Nestled at 102 South Main Street in downtown Greenville, the historic First National Bank building is a striking example of Art Deco elegance and civic ambition. Originally chartered in 1872 as the National Bank of Greenville—the first such charter in South Carolina—it later evolved into the First National Bank and ultimately became part of Carolina First Bank, which merged into TD Bank in 2010. Constructed in 1938, the building was designed by Silas L. Trowbridge from Atlanta and built by Morris & McKoy. It later expanded in 1952 to encompass an adjacent 1917 structure, integrating both under a unified façade. The structure rises 2½ stories, clothed in sandstone and anchored with a polished black granite doorframe and base. Its refined ornamentation includes a geometric cornice, a decorative frieze band, sunburst-patterned aluminum grillwork, and fluted aluminum pilasters capped with stylized eagles. The words “First National Bank” are chiseled into the upper façade above a bold eagle niche—an emblem of both artistry and authority.

It stands today as Greenville’s only major Art Deco commercial building, a testament to the city’s architectural evolution and its early 20th‑century aspirations.In 1989, the building earned its place on the National Register of Historic Places, affirming its importance to Greenville’s built heritage. The bank traces its roots to Greenville’s first national bank charter, with founders like Hamlin Beattie, and later leadership under Fountain Fox Beattie, who oversaw a 1917 headquarters and sanctioned the Art Deco structure during the Depression-era transformation. Over time, the institution underwent consolidation and rebranding—from First National Bank to Carolina First Bank—and eventually merged into TD Bank, which now occupies the building.

Although no longer its namesake tenant, the historic building remains vibrant, housing a TD Bank branch that brings modern services into an architecturally significant space.

More recently, First National Bank (FNB)—the modern Pennsylvania-based F.N.B. Corporation—opened a dynamic new downtown Greenville office at 101 E. Washington Street in early 2025, featuring interactive digital services, video banking kiosks (ITMs), retail and commercial banking spaces, and a strong community engagement ethos. As part of its community strategy, FNB has contributed to local nonprofits and schools, signaling a reinvigorated presence in the Greenville financial landscape beyond the historic Main Street structure

The First National Bank building in Greenville is both a historical milestone and architectural jewel—an Art Deco gem anchored in civic memory. From its charter as Greenville’s first national bank in 1872, through Depression-era reinvention in 1938, its 1952 expansion, and its current role as a TD Bank branch, it remains an enduring symbol of local heritage. Today, First National Bank’s new downtown hub extends that legacy with modern technology, community investment, and full-service banking rooted in downtown Greenville’s growth and vitality.