Bank Open House Draws 12,000 in 1931

The First National Bank was chartered in 1868 in Austin and 63 years later, the institution merged with the Austin National Bank and moved across Main Street into a new building. Having been established on the northeast corner of Main Street and 2nd Ave NW (then Bridge Street), the bank occupied a new building on the northwest corner of the same intersection in 1931.
From the Mower County News on February 19, 1931:
“Celebrating the completion of the new First National Bank building and the consolidation of the city’s two leading financial institutions, the Austin National Bank and the First National Bank, an open house party unique in the city’s history will be held Saturday afternoon and evening...
In harmony with the setting, a bevy of girls in colonial costumes will assist in the public reception and will distribute souvenirs of the occasion to all.
Actual consolidation of the bank, the details of which are being announced today, will not be effective until Tuesday morning when the new building will be occupied by the merged organization...
As construction has progressed residents of Austin have become familiar with the beautiful exterior combining white stone with the vari-colored brick of the early American method of construction. The interior follows the colonial style in as complete detail and every piece of furniture is an authentic copy of an early American piece.”
A report in the same newspaper the following week indicated that 12,000 people attended the open house. The 1931 colonial building was remodeled in 1956 and is now known as the U.S. Bank building, housing U.S. Bank, the United Way of Mower County, Mower County Vehicle Registration and other offices.