National Bank of Alaska

National Bank of Alaska (originally known as Bank of Alaska) was Alaska's largest financial institution for the latter part of the 20th century. In 2000, it was acquired by Wells Fargo.

Bank of Alaska was founded in 1916 by Andrew Stevenson in Skagway, Alaska. The bank's first headquarters were in the building previously occupied by the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce at Fifth and Broadway, but it soon constructed a new headquarters a block down at Sixth and Broadway, a building which has remained in the possession of the company and its successors to this day. Bank of Alaska was soon to open additional branches in Wrangell and Anchorage, which had only just been named.

Edward Anton Rasmuson was hired in the first year as the bank's attorney. He assumed control in the financial turmoil following World War I, and by 1919, he was serving as the bank's president. His wife, Jenny Olson Rasmuson, sat on the board of directors. In 1945, the bank's headquarters were moved to Anchorage. Rasmuson died in 1949, and left the bank to his son, Elmer E. Rasmuson.

In 1950, the bank adopted a national charter, becoming the National Bank of Alaska. A 1960 merger made National Bank of Alaska the largest bank in the state with 19 branches in six locations. Elmer Rasmuson also passed the business to his son, retiring in 1975. Edward Bernard Rasmuson became president and CEO.

By 1978, National Bank of Alaska was operating 34 branches in 19 communities. In 1982, it was reorganized as a wholly owned subsidiary of National Bancorp of Alaska. By 1983, its assets topped $1 billion, and by 1990, it owned about half of all bank assets in the state.

In December 1999, National Bancorp of Alaska agreed to a $907 million buyout by Wells Fargo & Co. It had more than $3 billion in assets, and 53 National Bank of Alaska branches in 29 Alaskan communities, with an additional branch in Seattle, Washington.

Bibliography

• Rasmuson, Elmer E. and Cole, Terrence Banking On Alaska: The Story of the National Bank of Alaska (2 volumes)

References

• Review of "Banking on Alaska"
• "Skagway Remembers Elmer Rasmuson" (Skagway News)