Outdoor teller windows at the National Bank of Washington annex provided an early form of drive-up banking. A neon sign announces, "Parking Reserved for Exterior Window Banking". A man is seen at one of the windows completing an transaction.

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

The recently opened National Bank of Washington annex on South 12th Street and Pacific Avenue, as photographed on February 6, 1952. Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant can be seen next door (on the far right) at 1205 Pacific Avenue. Various automobiles are seen parked along South 12th Street.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Automobiles--Tacoma--1950-1960; Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant & Tavern (Tacoma);

The National Bank of Washington branch at South 12th and Pacific is under construction. Lea, Pearson & Richards were the architects for the project. Warter Construction Company were the general contractors. This two-story building was demolished in 1970 to make way for the new 24-story office building that was to be National Bank of Washington's headquarters but had merged in Pacific National Bank of Washington before that building was completed.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Architects; Lea, Pearson & Richards (Tacoma);

In July of 1951, a tunnel was built under South 12th Street to connect the main National Bank of Washington building at the northwest corner of South 12th Street and Pacific Avenue with the new bank annex that was under construction across 12th Street. The six foot wide passageway was built to permit the movement of money and securities between the two buildings without going out-of-doors. It also provided access to the employees' room in the basement of the new building for those working in the main office. Plywood was used to build the forms into which the concrete was poured. (TNT, 7/15/1951, p.B-4)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tunnels--Tacoma; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Plywood was used to build the forms where concrete was poured to make a tunnel between National Bank of Washington and their new building across South 12th Street on Pacific Avenue. The passageway, which was six feet wide and seven feet high, allowed the moving of money and securities between the two buildings without going out-of-doors and also provided access to an employee room in the basement of the new building for those working at the main office. (TNT, 7/15/1951, p.B-4)

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tunnels--Tacoma; Plywood; Construction--Tacoma--1950-1960; Concrete--Tacoma;

Exterior of new National Bank of Washington building at South 12th and Pacific Avenue as pictured on November 11, 1951. It was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building erected in 1885 and was the first home of Pacific National Bank, the predecessor of the National Bank of Washington. Cornerstone laying ceremonies would occur on Friday, November 16th. The new building, containing the installment credit department, was designed by local architects Lea, Pearson and Richards with concrete and ceramic tile wainscoting. A 70-foot tunnel across 12th St. connected the head office and the new addition. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)

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

Rain soaked streets would not prevent the opening of the new National Bank of Washington branch at South 12th and Pacific in November, 1951. The new branch addition was built on the site of the original Tacoma Chamber of Commerce building, and would house the installment credit department. A well-lit tunnel would connect the main bank building and its new annex. Under the direction of president A.H. Brouse, the National Bank of Washington saw its assets grow from 19 million in 1937 to 119 million dollars by 1951. The bank had provided uninterrupted service in Tacoma since 1885. Exterior view of National Bank of Washington; Pioneer, Inc., manufacturers of business forms for banks and commercial printers, to the rear. (TNT 11-15-51, A-4, A-5)

Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960; Banks--Tacoma; National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pioneer, Inc. (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;

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;