Union Bank

MUFG Union Bank traces its origin to Bank of California, founded in San Francisco in 1864. Bank of California began to occupy 718 Santa Cruz Avenue (northern corner with Chestnut St) in 1961. Below is the history of that location as a bank.

1953-55 718 SCA occupied by First National Bank of San Mateo County (1)

Probably the original occupant assuming the building was constructed about 1950 (the same building extends north along SCA to include MP Hardware)

1955-60 718 SCA occupied by Wells Fargo Bank

Online photo 2:2531 (same as 5:4935), ca. 1960, shows the NW corner of Chestnut and SCA was then occupied by Wells Fargo Bank. Following the merger of Wells Fargo with American Trust in late 1950s, the MP branch of Wells Fargo moved to the American Trust building (the brick building that replaced the old Sunshine Market on SE corner of SCA and Chestnut)

1961-96 716 SCA occupied by Bank of California (1)

1996 Union Bank

California First acquired Union Bank in 1988, retaining the Union Bank name. In 1996 The Bank of California (founded in San Francisco on July 5, 1864) and Union Bank consolidated, again retaining the Union Bank name. (2)

Photo of Union Bank taken July 2014

References:

(1) Polk Directory for Menlo Park, issued bi-annually 1926-1980

(2) https://www.unionbank.com/hoabankers/about/history.jsp