William Boyd Barnett opened the Bank of Jacksonville (Florida) on May 7, 1877. In 1888, the bank was renamed the National Bank of Jacksonville. Upon William B. Barnett's death in 1903, son Bion Hall Barnett was named President. In 1908, the bank was rechartered as the Barnett National Bank of Jacksonville. Other name changes occurred in: 1965-70, Barnett First National Bank of Jacksonville; 1971-1996, Barnett Bank of Jacksonville, N.A.; and 1996-98, Barnett Bank, N.A. In 1996, all Barnett affiliates merged into the charter of Barnett Bank of Jacksonville, N.A., and were also renamed Barnett Bank, N.A.
In 1930, a bank holding company, Barnett National Securities Corporation (BNSC), was formed as a subsidiary of Barnett National Bank of Jacksonville. In 1966, as the BNSC prepared to expand statewide, it became the parent company of the Jacksonville bank. Two name changes followed: in 1969, Barnett Banks of Florida, Inc.; and in 1987, Barnett Banks, Inc. The bank system was purchased by NationsBank in January 1998.
From the guide to the Barnett Banks Collection, 1920-2009, (1970-1996), (Thomas G. Carpenter Library, University of North Florida)
