Thursday, January 5, 2012

Bank on Santa Monica

Crocker Bank built in 1929 (image from 1983)


Bay Cities Guaranty Building and Loan Association 1929

Undated advertisment inviting women to set up bank accounts at Merchant's National Bank


In 1899 there were two banks in the City of Santa Monica: Bank of Santa Monica located at Third Street and Oregon Avenue (now Santa Monica Blvd.) and Commercial Co's Bank at 219 Third Street. By the late 1920s there were thirteen financial institutions, including multiple branches. Bank of Italy later became Bank of America, which survived the Depression, but did not remain in Santa Monica in the early 1930s. Other banks in town included - Bank of Santa Monica, California Bank, Los Angeles-First National Trust & Savings Bank, Santa Monica Savings Bank and Security Trust & Savings Bank.



Images from Imagine Santa Monica online digital collection. Bank names and addressed culled from the Santa Monica City Directories for 1899, 1921-22 and 1930-31 in the California Reference Collection at the Main Library.