I Got A Meeting In The Ladies Room ...
I'll Be Back Real Soon ... 

I am intrigued about the concept of a Women's Lounge in a bank. Apparently, from roughly 1915 through the 1940s it was not unusual for a bank to provide a dedicated private space for its female customers.

I came across a brochure in the Archives, issued by Wells Fargo Bank & Union Trust Company (Wells Fargo's formal name from 1924-50), entitled "To Our Women Customers." The pamphlet reads, "The Women's Lounge on the third floor, is a place to rest, relax, and meet your friends. We invite you to use it."

Imagine ... an exclusive, attractively decorated space in a secure building where women can gather to relax, rest, and socialize after they do their banking. No minimum drink purchase required! This concept was not exclusive to Wells Fargo. I found examples of other banks that also provided such amenities for female customers.

On Sunday, May 30, 1915, the Omaha (Neb.) Daily News ran a story on the new United States National Bank building that featured an exclusive ladies room:

It is intended for the use of the patrons of the bank and is furnished luxuriously ... This is an innovation in banking methods that has recently come into rather general practice, to provide separate departments for the care of women.

The Northwestern National Bank of Minneapolis offered a "Ladies Lounge" in its main banking area and printed checks that featured "Women's Department."

These days, your local Wells Fargo store may not have an exclusive women's lounge. However, it is nice to know that they still have dedicated financial services for women. Just in case any bank executives happen to read this ... bring back the Women's Lounge, please! (Perhaps with a martini bar?)

Ladies—are you with me?