Category:Second National Bank, Allentown, Pennsylvania

Allentown's Second National Bank was founded by William H. Ainey in 1864. The bank was first located in a small existing building on the southeast corner of Center Square.

When it recieved its charter as a national bank in 1865, it also was authorized to issue National Currency Notes, which served the same purpose as our currency does today. By all accounts, the bank was very successful, and in 1880, the bank constructed a large, four-story grand victorian building. The bank was again modified in the early 1900s into a simpler structure, reduced to three-stories and clad with white concrete with simulated columns on both the Center Square facing side, as well as the one facing south Seventh Street

The bank would continue in business until 1954, becoming the second-largest bank in Allentown. It and the Allentown National Bank, located on the opposite corner of Seventh Square on the northeast corner, agreed to merge with it, the combined business being renamed First National Bank. The merger was first proposed in August 1953. The merger, effective on November 8th, 1954 would call for the merged bank to operate under the charter of the Second National Bank, The merged bank, when opened, had assets of more than $77 million, making it the largest bank in Eastern Pennsylvania outside of Philadelphia.

With the merger, the former Second National Bank building was vacated and all bank buisness was conducted in the former Allentown National Bank building. In June 1958, the new First National Bank building opened on the location of the former Koch Brothers men's store/Hotel Allen on the northeast corner of Center Square.

The former Second National Bank building was sold to Park & Shop, which tore down the structure in 1959. With the demise of Park & Shop in 1985, the lot was taken over by the City of Allentown which tore up the asphalt and it became a small park.

Camera location	40° 36′ 06″ N, 75° 28′ 16″ W	View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap	40.601667; -75.471111