These six mural panels show the history of banking in downtown Punta Gorda.  The first panel shows Punta Gorda Bank, which opened in 1894 at the corner of W. Marion and Taylor Street.  Ziba King was president and John Farrington was the cashier.  Farrington and his family lived above the bank.  The bank moved to a new location in 1897 at W. Marion and Cross Street (Panel 2).  In 1912 a rival bank, The Merchants Bank of Punta Gorda, (Panel 3) opened on W. Marion between King and Taylor streets.  In 1914, the bank was granted a Federal charter and renamed "The First National Bank of Punta Gorda.  It collapsed in the 1929 Great Depression.

The old Punta Gorda State Bank was reorganized in 1917 (Panel 4).  In 1921, the bank moved into new quarters at the corner of W. Marion and Cross Street. Barron G. Collier in 1925 bought a controlling interest in the bank.  During the bank run of 1929, legend has it that the bank was saved when Collier arrived with a suitcase full of cash and restored depositor’s confidence.  It survived for a while but later failed.

In 1925, the Charlotte Bay Hotel was built at W. Marion Ave. and Taylor St.  That prime corner was occupied by the "Fidelity Trust Company" (Panel 5).  Fidelity Trust  was a subsidiary of the "First National Bank of Punta Gorda."  Fidelity Trust collapsed in the 1929 depression.

Punta Gorda Federal Savings & Loan (Panel 6) was organized in 1934 and occupied the westerly part of the Punta Gorda State Bank at W. Marion Ave. and King St.  In 1934 the S&L moved to 314 King Street (Tamiami Trail). Don Witter was president for 41 years…
 

Dedicated 1998