First National Bank of Oneida

About this location

A few stories people tell about this place

1. At night, when the First National Bank of Oneida closed its doors, a young boy passing by noticed something odd. Every week, an old delivery driver would pull up in his truck, but instead of leaving, he’d sit there for hours, whispering into the empty lobby. Finally curious, the boy peeked inside and saw only dusty counters and forgotten coins. The man never left, just whispered softly into the air. Turns out, he was talking to his dog back home, who loved listening to stories through the phone’s speaker. When asked later, everyone agreed it was one of those strange yet charming Oneida traditions.

2. One day, a delivery driver asked curiously: ‘Why does the First National Bank of Oneida always leave one light on after closing?’ No one knew for sure, but every morning, that single glowing bulb seemed to wink back at us. Finally, an old janitor confessed with a twinkle in his eye: ‘That’s our secret signal to thieves—we’re closed!’ Everyone burst out laughing, realizing it was just an innocent prank. The light stayed on as a friendly reminder that sometimes banks can be as quirky as their neighbors.

3. At closing time, an old man walked into the First National Bank of Oneida and calmly announced over the intercom: 'Ladies and gentlemen, please be advised that as of today, our bank has decided to change its hours.' After a brief pause, he continued: ‘We’re now open until six o’clock.’ Everyone laughed, including the tellers who were just about to lock up. The old man smiled and added, ‘And don’t forget to deposit your paychecks before they close!’

4. At closing time, an old man walked into the First National Bank of Oneida and calmly announced over the intercom: 'Ladies and gentlemen, your bank is now officially out of quarters.' The bank manager looked puzzled but then smiled. ‘We’ll get right on that,’ he said, pressing a button. Within minutes, a young delivery driver appeared with a fresh box of quarters. The old man nodded approvingly, took one last quarter from the box, and left. As he exited, someone in the bank whispered, “He must be the Quarter King.”