Fidelity and Deposit Company
| Company type | Trust institution |
|---|---|
| Industry | Financial services |
| Founded | 1890 |
| Founder | Edwin Warfield |
| Headquarters | Baltimore , United States |
| Products | Trust services |
The Fidelity and Deposit Company operates as a trust institution headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland. Established in 1890 by Edwin Warfield, it has also been known as the Fidelity and Deposit Trust Company of Maryland and the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Baltimore.
Founding
The company was created in 1890 by Edwin Warfield, who held the position of president until his passing in 1920. Warfield brought valuable leadership experience from his tenure as the 45th governor of Maryland. In 1902, Fidelity and Deposit collaborated with two other prominent Baltimore surety firms—the United States Fidelity and Guaranty Company and American Bonding and Trust Company—to form a pact aimed at preventing bond rate reductions, a strategy expected to impact markets beyond the Baltimore area. Additionally, the Fidelity and Deposit Company of Baltimore was established in 1892.
Fidelity Building
In 1894, the company set up its main office in the Fidelity Building, a granite skyscraper rising 15 stories and measuring 67 meters, situated at the intersection of North Charles and West Lexington Streets within Baltimore's downtown business district. The building was designed by the well-known local architectural firm Baldwin & Pennington, led by Ephraim Francis Baldwin and Josias Pennington, who were also recognized for their work with the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. Initially, the structure consisted of eight floors featuring a grey granite exterior, a corner cupola tower, and a mansard roof.
Thanks to its position on the northwest boundary of the February 1904 Great Baltimore Fire, the building survived the disaster. Between 1912 and 1915, under Warfield's continued leadership as founder and president, it underwent major enlargement. Seven additional stories were added to accommodate the company's expansion, bringing the total to fifteen floors. The new upper levels were adorned with terra-cotta finishes that harmonized with the original design elements.