Wells Fargo Bank

The story of Wells Fargo Bank in Menlo Park begins in 1922 when First National Bank of Palo Alto erected the brick building at 1090 El Camino Real at corner of Santa Cruz Avenue (1977-2012 occupied by British Bankers Club). Shortly thereafter [1] this branch was absorbed by American Trust Company. American Trust vacated 1090 El Camino in the late 1930s.

In 1955 [1], American Trust was located at 720 Santa Cruz Avenue [in 2013 Le Boulanger is at this location]. Since at least 1957 Wells Fargo was located nearby at 718 Santa Cruz Ave corner of Chestnut [in 2013 Union Bank is at this location]. MPHA Historical Photo 5:4935 (see image below) shows Wells Fargo at corner of Chestnut and across Santa Cruz Ave is Sunshine Market.

By 1959 [1], American Trust was in a new building at 725 Santa Cruz Avenue that replaced the old Sunshine Market building. MPHA Historical Photos 4:3452-5,8,12 (see image below) show the new building with the American Trust logo.

In the (late?) 1950s [2], Wells Fargo and American Trust merged. Today (2013) the building at 725 Santa Cruz Avenue initially occupied by American Trust is Wells Fargo Bank.

Refs:

[1] The first Polk's City Directory that included Menlo Park was issued in 1926, before the incorporation of Menlo Park and before there were street numbers. American Trust was not listed in Polk's until the 1927 issue. It continued to be listed with address at Hwy or Hwy cr SCA through 1936. It did not appear in Polk's for 1937 through 1939. The building at 1090 El Camino was rented 1939-1948 by the City of Menlo Park for its various administrative functions. In Polk's '55 and '57 American Trust was listed as at 720 SCA, and in '59 at 735 SCA. Could it be there was no American Trust Co in Menlo Park between 1937 and 1954?

[2] http://www.paloaltoonline.com/obituaries/memorials/william-h-mauel?o=2034

Last updated 4.23.2013