Tuesday, May 7, 2019

Drive-in Banking Ad – May 5, 1956

In 2019, personal banking can be done entirely online or with a mobile device. The result? It's not necessary to ever visit the actual branch office. It’s a sign of the times embraced by the majority of the public. (But not me; I like going to the bank – and helping tellers hold on to their jobs to boot.)

But back in 1956, you still had to go to the bank. Thus, the hottest trend in banking back then was the drive-through teller.

Above is the announcement that this particular convenience was now available at Lorain Banking Company at their new drive-in branch on Sixth Street. The ad ran in the Lorain Journal on May 5, 1956.

What’s kind of interesting is that it took Lorain Banking Company so long to do it. The Central Bank Co. had its “exclusive” drive-in teller service up and running in 1951, according to this 1952 ad celebrating its achievement.

Anyway, Lorain Banking Company merged with National Bank of Lorain to form Lorain National in 1961. Lorain National was sold to Northwest Bank in 2014, and that is the branding on the Sixth Street drive-in service today.


at

3 comments:

  1. -Alan D HopewellMay 7, 2019 at 10:47 AM

    When we were kids, we'd sneak up on the drive through window at Central Bank, and push the buzzer button.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Dan BradyMay 7, 2019 at 12:23 PM

    Such hooliganism!

    ReplyDelete
  3. RickMay 7, 2019 at 4:40 PM

    The Central Bank ad from 1952 contains a "progress Report " on deposits from 1941 until 1952. While there could be many factors affecting deposits during that time frame, I found the deposit history indicative of the spending possibilities. As expected, during World War ll when spending on major purchases was limited by the diversion of resources from consumer products to the war effort bank deposits increased rather dramatically. Then after the war, from about 1946 to 1950, when the economy returned to consumer products and young couples were buying homes and raising baby boomers, the deposits were pretty flat. Not surprising, but a sign of the times.

    ReplyDelete