East River Savings Bank (former)

East River Savings Bank sits in the small world of Lower Manhattan tourist spots, its old stone façade recalling the days when Cortlandt Street was a banking lane. Built in the early twentieth century, the building once handled the daily flow of deposits, mortgages, and traveler’s checks for locals and visitors alike. A stroll down Cortlandt today keeps the past close; the address—26 Cortlandt St New York, NY 10007—marks a quiet corner between the skyscrapers and the river. Architectural curiosity brings curious passersby inside the lobby, where marble counters and teller windows still stand as they did a century ago. Visitors pause to photograph the vault and the original iron gates, then linger over the brass plaques that list former directors and interest rates from the 1920s. The space doubles as a mini museum, open during regular business hours without an appointment needed. If you want to speak with the building manager about access or tours, you can call 212-233-1188. Before heading back toward the waterfront, check the map for exact directions: directions put you on Cortlandt in minutes, threading between the new One World Trade and the surviving low-rise storefronts that once housed the bank’s neighbors.