Construction of "The Bank" building began June 27, 1913 and took about a year to complete. The thick cement walls were poured by laborers pushing wheelbarrows up ramps and along scaffolding under the direction of the Remington Co. of Los Angeles. Long tie rods, threaded on each end with washer steel plates, were run through the building between the 2 stories and the nuts tightened for safety on the second story. The walls of the building and the vault measure 18 inches thick. On March 27, 1914, the project was completed.

Bank Management
During its thirty-year tenure, The Bank was managed by Shumate, Ed Greenfield, Jack Chisolm, John Booge, and Bob Sartin. Maahlon Vail, who controlled the majority of stock, referred to it as the "hock shop". Loans were limited to $2,500 regardless of the applicant and/or his collateral.

The Holdup
On August 13, 1930, while Chisolm was manager, the bank was held up by Miguel Diaz. Since the very shrewd manager anticipated a robbery attempt at sometime, he had handy a .38 automatic pistol and screwdriver in his desk. So when Diaz took the money ($4,800), he ordered Chisolm and Miss Agnus Freeman, a teller, into the vault. Chisolm succeeded in jamming the door sufficiently to keep it from locking. Diaz took off in a Model A Ford™ Coupe with a canvas top and headed north. Manager Chisolm, with the help of a local rancher named McSweeney, captured Diaz and who was sent to prison. It is believed, before the capture, a gunfight broke out in the middle of the bank. Shots were fired, and the results of those shots can still be seen on the front window today—2 small bullet holes remain after more than 75 years. However, this has not been verified.

The Closing of the Bank
The First National Bank of Temecula has endured a long and useful life, as well as its share of crisis; the depression of the thirties, a bank shortage in the forties, and WWII—when the bank finally shut its doors. The building remained empty until 1965 when it was purchased by Bob and Jean Reininger and turned into an antique shop, "Sign of the Pitcher". The Bank was carefully refurbished by David Covarrubias and took a new lease on life as an authentic, home-style Mexican restaurant that has been serving delicious Mexican food since 1978.

New Ownership
In 2007, David and Artemisa Covarrubias sold the restaurant to Craig and Christy Puma, who have chosen to continue the tradition of family dining started by David and his wife. It will remain The Bank of Mexican Food, but will always be known as "The Bank"!  Upgrading and redecoration will be ongoing. The Pumas took over operation of The Bank on February 20, 2007.

Come join us at our Mexican restaurant and see Temecula's
historical Old Town while eating at The Bank!