William Alvord (January 3, 1833 – December 21, 1904) was an American merchant, banker and political leader in San Francisco.

[1] In San Francisco he established a wholesale hardware importing business, later forming a partnership with Richard Patrick.

A portrait of Alvord by Benoni Irwin, circa 1872, is in the collection of the Smithsonian American Art Museum.

[1] Upon the retirement of Darius Ogden Mills as president of the Bank of California in 1878, Alvord was elected his successor.

[3] Alvord remained president of the Bank of California until his death in San Francisco of heart failure due to bronchial troubles.