Financial District in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Bank of Italy

Later Bank of America

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 10, 2014

1. Bank of Italy Marker

Inscription.
Headquarters from 1908 to 1921. From here A.P. Giannini launched the branch system that transformed the nature of banking in California.
National Historic Landmark.
This site is of national significance in commemorating the history of the United States of America.
1982 - National Park Service - United States Department of the Interior

Erected 1982.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the National Historic Landmarks series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1908.

Location. 37° 47.676′ N, 122° 24.181′ W. Marker is in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It is in the Financial District. It is on Montgomery Street near Clay Street, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 550 Montgomery Street, San Francisco CA 94111, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on California’s Coast Ranges.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Commander John B. Montgomery's Landing Site (here, next to this marker); "The Family" (within shouting distance of this marker); Western Headquarters of Russell, Majors, and Waddell (within shouting distance of this marker); Hudson's Bay Company

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

(within shouting distance of this marker); Pony Express (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of First U.S. Branch Mint (within shouting distance of this marker); The San Francisco Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (within shouting distance of this marker); Former Site of Eureka Lodgings (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . . The Real Life “George Bailey” Who Founded Bank of Italy which Became Bank of America. The man was A.P. Giannini who was said to be who Capra modeled the character of George Bailey as well as the bank president in Capra’s 1932 movie, American Madness, after. (Submitted on February 26, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 10, 2014

2. Bank of Italy Marker

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

3. Bank of Italy Marker

Former Bank of Italy Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 10, 2014

4. Former Bank of Italy Building

Amadeo Peter Giannini Plaque and Photo image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

5. Amadeo Peter Giannini Plaque and Photo

Inside the Bank of Italy Building

Amadeo Peter Giannini image. Click for full size.

November 18, 2015

6. Amadeo Peter Giannini

Close-up of photo in Bank of Italy Buiding.

Amadeo Peter Gianinni Plaque image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

7. Amadeo Peter Gianinni Plaque

To honor the memory of a man whose name is synonymous with American Banking - Amadeo Peter Giannini. It was at his desk located here in this Banking Hall — first opened in 1908 as Bank of Italy, forerunner of what was to become Bank of America — that A.P. Giannini Developed the concept of today's modern branch banking systems. Banker, pioneer, legend in his own time, A.P. Giannini, 1870 to 1949.

BI - Bank of Italy image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

8. BI - Bank of Italy

on the steps down to the vaults in the Bank of Italy Building

Safe Deposit Boxes image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

9. Safe Deposit Boxes

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

10. Wingtips

Today the Bank of Italy Building is occupied by Wintips, an upscale men's clothing store and social club.

Photographed by Allen C. Browne, November 18, 2015

11. Clock

Inside the Bank of Italy Building

Credits. This page was last revised on July 17, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 26, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 1,433 times since then and 52 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 26, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 3. submitted on November 28, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. 4. submitted on February 26, 2014, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. submitted on November 28, 2015, by Allen C. Browne of Silver Spring, Maryland. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.