The First National Bank

OF Long beach, California

Federal Charter # 5456

American bankers association # 90-113

    In March of 1900, the First National Bank was organized with  $25,000 in capital with J.M. Elliott, president, J.B. Heartwell, vice  president and C.L. Heartwell, cashier.  Mr. Elliott had been a  pioneer banker in Los Angeles and president for many years of the First National Bank of Los Angeles.

Their first building was a three story building on the northwest corner of Pine Avenue and First Street.

School children on a fieldtrip to the bank, pre 1906.

Interior view of the first building. Circa 1905

In 1904 the First National Bank bought  the American National  Bank of Long Beach which was started in 1903 by Stephen Townsend.  Mr. Townsend was a well known developer not just in Long Beach, but also Pasadena, California.

1904 bank officers as follows: J.B. Heartwell - president; John  Carroll and S. Townsend - vice presidents; C.L. Heartwell - cashier;  W.A. Kennedy - assistant cashier.

Series 1882 "Brown Back" $10 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

W.A. Kennedy - Cashier

J.B. Heartwell - President

Series 1882 "Brown Back" $20 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

C.L. Heartwell - Cashier

J.B. Heartwell - President

Unused Cashier's Check payable at the Crocker-Woolworth National Bank of San Francisco.  One the banks many correspondence banks. Circa 1900-1906

In 1906 a new building was designed by Los Angeles architects Robert F. Train and Robert E. Williams.  The structure was designed in a French Renaissance Revival style utilizing pressed yellow brick on the street sides and common red brick on the remaining two sides.

In 1906 a new six-story home for the bank was built, that still stands today and houses the popular restaurant  L'Opera. The distinctive clock tower with its six-foot-diameter clock face was added in 1907.

Looking north on Pine Avenue

.

 The bank was located on the ground floor with the upper stories being rented out to some of the city's best physicians, dentists, and attorneys.

    In 1908 major changes had taken place in the bank, brought on by  the Panic on 1907.  H.S. McKee, cashier of the California National Bank at Los Angeles was made president and of  the First National  Bank of Long Beach and C.J. Walker, founding president of the Farmers & Merchants Bank of Long Beach was made vice president.

    1908 bank officers as follows: H.S. McKee - president; C.J. Walker, Charles C. Green, F.A. Howe, and S. Townsend - vice presidents; W.A. Kennedy - cashier; A.R. Collias - assistant

cashiers.

    In 1909 another major development happen to the bank, both R.D. Judkins and E.O. Miller became affiliated with the  institution. C.J. Walker left along with W.A. Kennedy. Mr. Kennedy became the  cashier of the First National Bank of Pomona and later president of that bank.  Mr. Walker returned to Farmers & Merchants of Long Beach.

Series 1882 "Date Back" $10 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

E.O. Miller - Asst. Cashier

R.D. Judkins - Vice President

Between 1912-1916 the bank saw little change, with the bank officers as follows: H.S. McKee - president; R.D. Judkins - vice president and cashier; E.O. Miller and C.L. Wright - assistant cashier.

Correspondence between the First National Bank and Citizens Bank of Pasadena in regards to "her character or financial responsibility" signed by R. D. Judkins as Cashier.

Some old checks.

  By 1920 the six-story building at First and Pine was too small for the bank and wishing to have a more modern building, the bank contracted with Thos. Harvey Co contractors to build a new building at the southeast corner of Fourth Street and Pine Avenue.  John & Donald Parkinson of Los Angeles were the architects.  This building  was in use by the First National Bank from 1920 to 1929 when it became a branch of Bank of America of California. (A Los Angeles institution which later in 1929 was purchased by Bank of Italy to became the famous Bank of America we know today.) 

  1920 bank officers as follows: H.S. McKee - president; R.D.  Judkins - vice president and cashier; J.W. Pettijohn, W.P. Nestle, N.C. Burson, and J.R. Rutherford - assistant cashiers.

The bank's last home was Pine Avenue at Third Street  This building was built in 1920.                  

Bank bag that once contained $100 in silver.

1924 bank officers as follows: H.S. McKee - president; R.D. Judkins - vice president and cashier; J.W. Pettijohn, N.C. Burson,  Louis D.C. Sample, W.W. Ganer, E.E. Edwards and D.H. McKee assistant cashiers.

Series 1902 "Pain Back" $10 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

N.C. Burson - Asst. Cashier

R.D. Judkins - Vice President

Series 1902 "Pain Back" $10 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

Louis D.C. Sample - Asst. Cashier

R.D. Judkins - Vice President

Series 1902 "Pain Back" $10 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

E.E. Edwards - Asst. Cashier

R.D. Judkins - Vice President

Series 1902 "Pain Back" $20 note, issued by the First National Bank of Long Beach

Pen signed by:

W.W. Garner - Asst. Cashier

R.D. Judkins - Vice President

  1929 bank officers as follows: H.S. McKee - president; R.D.  Judkins - vice president and cashier; J.W. Pettijohn, N.C. Burson,  Louis D.C. Sample, W.W. Ganer, and E.E. Edwards - assistant cashiers.

Check book and a a from the late 1920s.

National Currency issued by the First National Bank included the following types and circulation.

Series:    1882 "Brown Back"    Denomination:    $10    Total issued:    33,000

Series:    1882 "Brown Back"    Denomination:    $20    Total issued:    11,000

Series:    1882 "Date Back"       Denomination:    $10    Total issued:    7,200

Series:    1882 "Date Back"       Denomination:    $20    Total issued:    2,400

Series:    1882 "Value Back"      Denomination:    $10    Total issued:    2331

Series:    1882 "Value Back"      Denomination:    $20    Total issued:    777

Series:    1902 "Plain Back"       Denomination:    $10    Total issued:    73,326

Series:    1902 "Plain Back"       Denomination:    $20    Total issued:    24,442

Just a little more than $1.9 million issued in 29 years.  $178,950. outstanding in 1929 when the bank liquidated.

 Another item of interest that been able to procure is a letter written by the "Note Teller" and later assistant cashier of the bank.  The letter is self explanatory.

  As mentioned above, the First National Bank was sold to Bank of America of California in 1929 and so ends this brief history of the First National Bank of Long Beach, California.

~ The End ~

Other Long Beach national bank histories:

The First National Bank of Long Beach

The National Bank of Long Beach

The American National Bank of Long Beach

The Exchange National Bank of Long Beach

The City National Bank in Long Beach

The Long Beach National Bank

The California National Bank of Long Beach

California First National Bank of Long Beach

The Seaside National Bank of Long Beach