‘A lot of history:’ Florida’s first Black-owned bank symbol of Orlando neighborhood (2024)

Axiom Bank is Florida’s first Black-owned bank, located in Washington Shores

Lisa Bell, Anchor

ORLANDO, Fla. – As News 6 celebrates Black History Month, we want to take you inside a local building that’s been getting results in our community for nearly 60 years.

It’s not just any building. Axiom Bank is Florida’s first Black-owned bank and over the decades, it has become a symbol of Orlando’s Washington Shores neighborhood.

For retired Orlando police officer Kevin Barnes, going to the bank and seeing so many familiar faces is like reuniting with family. His roots are deep at the bank. His parents were just the third customers of what was once called the Washington Shores Savings and Loan back in 1963.

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Barnes visited the bank as a child to deposit his birthday checks. He has fond memories of seeing his bank book stamped by the teller and watching his balance grow. “And I looked at that bank book, and I was like, ‘Wow,’” Barnes said.

“You know, this is my family and it’s very important,” lifelong customer Donna Walden said. Walden’s dad served on the board. Her parents opened an account for her back in 1964 when she was just 6 months old. “And when I come in, you know, I introduce myself literally like today, ‘Hey,’ you know, ‘I’m Ms. Walden. This is my bank. Welcome. Welcome. Welcome to my bank.’”

“Oh I’m walking in history every time I come,” former Orlando City Commissioner Samuel Ings laughed. Ings has been banking there since the 1970s. As the surrounding community has evolved, he says this bank has been a mainstay. “That’s what’s really crucial to me,” Ings said. “They do see a future that’s solid for the community.”

Known as the Goldwyn branch, the bank has changed names over the years. Most recently, Axiom Bank took over and invested $1.5 million to upgrade the historic building, while keeping its retro touches.

“A lot of history has been here at this location and we wanted to keep some of that history here,” branch manager James Pugh said. “When this branch was opened, there wasn’t very much lending for this and surrounding communities and that was one of the reasons that the founders opened this location.”

The original floors, beams and iconic roofline are still intact. The familiar stones that used to grace the façade will eventually be repurposed for the landscaping.

When Walden first saw the transformation, she was in awe. “I literally stood in the corner. I was like, ‘Wow.’ So, so deserving,” Walden said.

So deserving for an institution that has been getting results for nearly 60 years and to this day is the only bank operating in Washington Shores.

“Very seldom do I come in here and I don’t bump into someone that I don’t know,” Walden said. “And then you end up going down memory lane and hang out for a while.”

Copyright 2022 by WKMG ClickOrlando - All rights reserved.

About the Author
Lisa Bell

Lisa Bell has been in Central Florida since 2007, covering the big stories that impact our community. Lisa was promoted to News 6 evening news co-anchor in May 2014.

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‘A lot of history:’ Florida’s first Black-owned bank symbol of Orlando neighborhood (2024)

FAQs

‘A lot of history:’ Florida’s first Black-owned bank symbol of Orlando neighborhood? ›

Axiom Bank is Florida's first Black-owned bank and over the decades, it has become a symbol of Orlando's Washington Shores neighborhood. For retired Orlando police officer Kevin Barnes, going to the bank and seeing so many familiar faces is like reuniting with family.

What was the first Black-owned bank in Florida? ›

Axiom Bank is Florida's first Black-owned bank and over the decades, it has become a symbol of Orlando's Washington Shores neighborhood. For retired Orlando police officer Kevin Barnes, going to the bank and seeing so many familiar faces is like reuniting with family.

What is the oldest Black-owned bank in the United States? ›

Jeff McGruder is the chief relationship officer for Citizens's Bank, founded in 1904 in Nashville to serve the African American community in the area. It is now the nation's oldest continuously Black-owned bank.

Is Axiom Bank still Black-owned? ›

About Axiom Bank

At the time it was the first black-owned thrift established in Florida. The bank has evolved and grown over the years, adding more services like commercial lending and commercial banking.

Who was the first African American to own a bank? ›

The first Black-owned bank was the True Reformers Bank, which was chartered in 1888 by Rev. William Washington Browne, but which didn't open until 1889. The first Black-owned bank to officially open was Capital Savings Bank in October of 1888.

What is the most famous black bank? ›

OneUnited is the largest Black-owned bank in the U.S. It is also FDIC insured and initially launched in 1968.

What is the largest Black-owned bank? ›

OneUnited Bank is the nation's largest Black-owned and FDIC-insured bank. It was established by combining Black-owned banks from across the country.

What Black-owned banks merge? ›

In August 2020, Los Angeles-based Broadway Federal Bank and Washington, D.C.-based City First Bank announced their merger. Executives stated the deal would create the nation's first Black-led bank with over $1 billion in assets.

Who was the first black president of a bank? ›

Maggie Lena Walker was an African American entrepreneur and civic leader who broke traditional gender and discriminatory laws by becoming the first Black woman to establish and become president of a bank in the United States—the Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond.

When could a black woman open a bank account? ›

The Equal Credit Opportunity Act of 1974 gave every American woman, married or not, the right to open her own bank or credit account. It outlawed discrimination by both sex and race in banking. It is easy to forget today that this right has existed nationally for fewer than fifty years.

Who is the CEO of the Black-owned bank? ›

Kevin Cohee is the owner, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of OneUnited Bank, the largest Black owned bank and the first Black owned internet bank in America. In the aftermath of the protest against police brutality in 2016, Mr.

Is Axiom a real bank? ›

Axiom Bank, N.A., headquartered in Central Florida, is a nationally chartered community bank that serves the financial needs of its customers through a wide range of financial products and services.

Who owns Axiom Bank? ›

Who was the first black female banker? ›

Maggie Lena Walker was an important African American leader. She broke unfair laws and became the first Black woman to start a bank in the nation. She was also the first Black woman to be the president of a bank. Walker's bank was called the Saint Luke Penny Savings Bank in Richmond.

Who was the first black president of the World Bank? ›

Eugene Black (1898-1992)

Prior to being named World Bank President, Eugene Black served as U.S. Executive Director for the United States for two years (1893858; Credit: The World Bank).

Who was the first black president of the Freedman's bank invested and lost $10000 of his own money in attempt to save the bank? ›

Douglass invested $10,000 of his own money in the bank in an effort to instill confidence in the institution. Within only a few months, however, the grave condition of the financial institution became clear. In June 1874 Douglass recommended that Congress close the bank.

Is Carver bank still Black-owned? ›

Carver Federal Savings Bank, opened under the leadership of M. Moran Weston in 1948, is the "largest black-owned financial institution" in the United States. RegusWachovia Global Equity Holding Group & Carver Bancorp, Inc. is its holding company. Carver Bancorp, Inc.

What is the oldest bank in Florida? ›

Built in 1841, the Union Bank is considered Florida's oldest surviving bank building. Originally opened as a “planter's bank” during the antebellum period, the building became home to the National Freedman's Savings and Trust Company following Emancipation.

What was the first black national bank? ›

The Bank of Finance, the first state-chartered, black-owned commercial bank in Los Angeles, California, was founded in 1964. The bank was established by Onie B. Granville, a local real estate broker.

Why did First City bank of Florida fail? ›

The bank did not comply with several of the C&D Order provisions, as it did not effectively reduce adversely classified assets, originated additional brokered deposits, and failed to maintain specified capital levels.

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