South Brooklyn Savings Bank records: South Brooklyn Savings Bank records: NYU Special Collections Finding Aids

Call Number

2007.001

Dates

1850-2006, inclusive

; 1850-1980, bulk

Creator

Independence Savings Bank (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

South Brooklyn Savings Institution (New York, N.Y.)

Independence Community Bank (Brooklyn, New York, N.Y.)

South Brooklyn Savings Bank

Extent

38 Linear Feet

in 61 boxes of various sizes and five loose objects.

Language of Materials

English .

Abstract

The collection consists of the records of the Board of Trustees of the South Brooklyn Savings Bank (originally known as the South Brooklyn Savings Institution, and later known as the Independence Savings Bank and the Independence Community Bank), including board meeting minutes, financial records and reports, administrative files, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia. The records span the entire history of the bank, from its founding in 1850 through 2006 (the year the bank was acquired by Sovereign Bank).

Historical note

The South Brooklyn Savings Institution was founded in Brooklyn, NY, in 1850. The institution formally channged its name to the South Brooklyn Savings Bank in 1930. The bank's main branch was located at the corner of Atlantic Avenue and Court Street. Another major branch was located at 18th Avenue and 65th Street. In 1975, the bank formally changed its name to the Independence Savings Bank. In 1992, "the bank reorganized into [a] mutual holding company." The bank underwent further reorganization in 1997, and formally changed its name to Independence Community Bank Corp. Finally, the bank was acquired by Soveriegn Bank in 2006.

Independence Community Bank was founded in Brooklyn, N.Y. in 1850 as The South Brooklyn Savings Institution. It was bought out by Sovereign Bank in 2006. After the buyout, the Brooklyn Historical Society, with the support of the Independence Community Foundation (now the Brooklyn Community Foundation), conducted 16 extended interviews with past and present employees of Independence Community Bank to document the end of the Bank's 155 years based in Brooklyn.

Sources:

South Brooklyn Savings Bank One Hundredth Anniversary booklet, 1950
Certificate of name change, 1930
Independence Savings Bank financial statement, 1975
Independence Community Bank Corp. - U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission report, 2000

Arrangement

The collection is organized into five series:

Series 1: Board of Trustees meeting minutes

Series 2: Financial records

Series 3: Administrative files

Series 4: Photographs and Scrapbooks

Series 5: Memorabilia

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of the records of the Board of Trustees of the South Brooklyn Savings Bank (originally known as the South Brooklyn Savings Institution, and later known as the Independence Savings Bank and the Independence Community Bank). These records include Board meeting minutes, financial records and reports, administrative files, photographs, scrapbooks, and memorabilia. The records span the entire history of the bank, from its founding in 1850 through 2006 (the year the bank was acquired by Sovereign Bank).

Subjects

Conditions Governing Access

Open to users without restriction.

Conditions Governing Use

While many items at the Center for Brooklyn History are unrestricted, we do not own reproduction rights to all materials. Be aware of the several kinds of rights that might apply: copyright, licensing and trademarks. The researcher assumes all responsibility for copyright questions.

Preferred Citation

Identification of item, date (if known); South Brooklyn Savings Bank records, 2007.001, Box and Folder number; Brooklyn Public Library, Center for Brooklyn History.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Independence Community Bank Corp., 2007.

Related Materials

Independence Community Bank oral histories, 2006-2007 (2008.032)

South Brooklyn Savings Institution trustees photographic portrait albums, 1850-1922 (ARC.215)

Independence Community Bank Presidential Portrait Collection, 1850-1973 (M2007.023)

Collection processed by

Nicholas Pavlik and John Zarrillo

About this Guide

This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2024-10-09 16:57:33 +0000.

Using Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Language: Description is written in: English, Latin script.

Processing Information

The collection was minimally processed by Nicholas Pavlik, who authored the first version of this finding aid, in October 2011. In December 2014, the collection was arranged into series by John Zarrillo, who subsequently revised and expanded the finding aid in February 2015.

These records were originally combined and described collectively with the Independence Community Bank oral histories (2008.032) as ARC.269. The two collections were separated due to their distinct provenance in June 2015.

Between September and December 2019, boxes 21 through 60 were minimally processed, and incorporated into the finding aid in January 2020. These materials were found in the collection with minimal identifying information. These materials may be accession 2015.022, but seem to be a seperate grouping of materials based on the existing description of accession 2015.022.

Sponsor Note

This collection was processed and described as part of the project, "Uncovering the Secrets of Brooklyn's 19th Century Past: Creation to Consolidation," funded by the Council on Library and Information Resources, with additional support from The Gladys Krieble Delmas Foundation.

Revisions to this Guide

August 2019: Revised by Maggie Schreiner to incorporate materials found in collection

January 2020: Revised by Maggie Schreiner to incorporate boxes 21 though 60, which were found in collection.

October 2024: Revised by Dee Bowers to reflect rehousing.

Repository

Brooklyn Historical Society

South Brooklyn Savings Bank records