Washington State’s Black History: Liberty Bank Safe Deposit Box Covers

All month, we’ll be partnering with The Black Heritage Society of Washington State to bring you artifacts, photos and stories from our community’s history.

Liberty Bank located at the heart of Seattle’s Central District at 24th Ave and E Union (1968-1988) was the first Black-owned bank west of the Mississippi River.  The bank served the essential financial needs of the community at a time when discrimination was prevalent in Seattle toward minority citizens who sought services that included home loans. 

Through years of success and then struggles, Liberty Bank closed and was reopened as Emerald City Bank, and later as Key Bank.  Key Bank eventually closed and sold the property in 2015 to Capital Hill Housing (now Community Roots Housing).  CRH was committed to honoring the legacy of Liberty Bank and entered into an agreement with Black community organizations, Africatown Land Trust, Byrd Barr Place, and Black Community Impact Alliance to build affordable housing units and provide space for Black-owned businesses. The agreement gives Byrd Barr Place the right of first offer and first right of refusal to acquire the Liberty Bank Building after 15 years. 

In 2019, Liberty Bank Building was opened on the site of Liberty Bank to fulfill the promise.

Liberty Bank original safe deposit box covers are a donation by Community Roots Housing. At the time of the Liberty Bank demolition to develop affordable housing and opportunities for Black-owned business, the covers were saved.  At BHS we hold a large selection of the covers and intend to recycle a number of them back into community as keepsakes.