First Bank of the United States

The First Bank of the United States dates to 1797.

NPS Photo

Quick Facts

Location:

3rd Street, between Chestnut and Walnut Streets

Significance:

First bank chartered by the Congress of the United States

Designation:

National Historical Park

OPEN TO PUBLIC:

No

Amenities

1 listed

Scenic View/Photo Spot

Despite ongoing renovations to the interior spaces, it's the exteriors of this site that will catch your eye. The building is not open to the public.

Proposed by Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton, the First Bank of the United States opened in 1797. Chartering the Bank was a major congressional move toward a firm financial foundation for the new nation. Arguments over the federal role in banking ignited the first debates over strict versus expansive interpretations of the U.S. Constitution. This building served the nation until 1811, when the Bank's charter was not renewed.