Fairhaven Bank - 1839 or 1840 dated Massachusetts Check - Americana

Early Check.

The history of banking in Fairhaven, Massachusetts, is intricately linked to the town’s prominence as a major whaling hub during the 19th century. On April 19, 1831, the Fairhaven Bank was established, and Ezekiel Sawin was elected its inaugural president the following day. During this era, the bank served a thriving community that held the distinction of being the second largest whaling port in America. Sawin, a prominent local figure, later constructed an elaborate Greek Revival home between 1840 and 1844, which is now recognized as a National Register of Historic Places. Shortly after the initial bank’s founding, the Fairhaven Institution for Savings was also incorporated on February 10, 1832, further solidifying the town’s financial infrastructure.

As the regional economy transitioned from whaling to manufacturing and eventually evolved into a modern residential suburb, these financial institutions underwent significant transformations. The Fairhaven Bank later adopted the name National Bank of Fairhaven. In the early 1990s, it operated under the name Fairbank, Inc. before being acquired by Slade’s Ferry Trust in 1996. Meanwhile, the Fairhaven Institution for Savings officially changed its name to Fairhaven Savings Bank in 1972 and constructed a new headquarters at the intersection of Washington Street and Huttleston Avenue the following year. By 1991, this institution had undergone further evolution and became a part of Citizens Bank.