Evening star., 1926-03-14
BY EDWARD c. STONE.


lean National Bank at Fourteenth and
G streets will be open to the public
beginning tomorrow night at Z o'clock
and continuing throughout the week!
1t was announced yesterday by John
Poole, president. The institution Will
take over its new building the follow
ing Monday. the process of moving to
be conducted after the close OF busi-
ness. Saturday. March 20.
When the bank takes over its hand
some structure there will be added to
Washington's long list of handsome
buildings one of the finest banking
structures in the entire country:
Unique in equipment and beautiful
architecturally, this building already
has won the attention of bankers,
architects and artists from neighbor-
ing and distant cities. Many have
visited the bank and have praised II
as one Of the outstanding structures
If it's kind.
During the week the building will he
open for inspection to the public. Off
GERS, directors and employees of the
bank will assist visitors in getting
full appreciation of the many new fea-
lures embodied in the building. Nisi
tors will be received daily after i am.
Many Unique Features.
Aside from the fact that the new
Federal al-American bank is the only
financial institution in Washington
with an elevated banking room. those
who attend the housewarming will
find many other unique features.
The interior of the bank is fin
ished in variegated stone from Aqua
Creek, Va. called George Washing
ton freestone. This stone is taken
from the oldest ouarries in the coun-
try. which were first operated in
1855. In the early days of our coun-
try stone from them went into such
buildings as the White House. the
United States Capitol. the Patent
Office and Fortress Monroe. This
stone gives the room tinge of color
which is in keeping with the general
Spanish design and the handsome
gold-encrusted ceiling. The mezza-
nine is highly attractive in color ana
design, with its gracious archways
carrying out the effect of the medieval
architectural scheme.
| Upon entering the banking room
the visitor will be struck Immediately
! by the absence OF tellers cages
| wickets and grillwork. so generally
associated with a bank. The new
Federal american Bank is distinctly
| different from most other banks in
| that it has no cages. A special type
| of counter originated by Mr.. Poole
| and worked out in detail by Alfred
G. Bosom. bank engineer and archi-
tect. has been installed. This coun-
| ter Is expected to be a decided i'm
| proyement over the cage system.
| from the point of view Of both the
| customer and the bank.
Has Two Vaults.
The bank is equipped with two
] vaults, a money vault at the rear
| of the main lobby and a safe deposit
vault below the street level. The
latter has a door weighing 80
| tons and has a capacity of 5000
| boxes. II is said to be the largest
| vault in Washington, excepting some
| in the Trea sury Building. The safe
| deposit department is approached by
! elevator and is equipped with the
most modern types of booths.
! When the new bank opens its
| doors for business ii will be equipped
! to render its customers special
/ service through its night depository
| Customers of the bank who have
| occasion to deposit funds after
| regular banking hours will be fur
| nished with a key to the night de-
pository. This device enables de-
positor TO place his days receipts in
i safe keeping with the bank. The
depository leads TO the safe de-
posit department..
| Two rooms of special interest are
the boardroom and the president S
| private room, both over the main
| lobby These are finished in hand
somely carved Italian walnut, in
in the lobby.
Tha b.rl, b,,iidipcr occ,1pies a cOr-
ner that has always been prominent
| in the history of the National Capital.
| Immediately preceding the erection
of the present building it was the
home of the Federal National Bank.
! orga anized in 1918 and consolidated
with the American National Bank
November J., 1922. For years the old
| building housed various departments
of the telephone company. Prior TO
/ the utilization of the corner for COM
mercial purposes. however, 1t was the
site of a schoolhouse, and more than
| q. century ago 1t was selected as the
| location for the White House stables.
May Add More Floors.
| The new bank building is so con-
structed. it is understood. as to per-
init of the addition of six TO eight
floors above the banking room in the
event that the institution should need
additional space. If such a plan
eventuates several of the upper floors
! would be rented as offices.
With resources totaling i'll excess
of sl5,OOG.OO0. the F'ederal-American
National Bank is considered one of
! Washington's large banking institu-
/ tions. 1t has had a rapid growth
since the consolidation and the re-
moval to the new building is expected
/ TO add considerably to its strength
and prestige. Only recently the
stockholders of the bank approved
| an increase in the capital stock from
81 200, 900 to $1.600,000. giving that
| institution the second largest lending
power of any national bank in the
city.
officers and directors of the Dank
soon will launch new securltles COT
Soration to be conducted to supply
added financial service to the Dank $
customers. This company Will nave
I an authorized capital of Sl0.OOO.000,
and will do a general investment
realty and securities business.
Directors of Bank.
Headed by w. T. Galliher, chairman
i of the board, and John Poole. presl.
dent the Federal l-American National
Bank counts among its directors many
of Nashington's outstanding business
men. The other members of the Off
cial staff are: William John Eynon,
vice president; W. j. Waller, vice
nresident: Charles B. Lyddane. vice
! president; Charles ID. Boyer, cashier;
| S. Louise Mitchell. assistant CASHIER
| William NJ. Seay. assistant cashier;
TT. IT. Shackelford, assistant cashier;
Joseph D. Yerkes, assistant cashier;
William c, johnson, assistant to presi-
dent; Erskine Gordon. trust ofncer;
Leon Tobriner, general counsel.
The board is composed of the fol-
| lowing: Byron S. Adams, Lester "A.