Atlantic Union Bank Donates Historic Sandy Spring Bank Building to Sandy Spring Museum
First National Bank directors, 1909. Photo credit: Sandy Spring Museum Digital Archives.
Atlantic Union Bank and Sandy Spring Museum today announced Atlantic Union Bank will donate the historic Sandy Spring Bank building located at 908 Olney Sandy Spring Road in Sandy Spring, Maryland to the museum.
The gift also includes the bank’s historic archives and a $100,000 contribution to support the museum’s mission to preserve historic information and related artifacts that protect the region’s history.
Nathalia Artus, Head of Community Impact, Atlantic Union Bank, said, “We are proud to help preserve a landmark that represents more than a century of community history in Sandy Spring. By donating the historic Sandy Spring Bank building and its archives to the Sandy Spring Museum, we hope to expand access to these stories and support the museum’s work to protect and share the region’s cultural heritage for generations to come.”
Allison Weiss, Executive Director of the Sandy Spring Museum states, “The museum is taking immediate steps to protect the historic integrity and security of the bank building while also exploring how it can be thoughtfully integrated into the museum’s mission to serve the community and preserve cultural heritage. This project reflects a strong partnership among the museum, donors, local businesses, and community members. We are deeply grateful to our supporters and Board of Trustees for their commitment to sustaining the building and supporting its future use.”
The donation also included Sandy Spring Bank’s historic bank archives that span from 1868 through 1972 and measured approximately 62 linear feet. More than 400 bound volumes document all aspects of banking, from everyday operations to navigation of crises like the Financial Panic of 1893. The archives document the bank’s commitment to serving women and African Americans. Early records show that 30 of the first 123 depositors were members of the local African American community. Married women such as Mary Bentley Thomas and Anna Leggett Moore were also among the bank’s earliest independent depositors, a first in Maryland. Over 2,000 mortgage files reveal poignant stories like Rebecca Viers, who used a bank loan in 1883 to build independence and business success despite gender-based legal constraints.
Sandy Spring Bank was rooted in the rural Quaker community of Sandy Spring, Maryland. Founded in 1868 as the Savings Institution of Sandy Spring, it was created by local farmers who wanted a safe place to deposit money and access loans within their own community. For decades, the bank remained small and locally focused, helping finance farms, homes, and community institutions. Its mission reflected the Quaker values of trust, stability, and mutual support that shaped the area. In the late 20th century, Sandy Spring Bank began expanding beyond its original villages through acquisitions and new branches, evolving into a full-service regional bank serving Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C. It grew into one of the largest community banking institutions headquartered in the region. After more than 150 years of independent operation, the bank entered a new chapter in 2025 when it was acquired by Atlantic Union Bank with a renewed commitment to support the Sandy Spring community.
