Rainier #7: State Bank of Rainier

203 A Street East

State Bank of Rainier Building on September 5, 2005.

There's something about banks that makes them hide the age of their buildings. This bank opened as the State Bank of Rainier in 1906. John Dibblee was one of the original directors. The building has been remodeled twice. In 1961 it was enlarged and given a modern appearance, and in the 1980s some of the west side of the building was removed to make room for a drive through window. The bank has changed its name several times. On October 1, 1970, the State Bank of Rainier merged into the Oregon Bank. In 1988 it became Security Pacific Bank. Bank of America took over in 1992.

This picture of a train running down A Street in the 1980s shows the bank building on the far left before its last remodel. This is the appearance it received in the 1961 remodel.
(Photo by Cliff West.)

The branch nearly closed in 2005, but a massive letter-writing campaign by Rainier residents convinced Bank of America to keep the branch open. In late 2012, Bank of America again announced it was planning to close the branch. This time, there was no apparent effort to save it, and the branch closed as scheduled on March 22, 2013.

State Bank of Rainier Building on July 13, 2008.

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