Downtown Memphis in Shelby County, Tennessee — The American South (East South Central)

Solvent Savings Bank

Photographed by P. A. Miller, April 21, 2009

1. Solvent Savings Bank Marker

Inscription. The Solvent Savings Bank and Trust Company founded by Robert Church, Sr., first Negro bank established in Memphis, opened at this site, 392 Beale Street, in 1906. It survived the money panic of 1907 and became the fourth largest black bank in the nation. Robert Church, Jr. succeeded his father as president in 1912. W. C. Handy's music studio was located on the second floor in 1907.

Erected 1935 by West Tennessee Historical Society.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical year for this entry is 1906.

Location. 35° 8.358′ N, 90° 2.901′ W. Marker is in Memphis, Tennessee, in Shelby County. It is in Downtown Memphis. It is on Beale Street. Original address was 392 Beale Street, it is now 386. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 386 Beale Street, Memphis TN 38103, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in West Tennessee.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Deep South,

in the Upper South,

in the Mississippi Delta,

and in the Great River Road Region.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: This Plaque is Dedicated to Father and Son, Leaders of Their Race (within shouting distance of this marker); Beale Street Baptist Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Church Park Auditorium (within shouting distance of this marker); Sara Roberta Church (within shouting distance

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of this marker); "The Tree of Strange Fruit" (within shouting distance of this marker); Ida B. Wells (within shouting distance of this marker); Church Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Mary Church Terrell (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Memphis.

Also see . . . Solvent Savings Bank and Trust. (Submitted on September 28, 2016, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia.)

Photographed by Byron Hooks, September 17, 2016

2. Solvent Savings Bank Marker

Solvent Savings Bank image. Click for full size.

Photographed by P. A. Miller, April 21, 2009

3. Solvent Savings Bank

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 26, 2011, by P. A. Miller of Richmond, California. This page has been viewed 1,251 times since then and 67 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on October 26, 2011, by P. A. Miller of Richmond, California. 2. submitted on September 28, 2016, by Byron Hooks of Sandy Springs, Georgia. 3. submitted on October 26, 2011, by P. A. Miller of Richmond, California. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.

Editor’s want-list for this marker. A clear, readable shot of the entire marker. • Can you help?