First Financial Bank, is located at 500 Washington St Columbus. It was designed by Eero Saarinen in 1954, which had three stories for office and one story for bank transactions. The building built with bricks and stone, resides in the grove of trees with large rooms and open interior which gives a feeling of friendliness.
It is also listed as one of the National Historical Landmarks of Columbus (for its architecture) in 2001 by National Park Service. This modern glass walled building has low structure with unusual domed lights, as the designer wanted to welcome the visitor by its uncommon and friendly look. The structure is built with glazed hall, two steel and glass vestibule connectors, which originate from the northern end of the building and ends onto the annex. In 1973, a three story building was designed by Kevin Roche, which was adjacent to this building with 1910 offices. The building design distinguishes the bank from other usual bank’s structure so as to make their customers comfortable. The garden passage is planted with redwood and seasonal plants, to balance the environmental temperature in the glass building.
History of Irwin Union Bank and Trust:
Joseph I. Irwin, owner of a dry goods store in 1860’s in Columbus, Indiana, was a popular and trusted person in the community. All merchants from the town trusted Irwin and preferred keeping their money with him as they considered him the safest person. Later in 1871, Irwin came up with an idea of converting his store into a bank, which was later established into Irwin Union Bank and Trust.
Innovation in Columbus, Indiana:
In 1972, the bank installed its first Automated Teller Machine (ATM) in Columbus, Indiana. In 1969, the bank spent $100 on its assets and in 1964; the bank also introduced the first computer in the entire county. Irwin Union Bank was ranked seventeenth among 408 banks in Indiana. In 1990, the bank changed its name to Financial Corp., making tremendous earnings in last decade, expanding in more than 20 countries with offices counting more than 100.
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), Hamilton, Ohio, took over Irwin Union Bank and Trust Company, on Sept. 18, 2009. General public was not given any formal intimation or information of this transformation.
