[Source: Mavis Anne Bryant, Donald Lee Mayes of Denison, Texas: An Architectural Legacy (Denison, Texas: Denison Heritage Inc., 2001] For
much of its history, Denison
had two major banks. Facing each other across an intersection were the
Citizens’ National Bank at 231 West Main Street, and the State National
Bank at
300 West Main Street. Both added drive-in facilities in 1957.
Engaged for a major remodeling of the State National Bank in 1956, architect Donald Mayes carefully preserved its ornate exterior while incorporating a recently acquired adjacent building. Private offices of the bank’s president and executive vice present were moved to new glass enclosures at the front of the bank, and a new conference room was added. In 1957, a drive-in banking facility south of the main bank building was added, with entry off South Rusk Avenue and West Chestnut Street.
As part of major changes in the
banking industry nationwide, both these local banks soon were acquired
by much
larger banks based elsewhere, which now would make major decisions
about bank
operations in Denison. In 1970–71, Interfirst Bank demolished the
extraordinary
Beaux Arts–style State National Bank Building that had graced Main
Street since
around 1893, replacing it with an overscaled three-story white marble
box.
The Denison Press Friday, October 3, 1958 
Severnty-five
years observing the same name, and located in the same spot where it
started house-keeping is no mean record in itself with any business.
But to crown those years with a service that beggars description
and comparison in any banking world, is a most meritous accomplishment.
With motton, "Stronger as the years go by." The State National Bank of Denison, Texas, observing October 3rd and 4th, 1958, as its 75th anniversay, has made full well its claim as incorporated in the slogan. Serving this area for that length of time and with having only six presidents in all those years, tells a story in itself as to the foundation upon which the institution was laid. When that small group of men met to inaugurate the State National Bank, the surveying party of the Katy railroad had hardly laid their first measuring lines to determine the boundary line for the Denison of that day, before the annoucement was made that Denison's first bank had been organized and had been christened "The State National Bank of Denison, Texas." Equipping the bank teller with a brace of .45's purchased from a local hardward firm, Dollarhide & Harris, the bank was ready for opening. The bank's first president was J.N. Johnson, who served from Oct. 4, 1883 to August 13, 1889. THE STATE NATIONAL BANK of Denison, for more than twenty years an institution of power in the financial and business circles of northern Texas, whose statements show a constant growth and steady prosperity through all the years of both commercial confidence and money stringency, and which at the present time stands at the highest degree of stability and success in its history, was organized in 1883 by Mr. J. N. Johnson, who was the owner for some time of a majority interest in its stock. R.C. Shearman was the second president and he served from August 13, 1889 until his death on July 16, 1899. G.L. Blackford became the next president and served from Sept. 1, 1899 until his death April 1, 1923. James R. McKinney succeeded Mr. Blackford, who, due to his untimely death, served only six months from May to November 1923. A.F. Platter was the fifth president of the bank, serving from January 1924 until January 1925. W.L. Peterson, who is the active president at the present time, came to the bank in January 1924 as active vice-president, and was made president in January 1925. The bank first started operation with a capital stock of $100,090. In comparison the bank today reports its capital as being $400,000, with resources of $15,851,929 and deposits of $14,278,942. MODERN SERVICE In the way of making the bank serve its constituents in what is termed the modern way, steps along this line have been taken that even the most active imagination could hardly depict a decade ago. Among the many available services for each customer the bank today offers in addition to the early day courtesies, such as loan service, cashier's checks, savings accounts, travelers checks, time has brought about new service to meet a moving world. Included in these ultra-modern lines of service may be listed drive-in banking, customer parking, street lobby banking, banking by mail, 24-hour day banking service, Christmas savings accounts, etc. The bank this year added its parking lot for customers while doing business in the bank, as well as to erect a latest type drive-in, walk-in, drive-on banking service which transaction may be accomplished within less than two minutes and yet the process is perfectly safe, accurate and time-saving. OPEN HOUSE The bank is holding open house on Friday and Saturday, October 3 and 4, with hours from 4 to 8 on Friday, from 4 to 9 on Saturday. 
300 West Main Street NationsBank (now Bank of America), ca. 2000 In 1970–71, Interfirst Bank demolished the 1893 State National Bank Building, replacing it with this large two-story white marble structure. Source of photo: Mavis Anne Bryant, "Donald Mayes of Denison, Texas: An Architectural Legacy" (2000), p. 19. Denison History Copyright © 2024, TXGenWeb. Grayson County TXGenWeb |
