Bank of Italy
Also known as: Old Bank of America
Why it's listed
Rising three stories at the corner of Park and 13th Streets, this brick commercial building is the tallest in downtown Paso Robles. August Nyberg owned, designed and developed it, starting construction in late 1920 and finishing in 1921. Its Renaissance Revival design includes tan brick veneer, quoin-like brick corners, recessed transoms, latticed second-story windows with radiating brick arches, and a stepped stone pediment over the Park Street door. The Bank of Italy moved into the east half of the ground floor in 1922 and bought the building in 1923. After the Bank of America took over the bank in 1930, it became the town's only bank from 1937 to 1958 and remodeled the ground floor in 1947. Upper floors held doctors, lawyers, businesses and lodge meeting rooms. A 1993 restoration added seismic reinforcement, sprinklers and a new elevator while keeping the original appearance. Ground-floor businesses and state offices now occupy the building.
Significance in brief: The building is significant for its Renaissance Revival architecture and for its role in the commerce of Paso Robles. It housed the Bank of Italy, later the Bank of America, along with doctors, lawyers, businesses and lodge groups. The bank is credited with supporting local farmers and businesses and fostering the town's growth.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 98000245, listed March 19, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1245 Park St., Paso Robles |
|---|---|
| County | San Luis Obispo County |
| Listed | March 19, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000245 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1921-1948 |
| Architect / builder | Nyberg, August |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In excellent condition and in use. It was restored in 1993, with ground-floor businesses and State of California offices on the upper floors. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.62752, -120.69004 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 98000245.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14681575
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.