards and it was able to process about 70 checks a minute, making it too slow for the larger banks to use. The selection and integration of the computer were the project of Senior Vice president Robert Gordon. The most unique feature of the computer was its magnetic memory file which looked like a vertical stack of 50 large metal disks the size of phonograph records. The disks rotated on a steel axle at a rate of 1,200 revolutions per minute. ("Banking on Independence" Provorse, pg. 110+, TNT 7/9/1959, pg. C-3)

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Computers--1950-1960; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Odlin, Reno, 1897-1979; Clark, Wesley--Family;

Architect's pencil rendering of the new National Bank of Washington's Westgate branch at 2624 No. Pearl. As the area surrounding the Westgate mall was developed and the communities of University Place and the north end grew and expanded, businesses rushed in to serve this suburban community. The Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington opened in 1960. It was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built of concrete finished with zolotone. It featured a flat roofed one story design with lots of glass floor to ceiling windows and was 5,400 square feet in size. The bank had parking for 75 cars and a driveup window at the rear of the building. (TNT 8/23/1959, pg. B-8)

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

Puget Sound National Bank bookkeeping department on the 3rd floor of its home office. Although Puget Sound installed the first computer in 1959, much of the bookkeeping was still done by hand. A department staffed mostly by women is shown with a variety of manual equipment and customer records.

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

The grand opening of the National Bank of Washington Ft. Lewis Branch. Keys are being exchanged to the new bank. The bank was located on the base at the corner of Pendleton Ave. and No. 12th St. W.E. Roberts was the Manager of the new bank. The ultramodern structure was built for $130,000. It was 8,000 square feet, two times as large as the previous facility, which was built in 1932 and had been enlarged 4 times. (TNT 7/19/1959, PG. B-4)

National Bank of Washington (Fort Lewis); Banks--Fort Lewis; Banking--Fort Lewis; Fort Lewis (Wash.);

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;

The Puget Sound National Bank Christmas Club trophy, ordered by the company magazine. The winner in 1959 was the K Street branch; the winner in 1958 was the Midway bank. Christmas Club accounts were used to save money all year long for Christmas gifts and travel. In an economy that still depended heavily on cash, saving for the holidays was essential.

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

The "Bankwarming" for the new Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington, was held on Saturday, January 23, 1960 from 1-5 p.m. The "L" shaped building was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards. It had a total square footage of 5,400 sq ft. and was built of concrete finished in off-white zolotone. Laminated beams in driftwood gray extended to provide an overhang, giving covered protection for customers. Prizes, refreshments and a chance to go "behind the scenes" lured a huge crowd on this gray day. (TNT 1/21/1960, pg. 8-9)

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

No, it's not a run on the bank; these people are waiting in line at the "Bank warming" Saturday January 23, 1960 for the Westgate branch of the National Bank of Washington. They are lined up all the way down the side of the building to view the branch bank designed to serve the growing suburban communities of University Place and the North End. The Open House offered potential customers an opportunity to go "behind the scenes" to see modern banking equipment in action. Souvenirs, prizes and refreshments were also offered. (TNT 1/21/1960, pg. 8-9)

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

Night exposure of National Bank of Washington sign and parking. The neon signs welcoming patrons to the National Bank of Washington's drive-up windows and indicating the location of customer parking are bright beacons in the surrounding April 25, 1960, darkness. The Motor Bank opened that day in the Old Pioneer Building site on A St. Two walk-up windows for pedestrians and two drive-up windows allowed customers to cash checks, make deposits or loan payments, conveniently and quickly. The covered motor banking unit was located on the north end of the bank parking lot. (TNT 4-24-60, A-4, B-7)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970;

View of new National Bank of Washington Motor Bank at night. The National Bank of Washington's Motor Bank opened on April 25, 1960, in the Old Pioneer Building site at 1202 A St. That building was razed in late 1959 and a compact drive-through unit constructed. The motor bank, built out of Wilkeson sandstone, covered 18,000 square feet including a convenient parking lot. The 40-car parking lot was provided by the bank in case more banking transactions were needed to be conducted in person at the Main office or the bank annex across the street. Parking was free for one hour. (TNT 4-24-60, A-4, B-7)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1960-1970;

Overview of National Bank of Washington's Motor Bank taken on October 24, 1960. The drive-through unit had opened six months before at the old Pioneer Building site on 12th & A Sts. in downtown Tacoma. Quick transactions could be processed without leaving one's vehicle and access was provided for walk-up patrons. A 40-car parking lot was provided with parking free for one hour. Bank's annex is across the street.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Temporary quarters for the Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan in Sumner would be this 50' house trailer until a permanent building could be constructed at the corner of Alder & Maple Sts. Tacoma architects Lea, Pearson & Richards would be commissioned to design the 1600 square foot permanent structure. Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan had been in business since 1925. On December 2, 1960, Edwin G. Cook III, manager, is photographed just prior to entering the bank. The Sumner branch would hold its open house in its new building on May 5, 1961. Photograph ordered by Cappy Ricks & Associates, Seattle. (TNT 10-12-60, C-12, TNT 5-3-61, A-18)

Pierce County Federal Savings & Loan (Sumner); Banks--Sumner; Trailers--Sumner; Signs (Notices); Cook, Edwin G.;

An unidentified employee of the Puget Sound National Bank put the bank's new IBM 1210 Reader Sorter through its paces for (l to r) Robert G. Gordon, Vice President and Cashier, and Harold Stephens, Assistant Vice-President, on January 13, 1961. In 1959 PSNB became the first bank in the State of Washington - and the second on the west coast - to convert to the use of computers. The other banks in the northwest resisted computerization, and attempted to talk PSNB out of taking this radical step, because they felt that banking customers would not accept being numbered. (Banking on Independence; the first century of Puget Sound Bankcorp, c1990)

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

View of one-story Pacific First Federal Savings building on March 14, 1961. Clock mounted on building indicates it was nearly 3:30 in the afternoon when this photograph of the Villa Plaza branch was taken. Pacific First Federal was a mutual savings institution with branches in the Northwest; established in 1907, its headquarters were in downtown Tacoma. Rudolph J. Tollefson, assistant vice-president, was listed in the 1961 City Directory as being in charge of the Villa Plaza location.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Lakewood); Clocks & watches;

Two women on May 4, 1962, admire display of artwork hung in the new National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza. The woman with her hand on the picture frame is local artist Gertrud DuBrau Kogler. Mrs. Kogler, a native of Germany, was the exhibit chairman of the Lakewood Artists. She was a prolific painter whose work varied from still life, impressionistic and abstract. The paintings on display at the Bank of Washington probably included her artwork. The bank would be celebrating its grand opening that same week.

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Paintings; Kogler, Gertrud DuBrau; Artists--Lakewood; Paintings;