Exploring Chicago's Most Elegant Abandoned Bank

Our journey brings us to a rather peculiar place, in the heart of Chicago's suburbs we found a completely intact bank that has been abandoned since the year 2008. Karl Vitzthum, the architect, decided to give the building a Classical Revival-style design to convey a sense of security and permanence. Many newspapers called the bank "Chicago's most elegant bank" when it was finished in 1926. The five-story building cost about $650,000, which is about 11 million dollars today. For many years, it served the local community in this Chicago neighborhood. Families would come here to do all kinds of banking activities, but most of the stories you still hear are about going to the grand vault in the basement to check on a deposit box. In the mid-1990s, the bank was rebranded as Banco Popular, which was a natural occurrence because the Puerto Rican population of this particular neighborhood grew exponentially. For two more decades, this was the communities centerpiece, but the expenditures of keeping up such a building grew out of hand, and the management decided to leave this property behind and move the bank across the street to a smaller and cheaper facility. Although it has been 14 years since the last customer walked through its doors, the property hasn't let out its last breath yet. Just a couple of months after the filming of this documentary, renovation works on the property started, and the end goal is to turn it into a cultural hub and social housing for the community.

Let us show you what was once the most elegant bank in Chicago.

SOCIALS:

Filmed by Danny and Lesley
Edited by ES Forgotten (Danny) @ES.Forgotten

#abandoned #explore #exploring

[gerrymcclure]

Well you did it again. You topped your other documentaries. This was truly amazing. The architecture was really a look at the past, and how design was really a respected gift. Then you come along many years later and remind us all that the beauty was definitely in the eye of the beholder and for a short minute you take us back when buildings could be works of art. I thank you for restoring memories. In a way you restore the dead, even for a minute. I am a true follower of the Bros of decay

[krist]

I forgot about this bank I was born raised and still live on the northwest side of Chicago !! I remember we went here for a art project in high school we were studying architects of Chicago and I am going to share you to my vanished Chicago group !! So they can see this !! Thank you for documenting my city so well and nicely !! Hope you had a good time here too

[LadyTracyOfTheDisk]

Your enthusiasm (and your research) makes your channel stand out from the pack. Keep up the excellent work!

[dannymacias]

I renovated new fire sprinkler systems for a similar bank in st. Pete Florida, a few years ago. It’s the only bank that survived the Great Depression in the county, and sat abandoned for the last 30 years. The beams that hold the structure scream Carnegie steel. With the old rivets, and the vaults that date back to the long gone Ohio company, same company that made this vault, and was rusted to the same state as this one.

[skyhawk]

Really exciting. Knew that bank years ago. By the way, the “Air” in the vault was in case you got locked into the vault and couldn’t get out it delivered fresh air into the vault until you could get rescued.

[LoryKP]

The two of you almost gave me a heart attack! Scared the hell out of me on those steps! The old style elevator did have someone who worked inside to press the buttons. Years ago I remember them when a very young child. The safe deposit area is sooo big! The usual way they were accessed was a bank employee would escort the owner, use the keys and show the person to a private room. After the owner would go back out, they put the box back in, and they would both lock it then leave.

This was one of the best explorations ever! Will you be trying Washington, D.C.? I was born and raised there. You might find some very interesting places down there. As always, you guys rock! Thanks for all you do.😘

[marleneandrejko]

Can't wait to see this! It is in my neighborhood . As a matter of fact this is where I had my very first savings account. As a child I was always overwhelmed my the giant Christmas tree in the middle of the bank!

[kathyhofkamp]

Thank you both for your dangerous exploration! I used to live in Chicago and drove past the bank a Lot and always wanted to see inside so exciting so awesome beautiful rooftop View but that vault amazing!! Thank you so very much for this it was so exciting so beautiful don't ever stop you two are the best 🏆🏆

[bsysvoe]

For sure, no matter where you both go. You have so much fun and so do we!!! I was just thinking about you all climbing down your way back to the street!!!

[rebeccablakey]

This beautiful building definitely reminds us of our amazing past. Such a elegant structure with so many amazing memories if the walks could talk.

[ilduarita]

Time changes everything. Many more changes are to come in the near future. So sad to see an elegant bank not in use anymore. Great video guys.

[beverleyonajide]

Hi Leslie👋🏽Danny…good to see you both together again…”Don’t Open…Dead Inside” is from the show “The Walking Dead”…a warning to alert the others that there was walking dead people inside…when Leslie said “that means we have to open it right”…Danny you had one word “No”…I couldn’t stop laughing…my sentiments exactly.

My heart skipped a beat each time you guys fell…this exploring is so dangerous…glad you are both ok…I’m watching a second time because this was an Amazing find…dangerous…but Amazing…such a beautiful building…I’m happy beyond words that this gorgeous building isn’t going to be demolished.

TFS🙏🏽your journey with us…I appreciate it.
Stay Safe…see you next time.

[brfelix]

Lesley, just wanted to add that you and Danny work so well together it's a joy to watch. This was a wonderful video. I hope you and Danny will give us many more. Thank you both.

[jackn]

I would of loved to work there. I’m from Chicago and there’s no shortage of opulent, elegant awesome architecture. I’ll have to visit this place next time I’m in town. Thank you Bros of Decay.

[leseize]

As a french man, i had 2 days transit in Chicago and i loved it, beautiful city and architecture. It was 21 years ago ! I i rembember having seen this impressive bank, thanks for this "souvenir" - And front of the danger, you're impressive as well ! Hey from Lille (Rijsel) !

[joannacotter]

Grew up in Chicago. As a child I use to play in that bank under the marble podiums. I went into that vault with my parents and grandparents. thtat was in the 70s. a beautiful building back then.

[tulipchild]

Born and raised in that area I’ve walked and drove by Pioneer Bank thousands of time..Glad I could see how Beautiful the inside was especially the volt. I’ve been in there maybe 3 times as a child and it’s sad how they let it just fall apart.thank you for bringing back memories

[careyh]

👋 hello Lesley. Can't wait to see this amazing Bank. I enjoyed seeing the safety deposit boxes and the vault so cool to see. Dual filming cameras are excellent!
Fantastic!

[billb]

I agree with many of the others who have commented on how enjoyable the Leslie and Danny team is, You guys work so well together. This bank was amazing. The "P" in the sign by the vault probably stood for PIONEER. In the early 1920's exterior picture you showed we could see the original sign on the roof and it said Pioneer Bank. The tables in the big classical style room were for customers to fill out their deposit or withdrawal slips. The blanks would be stacked in the little cubbies under the table. They would usually be carbon copy forms so you could keep one and give the other to the teller. Pens would be provided but they were always chained to the tables so customers couldn't take them. Thank you so much Leslie for your enthusiasm and your youthful joy and sense of adventure. I enjoy you guys so much! Please be safe! I can't wait till the next adventure.

[BigmokE]

Also the tables in the middle most likely held withdrawal and deposit slips around the outer portion and the holes in the middle were to dispose of any check stubs or whatever you needed too but it was a secure way to throw something away without people being able to dig in the trash to get your personal bank info. My grandparents bank had tables almost just like that