Elegant, but simple, interior of the Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association building. Elaborate grill work and Art Deco-style ceiling light fixtures. Free-standing panels display house plans.

Banks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);

ca. 1936. Interior of Pacific First Federal Savings and Loan, circa 1936, showing desks and business equipment behind tellers' counter. For Mr. Goff. (Argentum)

Banks--Tacoma--1930-1940; Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma);

An automobile crashed into the Central Bank, at 2816 6th Ave., early in the morning on Friday August 24, 1934 tearing a hole in the brick wall. Ellis Ayr Smith and Frances Urch, employees of the bank, examine the damage. The car driven by 20 year old Charles Arwood skidded 40 feet on a slippery street, slammed into the wall of the bank and introduced "drive through" banking to Tacoma. Arwood and his passenger Dorothy Roberts both escaped without serious injury. (T. Times 8/31/1934)

Central Bank (Tacoma); Smith, Ellis-Ayr; Urch, Frances; Traffic accidents--Tacoma--1930-1940; Accidents--Tacoma--1930-1940;

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior at National Bank of Washington circa 1940. In the foreground are several desks accessible through the open wood gate. In the background appear to be teller/customer service units. The National Bank of Tacoma had changed its name to the National Bank of Washington circa 1937. It occupied a handsome structure built of Wilkeson sandstone at 11th & Pacific.

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

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior at National Bank of Washington. Formerly known as the National Bank of Tacoma, its name was changed in 1937. Dining area with round tables, piano, chairs with slip covers. It is unclear whether this dining area was for staff only.

National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Dining rooms--Tacoma--1940-1950; Pianos;

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior of Bank of Washington. Area with 11 desks, file cabinets and customer area.

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

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

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior of National Bank of Washington, Trust Department. Name plates on desks: H. Anderson, M.W. McCarty, R.W. Peck.

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

ca. 1940. Remodeled interior at National Bank of Washington. Office in Trust Department with six desks. Names plates on desks: H. Anderson, M.W. McCarty, R.W. Peck.

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

Aerial photograph of downtown Tacoma to show the spired Puget Sound National Bank building at 11th and Pacific (1119 Pacific Ave.) To the building's left is Peoples Department Store at 1101-07 Pacific and to its right is the National Bank of Washington, 1123 Pacific, the 2002 location of the Tacoma Art Museum. Behind facing A Street is the Federal Building and the Post Office at 1102 A Street. The city appears divided into a grid of large office buildings. The streets, left to right, vertically are Commerce, Pacific and A Street. They are divided by, top to bottom, by 11th Street and 12th Street. Left to right at the top of the picture are the Rust building at 950 Pacific, the Washington Building at 1019 Pacific and the Tacoma Building at 1017-21 A Street. Across 11th Street from the Tacoma Building is the Perkins building at 1101 A Street.

Puget Sound National Bank (Tacoma); Aerial photographs;

Exterior- bank building. North Pacific Bank had been at the same location on South Tacoma Way since 1914. Designed by architects Lundberg & Mahon, the brick building also housed the South Tacoma Post Office for a while. Clarence W. Wallerich was listed as president of the one-branch bank according to the 1957 City Directory. General banking and safe deposit vaults were offered by North Pacific which had capital, surplus, reserves and undivided profits over $900,000,000. North Pacific Bank was purchased in November, 1998, by Heritage Bank. Photograph ordered by North Pacific Bank.

North Pacific Bank (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Banking--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior of Pacific First Federal Savings Building. The large revolving corner clock indicates that it is 11:50 a.m. and the Pacific First Federal Savings Building is open for business. Plaques on the marbled foundation indicate that the bank offered a safe deposit vault for protection of valuables as well as insuring customers' savings and issuing home loans. Situated in the downtown business district of 11th & Pacific, the venerable building had been a local presence since 1891. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.

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

American flags flank the marbled entrance to Pacific First Federal Savings on Flag Day, 1957. Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association was a mutual savings institution with branches in Bellingham, Seattle, Tacoma, Longview, Portland and Eugene. It served over 57, 000 families with $170 million in resources. Tacoma was its home office, established in 1907. Gerrit VanderEnde was the longtime president of the savings & loan.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Flags; Doors & doorways--Tacoma--1950-1960; Pacific First Federal Building (Tacoma);

Rows and towers of safe-deposit units greet customers of Pacific First Federal Savings in June, 1957. Each box is numbered and two keys would be necessary to open each individual box, much as is done in 2002. Carpeted floors would muffle the tread of many footsteps. Pacific First Federal Savings was located at the corner of 11th and Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The Romanesque-style building was constructed in 1891 as the home of Merchants National Bank. Photograph ordered by Puget Sound Office Equipment.

Pacific First Federal Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Safe-deposit boxes--Tacoma;

Exterior- savings & loan building. The sleek new Tacoma Savings & Loan Association building on South 9th and A Street is ready to be opened in late June, 1957. It is directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. The ulta-modern glass-encased building was designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, who were responsible for many notable buildings in Tacoma. The steel framed construction would total 95 feet by 75 feet. View of contrasting "old" and "new" Tacoma Savings & Loan Association bank buildings. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

Exterior-savings & loan building. Looking directly across 9th St., possibly from the former headquarters of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association, the new location for the savings & loan comes into view. The rectangular building is primarily glass encased, glass on three sides which cantilever out from the inside columns and are suspended from the roof. Designed by architects Lea, Pearson & Richards, and built by Ketner Brothers, contractors, it has extruded aluminum and insulating glass with black granite trim and blue Spandrelite glass panels. The glass panels are 6 feet by 10 feet. Fiberglass draperies measuring 22 feet are designed to cover the glass areas. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899, making it one of the city's oldest financial institutions. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Facades--Tacoma--1950-1960;

Exterior- savings & loan. A close-up view of the Tacoma Savings & Loan Association front entrance was taken on June 27, 1957. Insulated glass panels surround the new building, including the front entrance. The main entrance doors were electronically operated. New trees have been planted, spaced carefully apart, to provide a touch of softness when contrasted with the modern sleek appearance of the financial institution. The Tacoma Savings & Loan was established in 1899. They urged customers to save, in order to "write your own future". Home loans were tailored to fit customers' individual needs. The new location of the downtown Tacoma Savings & Loan was directly across the street from its former headquarters in the Bowes Building. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Signs (Notices);

Interior- savings & loan. The expansive, brightly-lit lobby of the new Tacoma Savings & Loan was photographed on June 28, 1957, prior to its grand opening. After many years in the Bowes Building directly across the street, the savings & loan built an ultra-modern glass paneled new establishment. The spacious first floor included the customer service area, insurance department, department heads' offices, safe-deposit vault, and a separate lobby for safe-deposit customers. The building featured a free-standing reinforced concrete circular staircase which led from the basement to the mezzanine level. An elevator was also provided. Supporting columns were covered with Italian Cremo marble. Walls adjacent to the elevator shaft were covered with Breche Fantasia marble. Photograph ordered by Tacoma Savings & Loan Association. (TNT 6-27-57, A-6-9)

Tacoma Savings & Loan Association (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;

ca. 1957. Exterior of the National Bank of Washington located in the Villa Plaza Shopping Center. The bank sponsored an open house on July 13, 1957, at its new banking office located in the north wing of the Lakewood shopping center. It was one of eight Tacoma area offices. The one-story building was 50-feet wide, 104-feet deep and totaled 5,200 square feet. The exterior was constructed of mottled blue ceramic tile with large areas of plate glass. The facility was designed by Lea, Pearson & Richards and built by general contractor Merritt Construction. Six teller units, a conference room and officers quarters were located on the east side lobby. There was a modern vault in the rear. The Villa Plaza-Lakewood branch of the National Bank of Washington had as its first manager Marc H. Miller. (TNT 7-11-57, A-6-article & alt. photograph; A-7 full page ad)

National Bank of Washington (Lakewood); Banks--Lakewood; Electric signs--Lakewood; Villa Plaza Shopping Center (Lakewood); Shopping centers--Lakewood--1950-1960; Facades--Lakewood--1950-1960;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;

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;