Integrity Title Insurance, Trust and Safe Deposit Company
Also known as: 400 Green Street
Why it's listed
Built around 1902 on a corner in Philadelphia's German district north of Arch Street, this bank is a three-story building of iron-flecked orange-tan Pompeian brick over a rusticated limestone base. Its corner tower, once capped by a small dome, holds a three-dimensional arched doorway drawn from German baroque churches, and its window arches carry garlanded keystones. The design follows the corner bank type developed by Furness, but applies German forms to it. A 1912 addition extended the facade two bays to the south, matching the original detail. The bank was founded by brewer Frederick Poth and others, and it served the German-speaking families who settled nearby in the nineteenth century. The interior retains its original trim and a Mercer Tile fireplace in the director's office. The building is significant as a well-preserved example of the architecture that expressed the ethnic identity of the community.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is a nearly complete turn-of-the-century example of German-influenced bank architecture, reflecting the ethnic heritage of the bank's founders and the German community around Fourth and Green streets. Its tower, arched door and crowning dome are described as drawing on German baroque and Viennese late 19th-century design, applied to the traditional Philadelphia corner bank type. The building is also presented as a survival of the German community that shaped the region.
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 82001548, listed November 14, 1982. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-haiku-5-5, prompt v1.1-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 4th and Green Sts., Philadelphia |
|---|---|
| County | Philadelphia |
| Listed | November 14, 1982 |
| Reference number | 82001548 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-1920 |
| Architect / builder | Paul and Seymour Davis (1902); Koelle-Speth Co. and Geo. Kessler Co. (1912) |
| Architectural style | German Renaissance |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 39.96454, -75.14832 (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 82001548.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q15228736
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.