Greenwich Savings Bank facts for kids
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Greenwich Savings Bank
(Haier Building) |
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Sixth Avenue facade
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| Location | 1352-1362 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City |
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| Built | 1922 |
| Architect | York & Sawyer |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 05001286 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | November 16, 2005 |
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The Greenwich Savings Bank was a large savings bank in New York City. It helped people save money from 1833 to 1981. When it closed, it was one of the biggest banks in the United States.
Contents
History of the Bank
Starting the Bank
The Greenwich Savings Bank officially began in 1833. It was created in New York City. At its busiest time, the bank had many branches. These were in New York City, Nassau County, and Westchester County. The bank managed a lot of money, about $2.5 billion.
Bank Troubles and Closure
In 1980, new rules for banks came out. After this, the Greenwich Savings Bank started to lose a lot of money. By 1981, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) looked for buyers. The FDIC helps protect bank deposits.
During this time, some secret information about the bank became public. This news was printed in The New York Times. People got worried about their money. In just three days, customers took out $500 million. This was a "run on the bank," meaning many people withdrew their money at once.
Because of this, the bank had to close. The FDIC then took over its accounts. Another bank, Metropolitan Savings Bank, became the new owner of the accounts. Later, this combined bank was renamed Crossland Federal Savings Bank. Crossland also faced problems and was taken over by the FDIC in 1992.
Headquarters Building
Building Design
In 1922, the Greenwich Savings Bank built a new main office. It was located in Manhattan at Broadway and West 36th Street. The building was made of strong steel, limestone, and sandstone. It was designed by famous architects York and Sawyer.
The building has a Classical Revival style. This means it looks like old Greek and Roman buildings. It features huge Corinthian columns on three sides. It also has rough stone walls and a Roman-style dome on top.
Inside the Building
The inside of the bank was very fancy. The foyer had tall brass doors. The board room and executive office had wood panels and fireplaces. The main banking room was oval-shaped. It had limestone columns and granite walls. The floor was made of marble.
There was a bronze screen for the tellers. It had sculptures of Minerva, who stands for wisdom, and Mercury, who stands for business. The ceiling was a domed shape with a large stained-glass skylight. This skylight was about 3,000 square feet (279 square meters).
Current Use
In 2000, a company called Haier America bought the building. They made it their main office in the United States. In 2002, they renamed it The Haier Building.
Today, an event management company uses some of the big historic rooms. This space is called Gotham Hall. The old banking room, board room, and executive office are rented out. They are used for parties, weddings, and other events.
Both the outside and the first floor inside of the building are very important. They were named New York City landmarks in 1992. The building was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2005.
Images for kids
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Sixth Avenue facade of the Greenwich Savings Bank Building at 1352-1362 Broadway, Manhattan, New York City
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Gotham Hall, inside the former Greenwich Savings Bank building
See also
In Spanish: Greenwich Savings Bank para niños
