First National Bank of Seattle - Territory of Washington - 1887 or 1890 dated Unissued Banking Stock Certificate

Banking stock certificate of the First National Bank of Seattle, Territory of Washington State. 

The First National Bank of Seattle, established in 1882 during a transformative period for the Washington Territory, began as a private venture founded by George W. Harris, a prominent local figure who also co-founded the Seattle Post-Intelligencer. That same year, the institution secured a national charter under the National Bank Act, making it the first federally recognized bank in the city. Operating out of the Yesler-Leary Building at Front Street (now First Avenue) and Yesler Way, the bank provided crucial capital for early settlers and businesses as Seattle’s population and economic activity boomed during the decade.

However, the bank’s trajectory was significantly impacted by the Great Seattle Fire of 1889, which destroyed its original headquarters. Despite this setback, the institution persevered and eventually rebuilt, continuing to serve as a cornerstone of the regional financial sector for decades. It often competed with other local giants like Dexter Horton & Company. In 1929, the bank participated in a massive three-way merger to form the First Seattle Dexter Horton National Bank, which would eventually be known as Seafirst Bank. This legacy of early Seattle finance endures today through various transitions, as the historic institution eventually became part of Bank of America.