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| Girard Bank Broad and Chesnut Streets Philadelphia, PA |
Ever since I can remember, I wanted to work at a bank. I grew up in a small town (Downingtown, PA) and always dreamed of someday working at the Downingtown National Bank. However, when I graduated from high school they wouldn't even let me in the door. I grew up on the wrong side of the tracks. No 'Tiptons' here please. Ironically, many years later I would work at Downingtown National Bank but that is a story for another whole blog posting.
Today I want to briefly mark my anniversary of one of the most life changing times of my life, and that was the day I began work at THEE bank in Philadelphia, Girard Bank.
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| The lobby of Girard Bank |
I worked at Girard Bank for twenty-two years until Mellon Bank took over in 1982. I lasted another four years after Mellon "merged" with Girard Bank (the Harvard Business Review said "Mellon Bank took 'merged' with Girard bank with all the grace of Russian troops entering a Polish village at the end of World War II" - some quotes you never forget.)
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| Me in banker drag at my desk as manager - yes, my plants |
I had quite the plant collection. At one time I had over a hundred plants I was taking care of on the floor.
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| Me transplanting plants on company time |
I left Girard Bank, then Mellon Bank on December 1st 1986 and went up Broad Street to work at the Fidelity Bank. Again, a story for another blog posting.
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| The Trust Remittance Unit - where I started my job |
My first job was in the Trust Department as a remittance clerk. I eventually worked my way up to manager of the Trust Information Unit which was a combination of five different operations units.
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| Calculating remittance payments in the day before digital calculators |
Below are some pictures that I took that bring back fond memories. Yes, these days were some of the best of my life. And I am happy to say, I still remain friends with my former boss (Bill P.) and one of my former co-workers (Penney P.) Unfortunately, so many others have passed on but I will always have them in my memory.
When I 'retired' I had a wonderful sendoff luncheon at the Bellevue Stratford. All my friends were there. I will always remember them and these times as some of the best of my adult life. I had the best boss (Bill B) that one could want. I was very lucky.
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| That's me on the left with the serious mien with my fellow managers and supervisors. All great folks! This was when I was 'somebody.' Thus it is with some irony today that I inform you that the grand bank where I used to work at in center city Philadelphia is now a (are you sitting down?)...HOTEL! That's right, Mellon Bank sold off the original Dome Building where Stephen Girard started his bank and the building was converted into the Ritz-Carlton Hotel. The irony is that I work at a hotel now, a high end hotel in downtown Lewes, DE. Pure coincidence. My goal this year is to book a stay at my former place of employment, now the Ritz-Carlton Hotel...if I can afford it.  The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Philadelphia, PA |
