From the incredible natural landscapes like Big Bend National Park, to the sprawling city skylines in Austin and Dallas, Texas has no shortage of interesting and appealing imagery.
Sprinkled across the state are intriguing bank buildings that speak to Texas’ long history in the industry. Similar to the classic small-town Texas courthouses, these old bank buildings preserve much of our heritage.
My own hometown, Comfort, is home to a historic bank building. Built in 1907, the building still stands on the corner of 7th and High Streets downtown. While no longer a functioning financial institution, it is the keeper of this small community’s heritage, now serving as a museum and tourist center.
Just south of Comfort, the Victorian-style San Antonio Loan and Bank Building still stands, facing the iconic River Walk. The building was completed in 1903 but was also home to the builder, George W. Brackenridge, and his wife Eleanor, one of the first women to register and cast a vote in Bexar County. The top floors also housed the International Club, hosting diplomats and the president of Mexico.
Along Texas’ expansive coastline, the First National Bank of Galveston building was first built in 1867 and was later rebuilt after a fire in 1877 — this structure still stands today. The bank was the first national bank in Texas operating under the National Bank Act of 1863 and was only the second chartered bank in the state.
In recent years, some historic bank buildings have undergone renovations, such as the First National Bank building in Stephenville. Preservation Texas, a statewide organization focused on historic resources, selected the building in 2017 to receive an award after renovations were completed. Originally built in 1889, the bank is now a Registered Texas Historic Landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
While bank buildings themselves are certainly eye-catching, many of these historic structures contain vaults that bring us back in time.
In North Texas, Legend Bank, originally the First National Bank of Bowie, still has their original cannonball safe in their Bowie branch. Purchased in 1890, the safe’s technology was state of the art. Legend Bank also has two historic vault doors. One was used at the First National Bank of Bowie and the other was acquired in the 1930s from The City National Bank of Bowie. Both are reflective of the time and local industries — including images of bison on the American landscape and livestock.
In far West Texas, the United Bank of El Paso del Norte unearthed a 25-ton vault that had been hidden underground for 45 years. It has since been put on display in the building.
The First National Bank of Galveston’s vault was cast in Albany, NY, made of two-inch-thick solid iron. At the time, it was described as so massive that “nothing short of a respectable earthquake could thunder it open.”
A freestanding vault in the middle of an empty lot in downtown Tomball also carries an interesting history. This site, purchased in the 1930s by William Holderrieth, was originally a hotel, then a retail pharmacy and family business. At that time, Holderrieth convinced the local bank, Guaranty Bond State Bank which was relocating, to sell him the door to a safe. He had it installed and built a concrete vault around it to keep business documents. Due to a fire in 1992, all that remains of the structure is the concrete, door and steps, which still stand today.
There are countless old buildings like these across the state that are or were previously financial institutions that still serve some function. Regardless, these unique attractions are reminders of the long-lasting and important footprint local banks have in their communities and the local lore. Please send us your stories and pictures so we can share via social media.