WCIS Bank
Also known as: Bank Block and Worcester County Institution for Savings
Why it's listed
Two connected buildings at 365 Main Street in Worcester house the Worcester County Institution for Savings, the city's first savings bank, chartered in 1828. The rear section, a three-storey Bank Block, was built in 1851 as a joint venture between the Worcester Bank and the Boston and Worcester Railroad Company, and the bank bought out the railroad's interest in 1852. A builder's manual of 1856 praised it as a fine specimen of its kind. Much of its original ornament was removed in 1969, when the exterior was stuccoed, though the granite store fronts and brackets remain. In 1906 the bank moved into a new granite building on Main Street, with a symmetrical facade, monumental Doric columns and an open bank hall, designed by Winslow & Bigelow of Boston. The bank repurchased the Bank Block in 1953, and the two buildings were joined in 1969. Early presidents included Daniel Waldo and Stephen Salisbury II and III.
Significance in brief: The complex housed the Worcester County Institution for Savings, the city's first savings bank, chartered in 1828. The 1851 Bank Block was illustrated in an 1856 builder's manual as a fine specimen of its kind. The 1906 granite front building by Winslow & Bigelow of Boston shows Greek Revival-inspired Classical design with monumental Doric columns.
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 80000606, listed March 5, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 365 Main St., Worcester |
|---|---|
| County | Worcester County |
| Listed | March 5, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80000606 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Winslow & Bigelow of Boston (1906 building); architect unknown (1851 Bank Block); Norcross Bros., builders (1905-06 notices) |
| Architectural style | Italianate (altered) and Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a bank; the Bank Block was stuccoed and altered in 1969 and joined to the front building. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 42.26475, -71.80144 (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 80000606.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7947821
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.