In June of 1944 Pauline Gunstrom, the telephone operator at the Bank of California, 1011 Pacific Avenue, was photographed holding a flask-type pint bottle that had been filled to the brim with dimes. The bottle was brought to the bank by an unidentified shipyard worker at the Todd Pacific Shipyards to purchase a war bond. Once emptied the bottle was found to contain 1,125 dimes, more than enough for a bond. (T. Times, 6/20/44, p. 3).

Banks--Tacoma; War bonds & funds; Bank of California National Association (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;

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;

Industrial edition, Banks, Times, Buzz. A view of the exterior of the Bank of California built in 1928 of Wilkeson sandstone and granite. The four ionic columns, which cost $3,500 each to build, stretch three stories up the front of the building. There were numerous banks and savings and loans with their headquarters in Tacoma at this time and they played an important role in the development of industry and the construction of buildings and homes in the area. (T.Times, 2/25/1949, p.12)

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

The exterior of the Bank of California building. The Bank of California was formally established in 1864 in San Francisco. As early as that same year the bank had out-of-state activities in Nevada opening the Virginia City agency. The bank expanded by organizing the Mission Bank of San Francisco in 1903 and purchasing the London and San Francisco Bank in 1905. The London and San Franciso Bank had established a Portland branch in 1882, a Tacoma branch in 1889, and a branch in Seattle in 1901. In 1910 the Bank of California was granted a national charter and its oficial name became the Bank of California, National Association. Prior to that time it had operated as a state bank under California banking laws. Thus, at the time of its admittance as a national bank, the Bank of California was already operating in four states: California, Oregon, Washington, and Nevada. For many years it was the only national bank to operate in more than two states, until banking laws were changed in the 1980's. (Partners in Progress 1865-1950, James J. Hunter)

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

The exterior of the Bank of California building. The Bank of California opened their Tacoma offices in 1928 in this building of Italian Renaissance style with four Ionic columns. It was built of Wilkeson sandstone and granite with an interior of walnut and Travertine masonry. John Graham was the architect. Ornaments have been added on either side of the engraved name of the bank and at the cornice. TPL-8449

Bank of California National Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Columns--Tacoma; Architectural decorations & ornaments--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;

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;