Portrait of A. P. Giannini

Portrait of Amadeo P. Giannini (1870-1949) as an older man. Giannini founded the Bank of Italy in San Francisco on October 17, 1904. Bank of Italy’s first branch outside of San Francisco was in San José, converted from San José’s Commercial and Savings Bank in 1909. History Park's building is a replica of that first Bank of Italy branch, reconstructed in 1977. A. P. Giannini’s bank became Bank of America in 1930 and his practices revolutionized the banking industry with a commitment to previously underserved members of the community such as the working class, immigrant populations, and small businesses.