Established in 1885, the Camden National Bank opened at 259 Kaighn Avenue on August 13, 1885. Zophar C. Howell was the first President. One of the founders, and an early vice-president was Henry B. Wilson, for whom the H.B. Wilson School at South 9th & Florence Street is named, and whose son was Admiral Henry Braid Wilson Jr., for whom the boulevard is named. Another of Wilson's son, Philip Wilson, worked for the bank for many years. Other founders included Howard M. Cooper and Isaac C. Toone. 

The brick bank building at 2nd and Kaighn Avenue was opened in July of 1887. The bank removed to its new building at Broadway and Sycamore Street in 1906. During the 1910s and up to at least 1926, the bank's President was Francis C. Howell. In that year its solicitor was Charles A. Wolverton, who would be elected to Congress the following year, and serve until 1959. Directors included Wolverton, Dr. John W. Donges, and William Leonard Hurley, the owner of Hurley's Department Store. Edmund Stafford and Orlando Bowen had joined the bank as assistant cashiers by 1919.

The Camden National Bank merged with the First Camden National Bank and Trust Company whose main office was at Broadway & Cooper Street, on July 1, 1927. The building at Broadway and Sycamore Street remained open as a branch for many years, and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1990.

History of Camden County, New Jersey
by
George Reeser Prowell - 1886

Bank Directory - March-December 1916

Ad from
Camden High School Purple & Gold Yearbook

A view of the bank not seen since the completion of adjoining buildings

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to Enlarge

Click on Image
to Enlarge