Corn Exchange National Bank

This large building on the corner is the former headquarters of the Corn Exchange National Bank, a bank founded in 1858 by grain merchants. At the time, this neighborhood was still largely commercial and closely connected to the port, and the bank was set up right at the center of the city’s growth. The architecture you see today, however, is not the original. Around the turn of the 20th century, the current building replaced the earlier structure, so this corner reflects two different periods: the era of port trade, and later, the rise of financial power. Take a moment to look at the design. Everything here is meant to inspire confidence. The style is classical, with strong, imposing proportions. One detail stands out in particular: the slightly off-center tower, which is quite unusual. It wasn’t part of the original plan, but was added over time during expansions, especially under architect Horace Trumbauer, and it eventually became the building’s defining feature. Another detail worth noticing is the name “Corn Exchange National Bank,” still visible on the facade long after the institution itself disappeared, like a trace left in the stone. Over time, the bank merged with other institutions before disappearing in 1951. Today, another bank occupies the building. And if you’ve ever heard about a robbery involving the famous criminal Willie Sutton, the story is real… but there’s no clear evidence that it happened exactly here.