The project is the rehabilitation of the historic Germantown Bank building in order to create a “Museum of Banking” inside. The building, owned by the Germantown Historical Society (a 501c3 non-profit), is in the “Transportation Heritage Area” of Montgomery County, and is conveniently located within the County’s MARC Rail Communities Sector Plan and included in that vision for the future.

A bank was an essential element of an agricultural railroad town along with the railroad station, the general store, and the mill, which turned the wheat and corn grown by the farmers into saleable flour and meal. The bank provided a place where the mill workers, farm workers, and clerks could cash their paychecks; where the farmer could get loans to help pay for new machinery; where everyone could save for the future. But this bank was different from today’s banks because it was independent, small, and run by and served the local community. It was also distinguished from other small banks of its time by: 1. Serving both Blacks and Whites, 2. Being the financial arm of the local mill, 3. Having diversified investments including in other countries, 4. Having a state-of-the-art walk-in steel box vault with a three-day alarm system.

The building is both archetypal – in that it represents typical neo-classical architecture of a small early 20^th century bank – and unique, in that it is the only one of its kind left in Maryland. But to just preserve the building as an artifact of the past would not attract many heritage tourists and certainly would not entice them to return. All remnants of a bank have been removed from the interior of the building. All that is left is the walk-in steel box vault – which is its biggest attraction. This is what sparked the idea of creating a Museum of Banking History. Our intention is to create a teaching museum that fits into the historical description of an agricultural railroad town, but which will attract individuals and groups of many interests and livelihoods, families of many cultures, and school classes of many ages – and have them return again and again, bringing friends and relatives.

The Germantown Museum of Banking will not be just a visit to the past for nostalgia but a step back into the past to learn what history can teach us that is relevant to our lives today. And it will be the only such museum in the state of Maryland.

This little community bank, the smallest type of bank building with its own walk-in vault, never closed during those lean years – it was just “Too Small To Fail.”

An investment in the Germantown Museum of Banking is an investment in the future. The Germantown Historical Society is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, and any contribution is tax-deductible. In addition, we are an all-volunteer organization, so your contribution will be used entirely for our Building Repair Fund. You can e-mail us at germantownmdhistory@gmail.com or leave a message at 301-972-2707.

Levels of Giving for the Museum of Banking History

Platinum level (accumulative) will be listed on a plaque in the Museum + lifetime membership + discounts. Gold will be given lifetime membership + discounts)

Platinum   $5,000+

Gold    $1,000-$4,999

Silver  $500-$999

Nickel $100-$499

Copper $1-$99