According to this newspaper clipping in 1919 American State Bank proposed building a 20 story building on the southwest corner of 19th and Farnam.
It looks like this is the lot where the Omaha Empire State Building is located at which was built in 1909 so I am unsure how or why they’d choose a lot with a ten year old building, unless there is a discrepancy in this reporting. Additionally, I’m not sure if American State Bank changed names or if it turned into American National Bank. If anyone has more information it would be appreciated.
Linkin5 wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2026 6:42 pm
According to this newspaper clipping in 1919 American State Bank proposed building a 20 story building on the southwest corner of 19th and Farnam.
It looks like this is the lot where the Omaha Empire State Building is located at which was built in 1909 so I am unsure how or why they’d choose a lot with a ten year old building, unless there is a discrepancy in this reporting. Additionally, I’m not sure if American State Bank changed names or if it turned into American National Bank. If anyone has more information it would be appreciated.
On your name question, it doesn't look like American National Bank came out of American State Bank. As for your building question, it was fairly common to demolish relatively new buildings in that era, especially for a replacement like this. Land downtown was still fairly valuable and there weren't exactly an array of empty lots in prime areas to develop.
Linkin5 wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2026 6:42 pm
According to this newspaper clipping in 1919 American State Bank proposed building a 20 story building on the southwest corner of 19th and Farnam.
It looks like this is the lot where the Omaha Empire State Building is located at which was built in 1909 so I am unsure how or why they’d choose a lot with a ten year old building, unless there is a discrepancy in this reporting. Additionally, I’m not sure if American State Bank changed names or if it turned into American National Bank. If anyone has more information it would be appreciated.
On your name question, it doesn't look like American National Bank came out of American State Bank. As for your building question, it was fairly common to demolish relatively new buildings in that era, especially for a replacement like this. Land downtown was still fairly valuable and there weren't exactly an array of empty lots in prime areas to develop.
Linkin5 wrote: Wed Oct 28, 2026 6:42 pm
According to this newspaper clipping in 1919 American State Bank proposed building a 20 story building on the southwest corner of 19th and Farnam.
It looks like this is the lot where the Omaha Empire State Building is located at which was built in 1909 so I am unsure how or why they’d choose a lot with a ten year old building, unless there is a discrepancy in this reporting. Additionally, I’m not sure if American State Bank changed names or if it turned into American National Bank. If anyone has more information it would be appreciated.
On your name question, it doesn't look like American National Bank came out of American State Bank. As for your building question, it was fairly common to demolish relatively new buildings in that era, especially for a replacement like this. Land downtown was still fairly valuable and there weren't exactly an array of empty lots in prime areas to develop.
Thank you for the replies! Looking into it further the bank failed in 1922 when it became insolvent and the Feds issued a warrant for the president/owner of the bank DW Geiselman.
