Williamsburgh Savings Bank
Why it's listed
Standing on a large corner lot at Broadway and Driggs Avenue in Brooklyn, this four-story bank is built of limestone, sandstone and marble in the Classical Revival style. A two-story arch with paired Ionic pilasters frames the deeply recessed main entrance, which has bronze doors and is flanked by bronze candelabra. A cast-iron dome with a lantern crowns the roof, and a cast-iron railing runs around the building at street level. Inside, the main banking room rises to a large dome on pendentives decorated with mosaic, and the president's office keeps its original wood carving. The bank was incorporated in 1851 and outgrew its earlier quarters by 1867. Trustees then held an architectural competition won by George B. Post, and the building dates from 1875. It is one of Post's earliest works. Additions followed around 1910, in 1923 and in 1941. It remains in use as a bank more than a century after it opened.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it an excellent example of Classical Revival architecture that preceded the Chicago Fair of 1893. It is one of George B. Post's earliest works, won through an architectural competition. It has also served the banking needs of its community for over a hundred years.
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 80002642, listed April 9, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 175 Broadway, New York |
|---|---|
| County | Brooklyn |
| Listed | April 9, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80002642 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | George B. Post |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied and still in use as a bank; the form says it continues to serve the community's banking needs. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 40.71017, -73.96137 (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 80002642.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q111450020
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.