Phoenix Bank Timeline

1857-1981

1857 - H.G. Blake opens a private bank in the Phoenix Block building in Medina Village.

1870 - Second fire on Medina Square destroys the entire Phoenix Block building.

1871 - H.G. Blake established the Phoenix Bank in the eastern front of the new Phoenix Block building.

1873 - Phoenix National Bank is established as Blake decides to join the national banking system with a 20 year charter.  This increases the public confidence in the bank and the bank financial strength.

1893 - Old Phoenix National Bank is established as a second twenty year charter is granted.

(1873 the bank capital stock was $50,000.  1893 it is increased to $75,000.  By 1933 the banks assets reach $3 million.)

1951 - Bank aquires the assets of Seville State Bank in Seville, OH.  It then opens a branch at this location.

1957 - Brunswick, OH branch is opened at intersection of state routes 42 and 303.

1961 - The second Medina branch is opened at the Court-Harding Branch bank building.

1965 - A location in Sharon Center, OH is established.

1981 - First Merit bank is formed.  This was established through First Bancorporation of Ohio forming with First National Bank of Ohio and Old Phoenix National Bank of Medina.

Information courtesy:

MCHS - Medina County Historical Society.

Historical Highlights of Medina.  Students of the Class of 1966 Medina Senior High School.  Eleanor Iler Shapiro, Editor.  Alfred Myers Lithographs, Inc.  Medina, OH 1966.

https://www.firstmerit.com/personal/history.aspx, FirstMerit website, FirstMerit History, July 27, 2010.