This armor plate vault door on one of Mercantile Trust Company's safe deposit vaults was built by Bethlehem Steel Company over 60 years ago. A plaque bearing the Bethlehem name is being pointed out by Mr. Peter S. Daust, head of the bank's safe deposit department to Miss Rhea Dalba, a bank employee.
(left) This is an inquiry station at the Mercantile Trust Company that is equipped with closed-circuit T.V. monitor and keyboard. By turning to this unit, the teller can check the signature of a customer within 6 to 10 seconds. (right) Above is the automatic storage retriever unit, the "brain" of Mercantile's Automatic Signature Verificiation System. Attached to the main unit is an operator's console for additions, deletions and corrections of signature cards.
Scene of $16,000 robbery is the Southwest Bank at Kingshighway and Southwest avenue. At right, the teller's cage at which the holdup occurred is checked to determine the amount taken.
I. A. Long, left, president of Southwest Bank, and F. A. Giacoma, right, vice president of the bank, examine some of the more than 100 works of Southwest St. Louis artists now on display in the bank's lobby. The display is open to the public and will be there until June 30.
The Southern Commercial and Savings Bank, 7201 South Broadway, was robbed of an undetermined sum of money at 12:30 p.m. Friday by an armed man who told teller Mrs. Opal Byington (above), "Give me the money or I'll blow your guts out."
Made for the files of the Mercantile Trust Company, this photo of the firm's offices at Eighth and Locust has become a part of St. Louis history. Included in the 1899 picture is one of the city's first horseless carriages, in that era sometimes called "machines of the devil."
Shortly after the holdup, this was the scene inside the Mercantile Trust Company where two men escaped with $15,226 Friday while customers were unaware that a robbery was taking place.
Scene of the $15,000 bank robbery was the Mercantile Trust Company which occupied a full city block between Locust, St. Charles, Seventh and Eighth streets.
Mercantile Trust Company has announced plans to install an automatic signature verification system similar to the test model shown above. The Mercantile installation, the first of its kind to be put into business use, will consist of 16 inquiry stations, equipped with closed circuit TV and keyboards, plus automatic filing and retrieval units.
Honored for long service to the Tower Grove Bank are three employees with more than 40 years service. They were among 33 honored at a dinner in the University Club Wednesday night. Bank President Robert J. Gaddy (second from left) congratulates Arthur L. Locatell for 50 years' service as Edward Schroeder (left) and Erwin P. Geimer look on. Both have been with the bank for 42 years.
Harry A. Muehling, 65-year employee at Manchester Bank, re-enacting his first day at the bank in 1902 in an old cashier's cage. Introducing him to friends and customers Tuesday are hostesses Mrs. Karen Bergmoser and Mrs. Trena Henthorn.