As large a corporation as Bank of America is, its roots lie in the local communities it serves. The predecessors of today's Bank of America are part of the history of this country. One of Bank of America's predecessor banks was The Massachusetts Bank. Founded in 1784, it was the first nationally chartered bank in America. Helping to build the New England economy, the bank financed the first American trade ships to sail to China and Argentina, and also invested heavily in what was to become America's Industrial Revolution.

In nearby Rhode Island, the Providence Bank was founded just eight years later. Also destined to one day become part of Bank of America, the Providence Bank helped fund the Erie Canal.

Another predecessor was Bank America, founded in the early 19th century in San Francisco by A.P. Giannini. Following the earthquake and fire of 1906, Giannini was one of the few bankers to immediately begin dispensing loans to small businesses and private individuals, allowing them to rebuild. Giannini and his bank are credited with creating such things as the home mortagage and the auto loan. He later helped finance the California wine industry, along with the budding Hollywood movie industry.

As one of Main Street Winter Haven's generous benefactors, Bank of America is committed to the Winter Haven community it serves, and the revitalization of downtown. "We believe in downtown, and community revitalization," says David Hurd, spokesman for Bank of America. "There's a lot of history to be preserved in Winter Haven. It's a great community, and we want to be a part of it."