Chinese American Bank

The building you are approaching at 58 Bowery is a landmark of Beaux Arts design that has stood at the edge of Chinatown since 1924. Originally constructed for the Citizens Savings Bank, its architecture was specifically intended to project total financial security to working class depositors. The building features an enormous arched window and a copper dome, both designed to serve as a prominent visual anchor for pedestrians and transit passengers near the Manhattan Bridge. Embedded in the stone cornice of the facade are intricate sculptures by Charles Keck, including an eagle, beehives, and figures of a seaman and a Native American. These symbols were chosen to represent thrift and stability, communicating the institution's values to every passerby. For decades, the structure operated as a bank, eventually transitioning through several different financial owners over the course of the twentieth century. In 2025, the building entered a new phase when it was purchased by the family of fashion designer Alexander Wang. This acquisition marked the first time in the property's hundred year history that it has been owned by a Chinese American family. Today, the space has been repurposed as a cultural hub for art and design, serving as a platform for Asian and Asian American creativity.