The New Hampshire Bank opened on this site in 1782, and after the great fire of 1802 the present building at 22 and 26 Market Square was built in 1803 in the Federal style. The building housed the New Hampshire Bank from 1803 to 1842, the Portsmouth Savings Bank from 1823 to about 1950, the Piscataqua Bank from 1842 to 1863, the Piscataqua Exchange Bank from 1844 to 1863, the First National Bank of Portsmouth from 1863 to about 1950, and the Portsmouth Trust Company from about 1950 to 1977. Around 1869 it was divided into two separate banks. In 1882 the front facade was expanded forward and modernized into an Italianate Renaissance Revival design. In 1903 the exterior at 22 Market Square was renovated again into its present Greek Revival limestone facade with Ionic order columns, and above the black and green marble lobby an impressive leaded and stained glass dome depicting the Great Seal of New Hampshire was installed. In 1904 the exterior of 26 Market was also renovated to create an asymmetrical Beaux Arts style facade of pink Conway granite, while the Renaissance Revival entry steps of 26 Market Square were left in place. Both buildings have remained largely unchanged since 1904, and the second-floor office over 26 Market was once the law office of future President Franklin Pierce. The property was restored by James A. Shanley in 1977 and 1978 and was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1979.
