A photo taken in the early 1960s of the Officers, Board of Directors and tellers at
The Slovan Building & Loan Association • 4529 Pennington Avenue in Curtis Bay

Local merchants and those fortunate to have funds to deposit founded the association in the early 1920's, originally meeting at Sokol's Hall on Cherry Street, they incorporated in 1925. About 1960 they bought and renovated Frank Bernat's Grocery Store at 4529 Pennington Ave (Corner of Pennington & Elmtree) where they were open for business every Tuesday from 7 to 9pm. 

Slovan's original goal and mission was to assist newly arriving immigrants in Curtis Bay to become homeowners and promoting those already established in building trade in making affordable home-ownership a reality. 

The Savings & Loan kept normal hours for depositors and members meeting and never missed openings or ceased normal operations even during the Stock Market Crash and Bank Failures of The Great Depression (1929-31). 

Slovan operated at it's only location in Curtis Bay until the mid 1980's when it was forced to merge and cease operations due to the failure of the MSSIC (Maryland Savings Share Insurance Corporation), caused by Jeffery Levitt's (Old Court) Savings & Loan Scandal here in Maryland. 

Note: The flowers (in the photo) always present in the lobby, gifts from appreciative borrowers who's home and loan was made possible Slovan Bldg. & Loan. My how times have changed! Just imagine what things could be accomplished by people and communities working together .. .. .. "if people today they still had or made the time?" 

Written and submitted by Frank Bittner