Alabama ONE Credit Union Mural
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Alabama mural artist Banks Compton designed and painted this large-scale exterior mural for Alabama ONE Credit Union's Alberta Branch in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Inspired by the history and identity of Alberta City, the mural brings together local landmarks, natural imagery, and pieces of neighborhood history to celebrate a community that has undergone tremendous change and revitalization.
Celebrating the History and Community of Alberta City
Project at a Glance
Client: Alabama ONE Credit Union
Location: Alberta City, Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Artist: Banks Compton
Project: Community Landmark Mural
Completed: 2023
Artwork: Exterior mural
Designing the Alabama ONE Mural
The design combines historic landmarks and natural imagery from Tuscaloosa and Alberta City.
Among the references incorporated into the mural are the former Leland Lanes bowling alley sign, the Black Warrior River, Tuscaloosa's historic truss bridge, water oak trees, and camellias, Alabama's state flower.
Historic imagery also references the West Alabama Fair, once held at the Jaycee Fairground in Alberta.
Rather than depicting a single moment in time, these elements were brought together into one composition that reflects different pieces of the area's history, landscape, and identity.
A Mural for Alberta City
When Alabama ONE opened its Branch and Resource Center in Alberta City, the organization wanted the building to reflect its commitment to the surrounding community.
The mural was created as a celebration of Alberta and Tuscaloosa, drawing inspiration from the neighborhood's history and incorporating recognizable imagery connected to the people and places that have shaped the area.
For Banks, the project was an opportunity to use public art as a form of local storytelling—turning the exterior of a financial institution into a visual tribute to the neighborhood it serves.
Building Community Through Public Art
The mural was commissioned as Alabama ONE continued investing in its Alberta City location and the surrounding community.
Alberta experienced significant destruction during the April 2011 tornado that devastated portions of Tuscaloosa. In the years since, redevelopment and community investment have played an important role in the neighborhood's recovery.
The Alabama ONE mural was intended to contribute to that sense of place and community pride by creating something highly visible that celebrated Alberta's identity rather than simply advertising the business occupying the building.
The completed mural was officially unveiled alongside Alabama ONE's Alberta Branch during a community ribbon-cutting event in February 2023.
When a Car Crashed Through the Mural
The mural's story took an unexpected turn in 2024 when a vehicle involved in a collision left University Boulevard and crashed directly through the exterior wall of Alabama ONE's Alberta Branch.
The impact destroyed a portion of both the building and the mural.
After the structural repairs were completed, Banks returned to the site to restore the damaged artwork. Recreating the missing section required matching the original composition and colors so that the repaired portion could blend back into the existing mural.
The restoration allowed the artwork—and the community story it represents—to remain part of the Alberta Branch.
A Tuscaloosa Landmark
Public murals have the ability to do more than decorate a building. They can preserve pieces of local history, create recognizable landmarks, and give communities another way to tell their stories.
The Alabama ONE mural was designed specifically for Alberta City. Its imagery could not simply be moved to another city or another building and carry the same meaning.
That site-specific approach is central to Banks' mural work throughout Alabama: researching the community, listening to the people connected to a project, and creating artwork that feels rooted in its location.
About Banks Compton
Banks Compton is an Alabama mural artist and RISD alumnus creating large-scale murals and public art throughout Alabama and across the United States. His work combines storytelling, local culture, history, nature, and site-specific imagery to create artwork that reflects the communities and environments in which it is located.
His murals can be found throughout Alabama in public spaces, libraries, businesses, entertainment venues, educational facilities, and community landmarks.
Looking for a Mural Artist in Tuscaloosa or Alabama?
Banks works with businesses, cities, institutions, developers, and community organizations to create custom murals and public artwork throughout Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the Southeast.
Each project begins with conversation, research, and collaboration to develop artwork that reflects the client's vision while creating a meaningful connection to the surrounding community.
