Workers removed the Wells Fargo sign from a closed bank branch on Wisconsin Avenue in downtown Bethesda, as the building is remodeled for an incoming Chase branch. Behind the sign was revealed an earlier bank tenant, First Fidelity Bank. That national bank, chartered in 1920, has been whittled down to Arizona and its home state of Oklahoma these days. But here we see evidence of its old branch in Bethesda.
I wonder if Chase will be power washing and chemically cleaning the white marble on the exterior. There are some nasty stains on the facade, mostly on the north side, likely caused by dirty water streaming down the face of the building at certain locations. These really make the otherwise pristine marble facade look very dirty. Although the design is a bit dated, the crisp and modern white marble building is still quite striking and iconic.
ReplyDeleteI also noticed that they removed the temporary ATM trailer from the parking lot. Maybe because they opened the new branch open at the 4749 Bethesda building with an 24/7 ATM lobby and multiple ATM machines.
First Fidelity Bank --> 1995: First Union Bank --> 2001: Wells Fargo Bank
ReplyDeleteThings I remember...because?....I have no idea why...but I do
BTW, this bank was part of First Fidelity of New Jersey. Don't think it had anything to do with the AZ/OK banks.
Wells Fargo in 2001 and not Wachovia first?
Delete"BTW, this bank was part of First Fidelity of New Jersey. Don't think it had anything to do with the AZ/OK banks."
ReplyDeleteI'm surprised that Mr. Lifelong Resident of Montgomery County would make a stupid mistake like that. Oh, wait, I'm not surprised in the slightest.
Although you left out one previous owner - it was Wachovia between 2001 and 2008. Wachovia was one of the big financial institutions that failed in the economic collapse of 2008.
You all are forgetting that prior to 1995 this was Bank of Baltimore
Delete"First Fidelity Bank --> 1995: First Union Bank --> 2001"
ReplyDeleteThose names reminded me of First American Bank(shares), for which Willard Scott did those cute ads. Unfortunately it secretly owned by BCCI.
A fun trip down Memory Lane:
ReplyDeletehttps://robertdyer.blogspot.com/2008/12/all-developers-are-not-creating-equal-i.html
Robert Dyer, December 2008: "I realize that I am often critical of developers on this website and in speeches I have given. Sometimes I hear from developers who disagree with my opinions. Some have asked if there are any development projects I like. In fact, there are some projects I believe are outstanding. They include...
"As outlandishly rich as the Collection at Chevy Chase is in these tough economic times, as a project it is a phenomenal success. Notice that, to my knowledge, it has no vacant condo/mixed use features. It is just an upscale shopping and dining center. (There ought to be free parking, though)."
Love getting some MoCo history on a Saturday!
ReplyDeleteBCCI? Bethesda Chevy Chase Illuminati?
ReplyDeletej/k
Yeah, I did. Ooops. Always hated that name. The gang in Asheville always called it "Watch over ya" ....blech...
ReplyDelete2001 Wachovia (again, blech.)
2008 Wells Fargo.
Anna:
ReplyDeleteJust wait til you hear the new SunTrust/BB&T name...
OMG. Just looked it up, how did I miss that? Ick. Ack. Double blech.
ReplyDeleteTruist
Like the most true and trustworthy? Sheesh.