Red River Valley National Bank

The Red River Valley National Bank was organized on March 23, 1881, with $100,000 in capital. The first president of the bank was L. S Follett, and W. A Kindred, vice president. The bank was on the east side of Broadway between N.P. Avenue and the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks. It was the first three story building in Fargo, and built of St. Louis red pressed brick. The interior featured mahogany and rose wood furniture, brass fixtures, plate glass and frescoed ceilings. The building cost about $25,000 to build.

The bank was destroyed in the June 7, 1893 Fargo fire. It was rebuilt in the same location on the east side of Broadway. The new building was designed by the Hancock Brothers architects of Fargo. It was built of cut Portage red sand stone and pressed brick. The building cost $40,000 to complete.

The bank became part of the First National Bank in 1906. The building was later home to Northwestern Mutual Savings & Loan and was demolished in 1960 to build an addition on the First National Bank building.

Sources:
First National Bank of Fargo, 1878-1978 : a century of service to the community
Fargo and Moorhead City Directory. Fargo, 1881-1927.
Polk’s Fargo and Moorhead City Directories. St. Paul, MN: R.L. Polk and Company
Fire Anniversary Edition. Fargo: Daily Argus, (7 June 1894): 21.
"Red River Valley National Bank" Cass & Clay County Review (1 December 1892): 1.