Casa matriz del Banco del Estado de Chile

Casa matriz del Banco del Estado de Chile stands at the corner of Avenida Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins and Morandé Street, adjacent to Plaza de la Ciudadanía. The structure spans 75,000 square meters across 11 floors and functions as the main operations center for the country's primary state banking institution.

Construction began in September 1944 and was completed in 1952, with the building originally named the National Savings Bank Building. It became the headquarters of Banco del Estado de Chile in 1953 following an institutional merger.

The building houses the Savings Museum, opened in 1992, and the Antonio Varas Gallery, where art exhibitions are displayed. These spaces welcome visitors and reflect the institution's broader cultural role beyond banking operations.

The building sits in the heart of Santiago's civic district in an active business area, making it convenient for visitors interested in exploring its cultural facilities. Its location near a major public plaza makes it easy to find and accessible by public transportation.

During construction in 1952, a scaffolding collapse at a height of 35 meters resulted in 10 worker deaths, a tragic event marked by a large memorial service at Santiago General Cemetery. This accident remains largely unspoken about today but forms part of the building's deeper history.