A.P. Giannini established the Bank of Italy in SF 1904, which later became Bank of America. He helped to bring banking to the masses, and helped California be independent of outside investors. There is a Statue of Giannani near the entrance of the Golden Gate Bridge, alongside a statue of the bridges architect. The other banks thought the financing of the Golden Gate was too risky, and Giannini stepped up and took on the financing challenge. During the Great Depression of the 1920s and 30s, he refused to foreclose on property owners who could not pay the property tax payment.
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