State Bank of North Carolina
Also known as: North Carolina National Bank-Raleigh; Christ Church Rectory; S
Why it's listed
Built in 1813 for the main Raleigh branch of the State Bank of North Carolina, this two-story brick building at 11 New Bern Avenue is essentially Federal in style. It has handmade brick walls, granite lintels and sills, a pedimented roof, and matching two-level porticos on the east and west sides with stuccoed brick columns. The State Bank was incorporated in 1810, and its Raleigh branch was strengthened in 1813 as specie was moved inland during the War of 1812. Colonel William Polk, its first president, also lived in the building. The Bank of State of North Carolina took it over in 1832 and used it until the Civil War. In 1873 Christ Church bought it and used it as a rectory until 1951, then for other church purposes. In 1968 North Carolina National Bank acquired it, moved it about 100 feet southeast onto a new foundation, and renovated it as a branch bank. It was listed as an early commercial building again serving as a bank.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is significant as an early commercial structure that has survived and is once again functioning as a bank, as originally intended. It also has ties to the State Bank, founded in 1810, and to its first president, Colonel William Polk.
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 70000478, listed July 1, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 11 New Bern Ave., Raleigh |
|---|---|
| County | Wake County |
| Listed | July 1, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000478 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architectural style | Federal, with Classical elements (matching superimposed pedimented porticos with modified Tuscan columns) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition excellent; occupied and in use as a branch of North Carolina National Bank; altered and moved in 1968. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Within district | Oakwood Historic District |
| Coordinates | 35.78320, -78.63723 (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 70000478.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7603068
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.