Bank of Italy

Bank of Italy (1917)
1001/1015 Fulton, Fresno, CA
NRHL

 First does anybody know where the Bank of Italy building is in Fresno? Second, what is the Bank of Italy called today? Third, who was president of the First National bank of Fresno when it merged with the Bank of Italy? On the last it was a guy by the name of O.J. Woodward, father of the person of which Woodward Park was named. At the time of its completion, the Bank of Italy building was the epitome of optimism and confidence in the future of a growing Fresno. Though currently vacant, this beautiful structure is one of the most structurally significant commercial buildings in the area. From time to time, there is talk of big plans for this building. Such as last March, there was talk of the DA's office moving into the building. Lets hope. There was no plaque on the building, but the BI emblem still hangs above the door.This identifies any of the Bank of Italy buildings, such as the one in Los Banos.



The Bank of Italy building is an historic 9-storey, 38 m (125 ft) skyscraper in downtown Fresno, California. The building was completed in 1918 for the Bank of Italy, that later became the Bank of America. Its chief designer was Charles Franklin of the R.F. Felchlin Company. The completely vacant building is the ninth tallest in the city, and is listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places. The building was sold to the Penstar Group, a Fresno based developer, in 2009

This eight-story, steel and concrete building, located at Tulare Street and Fulton Mall in downtown Fresno, is faced with ornate terra cotta and brick. Highly ornamented spandrel panels, cornice, belt courses and first-floor window trim distinguish this building from others in the area. The interior lobby is distinguished with a twenty-five-foot, decorative plaster ceiling, marble floor and staircase, etched brass elevator doors, brass letter box, solid mahogany stair rails and original wall clock.