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First National Bank Building
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| Location: | 201 W. 2nd Street, Davenport, Iowa |
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| Built: | 1924 |
| Architectural style: | Renaissance Revival |
| Governing body: | Private |
| MPS: | Davenport MRA |
| NRHP Reference#: | 83002430[1] |
| Added to NRHP: | July 7, 1983 |
The First National Bank Building is located in downtown Davenport, Iowa, United States, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now known as US Bank, the building’s main tenant.[2]
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The National Banking and Currency Act was passed by Congress and signed into law in 1863. First National Bank in Davenport was the first bank in the country to open under the new act.[3] The bank was headed by Austin Corbin, who had previously been with Macklot and Corbin in Davenport. A $12.60 check written by Henry Hess was the first check in the country to clear the new banking system.[4] The bank suffered some financial difficulties in the 1870s and was re-chartered in 1882. In the 1920s First National Bank merged with Iowa National Bank and maintained the name of the former. After the Bank Holiday in 1933, First National Bank was taken over by Union Savings Bank and Trust. The upper floors of the building remained occupied after the bank’s failure, but the main banking room was not occupied by another bank again until the late 20th century. Tenants are mainly professionals such as dentists, medical doctors, attorneys, and insurance agents.[2]
The First National Bank Building is the third building on the same site for the bank. It replaced a building that was destroyed by a fire.[2] The building is nine floors with a steel frame and brick construction. It is built on a concrete foundation and is faced with stone. The building's form is restrained but the decoration on the lower level of the building is not. The stylistic details evoke the Renaissance Revival style and combines classical precedents with forms that are associated with the sixteenth century Italian Renaissance.[2] These stylistic elements are combined with the technological advances of the Chicago School.[2]
The lower level of the building is a tall arcade of round arches and pilasters with detailed capitals. The capitals feature carvings of horses and buffalo among floral motifs. The main entrance on 2nd Street is in a recessed rounded arch in the center of the building. An ornate bronze screen above the doors is covered with urns, floral designs and Grecian or Roman figures.[3] There is an inscription above the third floor of the building which notes that the building housed the first National bank in the United States.[5] The first floor interior has been modified from its original appearance and it retains little of historic importance.
A clock that was originally mounted on the Scott County Savings Bank building was mounted on the northeast corner of the building in 1994. The clock was made of copper in 1918 and weighs 600 pounds.[2] An awning was built on the west side of the building to cover the lanes of the motor banking facilities and ATMs.
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