The Barclays Group of Banks, Britain's largest overseas banking organization today (Dec. 2) opened its first West coast bank in San Francisco. Located at 111 Pine Street in the city's newest office building, the new bank is called Barclays Bank of California.

City Attorney Thomas O'Conner opens the bank with a ribbon cutting ceremony. Frederic Seebohm, chairman of Barclays, and A.G. Fleming, president of the new bank, receive congratulations from O'Conner, civic officials and downtown business leaders.

John A. O'Kane, state superintendent of banks, presents Fleming with his license to open--which turns out to be exactly number one thousand.

Barclays Bank of California will offer a full range of banking services. Its parent banks have over 14 hundred offices in 42 countries on five continents. The new bank in San Francisco is the only bank of the Barclays Group on the West coast.

President Fleming takes the group on a tour of the vaults and explains the special security features.

The Black Spread Eagle, Barclays symbol for three centuries, suggests the vast network that reaches out from 54 Lombard Street, London.

(Suggested lead: A famous three hundred year old British banking firm opens a new bank in San Francisco.)