Puneet Varma (Editor)

Citizens Bank Financial Center

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Citizens Bank Financial Center is an architectural landmark in downtown Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It was designed by the architect D.H. Burnham and completed in 1913. It is one of Wilkes-Barre's most famous buildings and also one of its first skyscrapers.

The building is 13 stories high (the top story was added in 1926) and rises to a height of 170 ft. It was built as the headquarters for the Miner's National Bank but over the years has had a number of owners, including the United Penn Bank and Mellon Bank. The building features a recess, giving it an "H" shape. Atop the second floor, a sculpture of a nesting eagle and a flag pole can be seen from the Franklin Street side of the building. A frieze at the top of the building is decorated with lion heads and a number of interesting embellishments can be seen climbing the facade.

In 1912, an illuminated sign was placed atop the building by the Miner's National Bank. The building's subsequent owners have allowed the sign to remain, and to this day the green "Citizens Bank" sign sits at more than 200 ft above street level. In 2013, Citizens Bank moved from the building after more than a decade, and while the building now houses offices and apartments, the Citizens Bank sign remains, considered a landmark by Wilkes-Barre's residents.

References

Citizens Bank Financial Center Wikipedia