The Saint Paul Sun

The First National Bank of St. Paul's new Auto Bank first of its kind in downtown St. Paul - was placed in operation Thursday, May 23, following a day-long public inspection of the installation Wednesday, May 22, according to Philip H. Nason, President of the First.

Located directly across Fourth Street from the First National Bank building, the new banking facility and its driveway occupies 6,363 square feet of a T-shaped parking area owned by the bank which fronts on Fourth street, Robert street and Kellogg Blvd. and has a parking area of 16,500 square feet. An additional 3,750 square feet of parking area will be added this summer, according to bank officials, when the building now occupied by Capital Breeding Farms, 95 Kellogg Blvd., to which the bank has acquired title, is razed.

The Capital building is close to 100 years old and is the remaining half of a building which housed the original building features travertine marble floors, walnut-finish Formica counters, ceramic tile and fluted walnut wall areas.

The building is air-conditioned throughout and is connected to the main bank by a 36 inch tunnel under the street which carries utilities and a high speed pneumatic tube system. Money and forms will be shuttled back and forth by means of the tubes which connect with the Currency Cage and Savings Department in the main bank.

It is expected that this installation will be able to accommodate in the neighborhood of 1,300 customers daily when operating at peak capacity.

Built of Roman brick and curved glass, the new Auto Bank has two drive-up windows and six inside teller windows for the convenience of customers who prefer to park and walk in. Interior of the.