Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1912-07-04
FINEST BANK IN
The SOUTHWEST
First National of Santa Fe
Now Occupies New Hand.
some Building
NOTHING BETTER FOR ITS SIZE
Vault Is of Steel and Fireproof
Lobby Is Trimmed in
Marble.

The First National Bank of Santa
Fe, the pioneer banking establishment
in New Mexico, founded in 1870 by I.u-
clan B. Maxwell and numbering on its
long list of directors at various times
many of the most prominent men in
the southwest, has moved into its
handsome new building on the east
side of the plaza within few feet of
where it opened its doors so many
years ago.
The new building is the final word in
/ bank architecture possessing beauty
coupled with every modern appliance
for transacting business and keeping
irtact the heavy deposits and securi-
ties it has at all times in its vaults
Major r. ]. Palen, the veteran
banker who is president of the institu-
! ton, and the officers and directors,
| have spared no expense to make the
institution the most complete in the
southwest, and while the bank is not
as large as several others, its reputa-
tiOn for conservative and absolutely
honest banking methods and its long
and honorable reputation as a finan-
cial institution, combine to make it the
best banking house in New Mexico.
1t is not possible to describe the
! building in detail in a newspaper
article for the building must be seen
TO be fully appreciated. A New Mexican
reporter today, was shown through the
institution by President Palen.
The architecture is classic and i'm
proves the business portion of the city
greatly. In its entirety, the structure
cost some $4,000. The private offices
and furniture are of mahogany. The
cashier, teller and their assistants
have bronze covered steel cages in
which to work so that a robbery would
be an impossibility. The big vault
IS of an inch and a half steel and
concrete, The vault is absolutely fire
and earthquake proof. 1t contains two
hundred safety deposit boxes for the
use Of patrons of the bank. The vault
! Is closed by steel door weighing
many tons but which Is so delicately
hinged that it opens and closes with
out sound. 1t is locked by forty-folr
! chilled steel bars and is operated en-
tirely by a time clock so that the
vault can not be opened before a GER
tain hour designated by the bank off
cials. The bolts are so arranged
that "A lock on the sides of the door
and sixteen on the bottom. They could
not be dislodged with nitro-glycerine
the only explosive that could force a
safe could it be done at all. Back of
the first door is another door with many
bolts and locks. 1t also is of chilled
steel There is still third door for
day use, of chilled steel bars. In
this vault are 200 modern safety de-
post boxes for customers.
The books of the bank are kept in
an adjoining vault which is freproof
and as safely guarded as the main
vault. Within that vault, the books
are encased in steel lockers. There
is an immense basement underneath
the building which is also fireproof.
In the basement and directly under
the big vault is a storage vault in
which are stored the books and docu-
ments of the bank since 1870.
Marble is Conspicuous.
The most conspicuous part of the
handsome lobby is the marble trim
mings which have been artistically
placed, and the inaid flooring. Above
the main entrance, is a gallery
There is private Office for the pres
ident and another for the cashier,
and sitting room for ladies'. The
directors have a private room in the
rear of the bank and there are two
private booths for the use of patrons
III which they can transact business in
absolute privacy. Between the presi-
dents office and that of the cashier
is conference room in which officials
and patrons may discuss business mat
ters. Handsome bronze chandeliers, so
placed as to light every inch of the
bank, give perfect lighting sys-
TEN. There is lavatory and retiring
room in the rear of the bank. The
lobby is an impressive piece of archi-
lecture with lofty columns and cell
ings
stocking Room" is New Feature.
A new feature in New Mexico bank
ing is the stocking room for the
fair patrons of the institution. Major
Palen got the idea in New York and it
has made hit. All Of the banks in
New York City and many of the west.
ern cities have what is jokingly cal
led the stocking room which is in
reality a private room set apart for
the ladies. The stocking room" in
the First National is just to the right
o. the entrance and contains a ma
hogany desk, chairs, a handsome mir
ror and other furnishings.
History of the Bank.
1 "The bank has long and interest
ing history" said President Palen to-
day. 81 can not give it in detail as
do not have all the data at hand,
although told its history in a speech
at bankers meeting some time ago.
/ The institution was founded by Mr..