Bank of Italy Building (San Francisco) facts for kids
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Bank of Italy Building
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Bank of Italy Building, 550 Montgomery Street, San Francisco. Also known as the Clay-Montgomery Building.
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 Location in San Francisco County
Location in California
Location in the United States
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| Location | 550 Montgomery Street, San Francisco, California |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | F.T. Shea |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| NRHP reference No. | 78000754 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 2, 1978 |
| Designated NHL | June 2, 1978 |
The Bank of Italy Building is a famous building in San Francisco, California. It's also called the Clay-Montgomery Building. This eight-story building became the main office for the Bank of Italy in 1908. The Bank of Italy was started by A. P. Giannini. It later became the well-known Bank of America.
The original bank building was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and fire. So, Giannini moved his bank to this new location. In 1978, the building was named a National Historic Landmark. This was because of Giannini's important work. He changed how banks worked for regular people in the early 1900s.
Contents
History of the Bank of Italy Building
After the big earthquake and fire, the first Bank of Italy office was destroyed. For a short time, the bank operated from two different places. One was near the Washington Street wharf. The other was from Giannini's brother's home. Soon, they found a more permanent spot on Montgomery Avenue.
Designing the New Bank Building
The Bank of Italy Building was designed by Frank T. Shea. He was an architect from Shea & Lofquist. The bottom part of the building is made of strong granite. The upper parts look similar but are made from terra-cotta. Inside, the building is very fancy. It has white marble and gold decorations. The ceiling is also very impressive.
Building the Bank's Headquarters
During this time, Giannini and the bank leaders decided to build their own special bank building. They bought a piece of land for $125,000. This land was at the corner of Clay and Montgomery streets. The bank needed a lot of money to help people after the fires. Because of this, construction didn't start for almost a year after they bought the land.
Opening and Later Uses
The Bank of Italy Building opened on August 17, 1908. It was the main office for the Bank of Italy until 1921. Then, the bank moved its main operations to a newer building. After that, this building became the headquarters for Giannini's Liberty Bank System. In the 1930s, it became a branch of the Bank of America.
In 2012, a men's luxury store called Wingtip opened on the ground floor. They also offered tailoring and barber services in the basement.
Protecting a Historic Landmark
The Bank of Italy Building was named a National Historic Landmark in 1978. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 2, 1978. This means it's an important historical place that needs to be protected.
Changes to the Building Over Time
Most of the outside of the building looks like it did when it was first built. The original doors were replaced, and a new entrance was added. Also, windows on the south side were covered with bricks. This happened when a building next door was built.
The inside of the upper floors (from the second to the eighth floor) has changed a lot. Not much of the original design is left there. The basement has also been changed quite a bit. But, the original safe is still there. It holds 5,000 safe deposit boxes.
The first floor still has much of its original plaster and marble. The tables, marble counters, and light fixtures are also original. The old bronze teller cages were replaced with newer ones. But these new cages were made to look like the originals.
Images for kids
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The Bank of Italy Building in San Francisco.
- Photos of the exterior and interior of the Bank of Italy, undated. (384 KB)
