Fill The Spot: Bank of America

In the short time it took me to take the photos for this week's feature, perhaps half a dozen people strode up to the building at 250 State Street, deposit envelope or wallet in hand, pulled on the door...and found it locked.

This spring, Bank of America informed customers that the branch would be and the building put up for sale. True to its word, the last day in operation was on that Friday. Signs declared that the night deposit box would see its last day at 8 a.m. on Aug. 17, while the counter and ATM sevices would end at 2 p.m. on the same day. The signs advised that the nearest locations for Bank of America are now the New London City Banking Center at 260 Route 1 and the Waterford branch at 68 Boston Post Road.

One visitor told me that the closing makes being a Bank of America customer considerably more inconvenient. He said he lived nearby in the and that he might switch services to become a customer at one of the other downtown banks.

According to city records, the Greek Revival building, constructed in 1930 and last appraised for about $3.2 million and assessed for $2.3 million, has always served as a downtown bank. Although the first city record puts initial ownership in the name of the Connecticut National Bank, the structure once housed the National Bank of Commerce, itself established in 1852. It was later a branch of the Hartford National Bank and Trust Co. Fleet National Bank purchased the building in 1996, and Bank of America took it over after a 2004 merger. Bank of America announced that the New London branch would close as part of a nationwide consolidation plan.

In addition to the signs directing customers elsewhere and lack of American and Connecticut banners on the facade's flagpoles, the bank now has realty signs offering the building for sale by John McCormick of CBRE New England. These advertise the sale of the building as well as the website BankingCentersForSale.com, which offers "premier banking center locations" across the country. The branch is one of only two properties offered in Connecticut, the other being in Portland. The listing advertises 19,500 square feet of space and access to a Washington Street parking lot capable of holding 42 vehicles.

What do you think should move into this building? Let us know in the comments.

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