ABN AMRO Holding NV | Dutch Banking, Financial Services, Retail Banking

ABN AMRO Holding NV, holding company of the Dutch bank ABN AMRO Bank NV. Headquarters are in Amsterdam. Its origins date to 1824 when King William I of the Netherlands issued a royal decree that established the Netherlands Trading Society (Nederlandsche Handel-Maatschappij; NHM) in order to

ABN AMRO Holding NV

American Express Company | History & Facts

American Express Company, American financial corporation that primarily issues credit cards, processes payments, and provides travel-related services worldwide. Headquarters are in New York. The original company was founded on March 18, 1850, through the consolidation of three companies active in

American Express Company, American credit card issuer and payments processor.

American Express Company

Al-Maṣrif al-ʿArabī lil-Tanmiyah al-Iqtiṣādī fī Ifrīqiyyā, BADEA, Banque Arabe pour le Développement Économique en Afrique

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa | African Development, Investment & Trade

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, bank created by the Arab League summit conference in Algiers in November 1973 to finance development projects in Africa. In 1975 BADEA began operating by supplying African countries, excluding members of the Arab League, with technical assistance, which

Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa

Arthur Andersen | Accounting Firm, Enron Scandal & Legacy

Arthur Andersen, Arthur Andersen LLP was one of the largest public accounting firms in the 1990s, with more than 85,000 employees operating in 84 countries. During the last decade of the partnership’s life, auditors at several regional offices failed to detect, ignored, or approved accounting

Arthur Andersen

Banco do Brasil SA

Banco do Brasil | State-Owned, Financial Services, Banking

Banco do Brasil, government-owned Brazilian bank, operating primarily in Brazil but with offices in more than 20 foreign countries. Headquarters are in Brasília. The bank was established in 1808 by the Portuguese regent Dom John (later John VI) after he and his court had fled to Brazil to escape

Banco do Brasil

BSCH SA, Banco Santander Central Hispano, SA

Banco Santander, SA | Banking, Investment, Financing

Banco Santander, SA, leading financial group in Spain and one of the largest in Europe. It offers services in traditional commercial banking, private banking, investment banking, treasury, and asset management. Headquarters are in Madrid. BSCH was formed as a result of the 1999 merger of Banco

Banco Santander, SA

Bank of America Corporation, BankAmerica Corporation

Bank of America | History, Services, Acquisitions, & Facts

Bank of America, one of the largest banking and financial services brands and corporations in the United States. It was formed through NationsBank’s acquisition of BankAmerica in 1998. Bank of America is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The bank’s history dates to 1904 when Amadeo Peter

Bank of America, one of the largest banking and financial services corporations in the United States.

Bank of America

Bank of Boston, N.A., BankBoston Corporation

Bank of Boston Corporation | Financial Services, Investment Banking, Mergers & Acquisitions

Bank of Boston Corporation, former American bank holding company that was acquired by Fleet Financial Group in 1999. The bank, one of the oldest in the United States, was originally chartered in 1784 as the Massachusetts Bank. In 1903 it merged with the First National Bank of Boston (established in

Bank of Boston Corporation

Bank of Canada | Central Bank, Monetary Policy, Interest Rates

Bank of Canada, Canada’s central bank, established under the Bank of Canada Act (1934). It was founded during the Great Depression to regulate credit and currency. The bank commenced operations on March 11, 1935. It not only acts as the fiscal agent for the Canadian government but also has the sole

Bank of Canada

Bank One | Financial Services, Banking & Investment

Bank One, Former U.S. bank holding company that merged with J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. in 2004. Bank One had been created through the 1998 merger of First Chicago NBD Corp. and Banc One. Although the 1998 merger created one of the country’s largest banks, it performed poorly until Jamie Dimon, a

Bank One

Bank of France

Banque de France | Central Bank, Monetary Policy, Eurozone

Banque de France, national bank of France, created in 1800 to restore confidence in the French banking system after the financial upheavals of the revolutionary period. Headquarters are in Paris. The bank listed among its founding shareholders Napoleon Bonaparte, members of his family, and several

Banque de France

Barclays PLC | Financial Services, Investment Banking, Retail Banking

Barclays PLC, British banking and trust firm registered July 20, 1896, under the name Barclay & Co. Ltd. and assuming the name Barclays Bank Ltd. in 1917. It was converted into a public limited company in 1981. The largest commercial banking concern in the United Kingdom, Barclays Bank operates

Barclays PLC

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria

BBVA SA | Banking, Investment, Insurance

BBVA SA, Spanish financial group with its strength lying in the traditional business of retail banking, asset management, insurance, private banking, and wholesale banking. Headquarters are in Madrid. BBVA is the result of the 1999 merger of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya (BBV) and Banco Argentaria. BBV was

BBVA SA

Berkshire Hathaway | Overview, History, Stock, & Facts

Berkshire Hathaway is an American holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska, led by billionaire investor Warren Buffett. The company, categorized under the financials sector and reinsurance industry, owns dozens of companies across various sectors and industries, including insurance, utilities,

Berkshire Hathaway, American holding company based in Omaha, Nebraska, that serves as an investment vehicle for Warren Buffett. As of 2023, it’s one of the top 10 largest corporations, measured by market cap, in the United States. Learn more about Berkshire Hathaway, including its history.

Berkshire Hathaway

BNP Paribas | international, banking, finance

BNP Paribas, French banking, financial services, and insurance company created through the 1999 merger of Banque Nationale de Paris (BNP) and Paribas. Its headquarters are in Paris. The company traces its history to a number of French banks. These include Banque Nationale pour le Commerce et

BNP Paribas

CIBC

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | Financial Services, Banking, Investment

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, major commercial banking company operating in Canada and other countries. Headquarters are in Toronto. The bank was established in 1858 as the Bank of Canada and reorganized in 1867 as the Canadian Bank of Commerce. The present name was assumed upon the merger in

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce in Montreal

Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce

Chemical Banking Corporation | Merger, Acquisition, Rebranding

Chemical Banking Corporation, former American bank holding company that merged with The Chase Manhattan Corporation in 1996. The holding company’s principal subsidiary was Chemical Bank, which was chartered in 1824 in New York City as a division of the New York Chemical Manufacturing Company.

Chemical Banking Corporation

CHX, Midwest Stock Exchange

Chicago Stock Exchange (CHX)

Chicago Stock Exchange (CHX), largest of the regional stock exchanges in the United States. The Chicago Stock Exchange was founded in 1882 to trade primarily local securities, particularly stocks and bonds of utility, banking, and railroad companies. In 1949 the exchange merged with those of St.

Chicago Stock Exchange

Christie’s International PLC, Christie, Manson & Woods Ltd.

Christie’s | History, Art Sales, & Facts

Christie’s, British auction firm especially known for the sale of art. It was founded by James Christie in London in 1766 and became one of the world’s leading auction houses. Christie became a friend of such artists and craftsmen as Thomas Gainsborough, Sir Joshua Reynolds, and Thomas Chippendale,

Christie’s, British auction firm known for the sale of art. It was founded by James Christie in London in 1766 and became one of the world’s leading auction houses. Read more about its history, including its record sale of Salvator Mundi, a painting attributed to Leonardo da Vinci.

Christie’s

Citigroup | American Financial Conglomerate

Citigroup, American financial services corporation formed in 1998 from the merger of Citicorp (itself a holding company incorporated in 1967) and Travelers Group, Inc. Its headquarters are in New York City. Citigroup’s origins date to the early 19th century. In 1811 the U.S. Congress refused to

Citigroup

Commerzbank AG | German Banking, Financial Services, Investment Banking

Commerzbank AG, major commercial bank in Germany with branches and associates in domestic and foreign finance and banking. Headquarters are in Frankfurt. The bank was established in 1870 as the Commerz- und Disconto-Bank in Hamburg. After two name changes, the bank split into three separate

Commerzbank AG

Crédit Lyonnais, Le (LCL)

Crédit Lyonnais, Le (LCL), major French commercial bank noted for providing financial services throughout the world and for aggressive acquisitions in the late 20th century. The bank is headquartered in Paris. Originally called Crédit Lyonnais, it was founded by Henri Germain on July 6, 1863, in

Crédit Lyonnais, Le

Dai-Ichi Kangyō Bank | Japanese Banking, Financial Services, Mergers & Acquisitions

Dai-Ichi Kangyō Bank, one of three Japanese banks that merged in 2000 to create the Mizuho Financial Group. Once one of the largest commercial banks in Japan, with branches there and operations in 30 other countries, Dai-Ichi had been established in 1971 through the merger of Dai Ichi Bank Ltd.

Dai-Ichi Kangyō Bank

Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft

Deutsche Bank AG | Investment Banking, Global Markets & Financial Services

Deutsche Bank AG, German banking house founded in 1870 in Berlin and headquartered since 1957 in Frankfurt am Main. One of the world’s largest banks, it has a number of foreign offices and has acquired controlling interests in several foreign banks in Europe, North and South America, and Australia.

Deutsche Bank AG

Dresdner Bank AG | Financial Services, Investment Banking & Private Banking

Dresdner Bank AG, commercial bank based in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, with operations in more than 70 countries. It was established in 1872 in Dresden as Dresdner Bank, and in 1884 its main office was relocated to Berlin. In 1952 the bank was split into three: Rhein-Main Bank AG, Hamburger

Dresdner Bank AG

First Bank System, Inc. | Financial Services, Banking & Investment

First Bank System, Inc., American bank holding company. Its major subsidiary is the First National Bank of Minneapolis. Headquarters for both are in Minneapolis, Minn. The corporation was originally formed as the First Bank Stock Corporation in 1929 and adopted its present name in 1968. The bank 

First Bank System, Inc.

Firstamerica Corporation, Western Bancorporation

First Interstate Bancorp | Financial Services, Banking, Investment

First Interstate Bancorp, once one of the largest American multibank holding corporations. The corporation was formed in 1957 as Firstamerica Corporation and started operations in 1958 when it acquired all of the directly held shares of Transamerica Corporation’s stock in banks in which

First Interstate Bancorp

Massachusetts Bank

First National Bank of Boston | Bank, Subsidiary & American

First National Bank of Boston, major American commercial bank with branch and representative offices in the United States and abroad. It is the principal subsidiary of the Bank of Boston Corporation

First National Bank of Boston

First National Bank of Chicago | Bank, Subsidiary, & Holding Company

First National Bank of Chicago, major American commercial bank formed in 1863, leading subsidiary of First Chicago NBD Corporation, a holding

First National Bank of Chicago

First National Bank of Minneapolis | Bank, Subsidiary, & Holding Company

First National Bank of Minneapolis, major U.S. commercial bank founded in 1864, now the main subsidiary of First Bank System, Inc. (q.v.), a bank holding

First National Bank of Minneapolis

FCFC, First City Bancorporation of Texas, Inc., FirstCity Financial Corporation

FirstCity (FCFC)

FirstCity (FCFC), American financial-services company founded in 1950 as the bank holding company First City Bancorporation of Texas, Inc. Headquarters are in Waco, Texas. First City Bancorporation provided managerial direction, financial resource coordination, and advisory services for its various

FirstCity

Yasuda Bank

Fuji Bank | Financial Services, Banking & Investment

Fuji Bank, former Japanese bank, and one of Japan’s largest commercial banks, that had built a network of offices, affiliates, and subsidiaries in Japan and overseas before it merged into the Mizuho Financial Group. Fuji Bank originated from a money-lending operation established in the 1860s by

Fuji Bank

Grameen Bank | microfinance, poverty alleviation, rural development

Grameen Bank, Bangladeshi bank founded by economist Muhammad Yunus as a means of providing small loans to poor individuals (see microcredit). In 2006 Grameen and Yunus were awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. The Grameen (Bengali: “Rural”) model, devised by Yunus in 1976, is based on groups of five

Grameen Bank

Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation

HSBC Holdings PLC | Multinational banking, Financial services, Global investments

HSBC Holdings PLC, bank holding company based in London that originated as the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation, Ltd., in 1865, with offices in Hong Kong, Shanghai, and London. It was established at a time of growing trade between China, India, and Europe. Before the close of the 19th

HSBC Holdings PLC

Nippon Kōgyō Ginkō

Industrial Bank of Japan | Finance, Investment & History

Industrial Bank of Japan, former Japanese commercial bank that operated a general-banking and foreign-exchange business with branches in Japan and overseas. Established in 1902, the bank had specialized in medium- and long-term financing of industrial development, and both its main office and its

Industrial Bank of Japan

ING Groep NV, Internationale Nederlanden Groep NV

ING Group NV | Banking, Insurance, Investment

ING Group NV, global financial institution of Dutch origin that provides services in banking, insurance, and asset management. It is the Netherlands’ largest financial services company. Headquarters are in Amsterdam. ING Group was created as Internationale Nederlanden Groep (“International

ING Group NV

J.P. Morgan and Company, Inc.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. | Financial services, Investment banking, Asset management

JPMorgan Chase & Co., American banking and financial services company formed through the December 2000 merger of J.P. Morgan & Co. and The Chase Manhattan Corporation. It is headquartered in New York City. The Morgan branch of the corporation traces its history to J.P. Morgan and Company, Inc.

JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co.

LBG, Lloyds Bank Ltd., Lloyds TSB Group PLC

Lloyds Banking Group | UK Retail Banking, Financial Services

Lloyds Banking Group, one of the largest comprehensive commercial banks in the United Kingdom, with subsidiary banks in other countries. It is also a major insurance company. Lloyds Banking Group is headquartered in London. The bank was established as Taylor and Lloyd in 1765 and renamed Lloyds and

Lloyds Banking Group

Lloyd’s of London, Society of Lloyd’s

Lloyd’s | History, Services & Claims

Lloyd’s, international insurance marketing association in London, known for insuring unusual items and distinguished by its affluent members (individuals, partnerships, and corporate groups) who underwrite and accept insurance for their own account and risk. The corporation—which provides generally

An insurance broker and underwriter conducting business at Lloyd's.

Lloyd’s

Mellon Bank Corporation

Mellon Financial Corporation | Investment Banking, Wealth Management & Asset Management

Mellon Financial Corporation, American bank holding company whose principal subsidiary, Mellon Bank, has been one of the largest regional banks in the country. Its headquarters are in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The original bank, T. Mellon and Sons Bank, was founded in 1869 by Thomas Mellon

Mellon Financial Corporation

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. | Investment Banking, Financial Services, Wealth Management

Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., American financial-services holding company whose principal subsidiary, Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc., is the largest retail brokerage house in the United States. Headquarters are in New York City. In 1914 Charles E. Merrill, a bond dealer, founded a small

Merrill Lynch &amp; Co., Inc.

Midland Bank PLC | Mergers & Acquisitions, Financial Services, Banking

Midland Bank PLC, former British bank, once one of the largest in the world, that became part of HSBC Holdings in 1992. The bank was established as the Birmingham and Midland Bank in Birmingham in 1836. After absorbing several banks in the Midlands, it entered London by merging with the Central

Midland Bank PLC

Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd., Tōkyō-Mitsubishi Ginkō

Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group | Global Banking, Financial Services & Investment

Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group, major Japanese banking and financial institution, headquartered in Tokyo, that was formed through the merger of three leading Japanese banks in 2001. Its origins date to 1880 through the Yokohama Specie Bank, an international bank specializing in foreign exchange.

Mitsubishi Tokyo Financial Group

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. | Japanese Banking, Financial Services, Investment Banking

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc., Japanese bank holding company, one of the largest in the world in terms of assets, which exceeded $1 billion when it was founded. Mizuho originated in September 2000 with the mergers of Dai-Ichi Kangyō Bank, Fuji Bank, and the Industrial Bank of Japan. Losses at Mizuho

Mizuho Financial Group, Inc.

NatWest

National Westminster Bank | Retail Banking, Investment Banking & Financial Services

National Westminster Bank, former British bank holding company with branches and subbranches in the United Kingdom and operations across the world. It was acquired by the Royal Bank of Scotland in 2000. The organization was formed in 1968 as National Westminster Bank Ltd. to merge two banking

National Westminster Bank

Northwest Bancorporation

Norwest Corporation | Financial Services, Banking, Investment

Norwest Corporation, former American holding company that owned subsidiary commercial banks in a number of western and midwestern U.S. states. Norwest and Wells Fargo & Company merged in 1998, and the newly formed business took the latter’s name. The company was incorporated as Northwest

Norwest Corporation

WestLB

NRW.BANK | Savings Bank, Financial Services, Banking

NRW.BANK, major German commercial and investment bank. Its owners (guarantors) are the state of North Rhine–Westphalia, the Regional Associations of the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe, and the Savings Banks and Giro Associations of the Rhineland and Westphalia-Lippe. Its headquarters are in

NRW.BANK

Merchants Bank of Halifax

Royal Bank of Canada | Financial Services, Banking & Investment

Royal Bank of Canada, Canadian commercial banking company with foreign subsidiaries and affiliates. Headquarters are in Montreal. The bank was incorporated as the Merchants Bank of Halifax in 1869 and adopted the present name in 1901. Between 1903 and 1983, the bank went through a number of

Royal Bank of Canada

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS)

Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), in the United Kingdom, a bank and financial services company that became one of the largest in Europe through its acquisition of National Westminster Bank in 2000. Its headquarters are in Edinburgh, Scot. The Royal Bank of Scotland is the leading U.K. provider of

Royal Bank of Scotland Group

Sanwa Ginkō

Sanwa Bank | Japanese bank

Sanwa Bank, former Japanese commercial bank that became part of UFJ Holdings in 2001 through its merger with Asahi Bank and Tōkai Bank. Sanwa was established in 1933 by the merger of Konoike Bank Ltd. (established 1877), Yamaguchi Bank Ltd. (1879), and the Sanjūshi Bank Ltd.

Sanwa Bank

Société Générale pour Favoriser le Dévelopment du Commerce et de l’industrie en France

Société Générale | European Banking, Financial Services & Investment

Société Générale, major French commercial bank operating a general-banking and foreign-exchange business worldwide. Headquarters are in Paris. The bank was established in 1864 to provide general-banking and investment services. It was nationalized in 1946, when the state, acting on legislation

Société Générale

Basel Bank Corporation, Basler Bank-Verein, Basler Bankverein, Basler und Zürcher Bankverein, Schweizerische Bankverein

Swiss Bank Corporation | History & Facts

Swiss Bank Corporation, former Swiss bank, one of the largest banks in Switzerland until its merger with the Union Bank of Switzerland in 1998. The Swiss Bank Corporation was established in 1872 as the Basler Bankverein, specializing in investment banking. In an 1895 merger with Zürcher Bankverein,

Swiss Bank Corporation, former Swiss bank, one of the largest banks in Switzerland until its merger with the Union Bank of Switzerland in 1998 to form UBS AG, which became one of the largest banks in the world. The Swiss Bank Corporation was founded as the Basler Bankverein in 1872 and assumed its final name in 1897.

Swiss Bank Corporation

The Bank of New York Company, Inc. | Financial Services, Banking, Investment

The Bank of New York Company, Inc., major American bank holding company, headquartered in New York City. The original Bank of New York was founded in 1784 by Alexander Hamilton and chartered in 1791. It was instrumental in securing the first loan obtained by the United States. Other loans by the

The Bank of New York Company, Inc.

The Chase Manhattan Corporation | American Financial Services Corporation

The Chase Manhattan Corporation, former American holding company that merged with J.P. Morgan & Co. in 2000 to form J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. The firm originated in the final days of the 18th century. On April 2, 1799, at the urging of such civic leaders as Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton (later

The Chase Manhattan Corporation

Transamerica Corporation | Financial Services, Insurance & Investment

Transamerica Corporation, major American diversified financial-services corporation. Headquarters were formerly in the Transamerica Pyramid building in San Francisco. In July 1999 Transamerica was acquired by Aegon NV, an insurance company in the Netherlands. The company, incorporated in 1928,

Financials

Recently Posted

All Financials Companies