Mason City, Iowa: Bank John Dillinger Robbed

Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson, and their posse robbed the First National Bank of Mason City in March, 1934. Now an office building, but the bank name is still bolted to the exterior.

Address:: 5 N. Federal Ave., Mason City, IA
Directions:: On the northeast corner of W. State St. and N. Federal Ave. Now an apartment complex but the bank name is visible on the building.

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Bank robbery sign.

Bank John Dillinger Robbed

There is now a small sign across the street that shares the significance of the building.

[Clark W, 05/12/2021]

First National Bank Building.

Bank John Dillinger Robbed

Artifacts of the robbery of the First National Bank (corner of Federal Ave and State St) are in nonpublic rooms of the public library and include bulletproof glass from guard's cage (with pock marks), .45 cartridge dropped by bandit and tacks left on road by exiting bandit car, to discourage pursuit.

You can also read the contemporary report in the local newspaper (Globe Gazette) on microfilm at the library.

[Eric Rachut, 10/30/2009]

May 2021: Photo added.

Bank Jesse James robbed.

Bank John Dillinger Robbed

Dillinger, Baby Face Nelson and their posse robbed the First National Bank of Mason City in March, 1934. They expected to get $240,000, but because of a teller who deftly handed the robbers stacks of $1s, they only made out with $52,000. Whoops.

Bank is no longer a bank -- it's now the City Center/Kent apartments. But the building still bears the First National Bank name.

[Stacy, 08/01/2008]