Wayback Wednesday: Old Banks In Northern Connecticut, And What's There Now

NORTH-CENTRAL CT — Let's assume you spent a good deal of your life north of Hartford, but moved away, say, 25 years ago. On a return visit, you'll immediately notice a change in the landscape, particular when it comes to financial institutions.

If you grew up with banks like Enfield Federal Savings, New England Bank & Trust, Society For Savings or Northern Connecticut National Bank, you may be surprised at what you find if you drop by their old locations. Many area sites of banks and credit unions now host completely unrelated businesses, including liquor stores, pizza shops, government offices and even cannabis dispensaries.

Some of these businesses have refurbished or repurposed the pre-existing financial institutions, while others have knocked them down and built new on the site.

Here is a sampling of some former northern Connecticut depositories, with photos of what is situated there now, and how it looked back in the day (when available). This is by no means a complete list, and Patch welcomes readers to contribute other qualifying businesses in the region.

In the coming weeks, we will do a reverse story: current financial institutions and what used to operate in those locations.

(NOTE: photos by Tim Jensen/Patch unless otherwise indicated)

WINDSOR LOCKS
As depicted in the 1964 Windsor Locks High School yearbook, one of the seven offices of the First National Bank of Windsor Locks was located on Route 75, near the Windsor town line. The current address is 29 Ella Grasso Turnpike. The building now houses Smoker's Discount World.

WINDSOR LOCKS
Prior to the early 1970s redevelopment of Main Street, a number of businesses were housed in the 70 block. Among them was Northern Connecticut National Bank, on the corner of Route 159 and Spring Street. The site is currently home to a small strip mall.

VERNON
For years, a former Bank of America branch in downtown Rockville sat unoccupied. Then in 2023, a transformation took place, with demolition of the existing buildings at 38 and 42 East Main Street and construction of a Dollar General store. Because it sits in a historic overlay zone, the new outlet was designed to fit in with its surroundings. It opened in Feb. 2024.

SOMERS
Bank of America closed its branch office at the corner of Routes 190 and 83 in June 2014. After several years of considerable opposition from local residents, town officials green-lit the construction of a Henny Penny gas station and convenience store in its place. It opened in 2019.

MANCHESTER
Dormant for a number of years, the former Bank of America branch at 14 North Main Street will soon be demolished. In its place will be a new structure, containing a mix of retail and residential space.

ENFIELD
The building at 9 Hazard Avenue, on the northeast corner of Route 190 and the southern access road to Enfield Square, has had an interesting and varied history since its construction in 1971. It was home to New England Bank & Trust for about three decades, then began an unusual series of changes of use in the 2000s. A Quiznos sandwich shop was there for a while, then a Starbucks coffee shop and a Subway franchise moved in. Subway departed in 2020, and Starbucks moved down the street a year later. Recently, the Octane Cannabis Dispensary opened its doors.

ENFIELD
Enfield Federal Savings and Loan was headquartered for many years at 660 Enfield Street, adjacent to the Enfield Plaza. It changed to Rockville Bank in 2007 and remained so until 2013. A few small businesses came and went since then, and in 2022, Mane Habitat moved there from its original location in Hazardville.

ENFIELD
Ironically, Main Street in Enfield, unlike most other towns in the country, is actually one of the shortest roads in town, with the Bigelow Commons apartment complex being the sole commercial entity currently in operation. Prior to the ill-fated "urban renewal" project of the mid- to late-1970s, the street was loaded with businesses, among them the First National Bank of Thompsonville. In recent years, the building housed Yankee Bait and Tackle, but has been vacant since shortly before the passing of business owner Guy Beaudoin in 2022 New owners plan to redevelop the parcel into a mixed-use commercial and residential site.

ENFIELD
Society For Savings was a longtime staple on Route 5, two doors down from Enfield Town Hall. Other banks came and went from this location, the last being Santander Bank. After it closed in May 2019, the site was vacant for a stretch, then the town of Enfield began leasing, and eventually purchased, the building for use as a satellite town hall known as the Enfield Express.

ENFIELD
A freestanding building at 561 Hazard Avenue in Scitico Plaza was unoccupied for nearly a decade after a Webster Bank branch moved out in 2014. O'Reilly Auto Parts bought the property in 2017, but demolition and construction were delayed for several years. The store finally opened in 2023.

ELLINGTON
A sprawling older farmhouse at the junction of Routes 83 and 140 became a financial institution in 1989, with the opening of a Tolland Bank branch. Over the next two decades, various names adorned the building, including New Alliance Bank, Enfield Federal Savings and United Bank. In 2017, the property was purchased by Don DiFiore, who opened a second location of DiFiore's Ravioli Shop three years later.

Some other locations for which we were unable to find old photos, just the current uses:

ENFIELD
Connecticut Bank & Trust had an office at 109 Elm Street for a considerable period of time, before it was acquired by AAA in 1992. The property was sold in 2022, and new owners opened a Golden Nozzle Car Wash.

ENFIELD
The First National Bank of Thompsonville briefly occupied a building at 23 North Main Street, on the corner of Church Street. It now houses the Enfield Loaves and Fishes soup kitchen.

ENFIELD
Formerly the First National Bank of Connecticut and then the Hamilton Sundstrand Credit Union, the building at 410 Enfield Street was sold in 2007 to Harry and Karen Bacopoulos. They promptly moved their thriving business, Baco's Pizza, from the corner of Washington and Brainard roads.

EAST WINDSOR
Known by several different names during its banking days, the structure at 124 Main Street in Broad Brook was purchased in 2015, and has been home to Paul's Package Store ever since.

EAST WINDSOR
Bank of America's branch at 81 Bridge Street in Warehouse Point was acquired in 2022 by the Warehouse Point Fire Department. It now serves as headquarters for the fire chief, fire marshal, fire inspectors and administrative assistant.