List of oldest banks in continuous operation
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Cornelius_Berenberg.jpg/220px-Cornelius_Berenberg.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2d/Palazzo_Salimbeni%2C_Siena.jpg/220px-Palazzo_Salimbeni%2C_Siena.jpg)
This list of the oldest banks includes financial institutions in continuous operation, operating with the same legal identity without interruption since their establishment until the present time.
Depending on the definition, the world's oldest bank is either Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena or Berenberg Bank. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena was founded in its present form in 1624, but traces its history to a mount of piety founded in 1472. The Berenberg company was founded in 1590 and has operated continuously ever since with the same family as owners or major co-owners. Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena is today a large Italian retail bank, while Berenberg Bank is primarily involved in investment banking and private banking for wealthy customers; in any event Berenberg Bank is the world's oldest merchant bank or investment bank. The world's oldest central bank is the Sveriges Riksbank, which was founded in 1668. Not to mention Banco di Napoli, whose origins date back to 1539, when the first mount of piety was established in Naples; the bank, absorbed by different entities between 2002-2018; according to some scholars its origin may be dated back to 1463; this would make the Bank of Naples the oldest bank in continuous operation until 2018, world-wide.[1]
Banks established before 1600
Year | Company | Country (historic) | Country (modern) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1472 1624 | Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena | Siena, Republic of Siena (1472) & Republic of Florence (1624) | ![]() | Tracing its history to a mount of piety founded in 1472, but founded in its present form in 1624. Since 2017, the main shareholder is the Italian Ministry of Economy and Finance (68.247% in 2017). |
1590 | Berenberg Bank | Hamburg, Holy Roman Empire | ![]() | The oldest bank operating continuously with the same legal identity; the oldest merchant bank |
Banks established in the 17th century
Year | Company | Country (historic) | Country (modern) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1668 | Sveriges Riksbank | Kingdom of Sweden | ![]() | The world's oldest central bank. |
1672 | C. Hoare & Co. | Kingdom of England | ![]() | One of the oldest British banks and the oldest privately owned bank, not a limited company. |
1674 | Metzler Bank | Free City of Frankfurt | ![]() | |
1690 | Barclays | Kingdom of England | ![]() | |
1692 | Coutts & Co. | Kingdom of England | ![]() | Part of NatWest Group. |
1694 | Bank of England | Kingdom of England | ![]() | |
1695 | Bank of Scotland | Kingdom of Scotland | ![]() | Part of Lloyds Banking Group. |
Banks established in the 18th century
Year | Company | Country (historic) | Country (modern) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1702 | Monte de Piedad de Madrid | Spain | ![]() | Predecessor institution to Bankia (today part of CaixaBank) |
1717 | Drummonds Bank | Kingdom of Great Britain | ![]() | A branch of the Royal Bank of Scotland |
1727 | Royal Bank of Scotland | Kingdom of Great Britain | ![]() | Part of NatWest Group |
1737 | Van Lanschot Kempen | Dutch Republic | ![]() | The oldest independent bank in the Netherlands[2] and the Benelux.[3][4] |
1747 | Banque Nagelmackers | Liège | ![]() | |
1750 | Rahn+Bodmer | Zürich | ![]() | |
1760 | Banque Courtois | Kingdom of France | ![]() | |
1765 | Lloyds Bank | Kingdom of Great Britain | ![]() | Part of Lloyds Banking Group. |
1774 | Fürstlich Castell'sche Bank | Würzburg | ![]() | |
1780 | Landolt & Cie | Neuchâtel | ![]() | |
1782 | Bank of Spain | Spain | ![]() | |
1783 | Bank of Ireland | Kingdom of Ireland | ![]() | |
1784 | The Bank of New York | United States | ![]() | Oldest US bank tracing to its original incorporation, without resorting to an acquired predecessor[citation needed] |
1785 | Trinkaus & Burkhardt | Palatinate | ![]() | Acquired in 1980s by Midland Bank and then 1992 to British bank HSBC |
1786 | Hottinger & Cie | Kingdom of France | ![]() | Edmond de Rothschild acquired a 42.5% stake in Hottinger Group on 31 May 2022 |
1792 | State Street Corporation | United States | ![]() | Age dated to predecessor Union Bank |
1796 | Hauck & Aufhäuser | Free City of Frankfurt | ![]() | |
1796 | Lombard Odier & Cie | Geneva | ![]() | |
1798 | Donner & Reuschel | Hamburg | ![]() | |
1798 | M. M. Warburg & Co. | Hamburg | ![]() | |
1799 | Bank of the Manhattan Company | United States | ![]() | Predecessor institution to JPMorgan Chase |
Banks established in the 19th century
Year | Company | Country (historic) | Country (modern) | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1800 | The Washington Trust Company | United States | ![]() | United States' oldest commercial bank Rhode Island community bank |
1800 | Banque de France | French Republic | ![]() | |
1804 | Schroders | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1805 | Pictet & Cie | France (Léman/annexed Geneva) | ![]() | |
1808 | Banco do Brasil | Kingdom of Portugal (State of Brazil) | ![]() | Brazil's oldest bank |
1810 | Brown, Shipley & Co. | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1811 | N M Rothschild & Sons | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1811 | Bank of Finland | Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire | ![]() | |
1812 | Citibank | United States | ![]() | Originally City Bank of New York and then National City Bank of New York |
1812 | Sparkasse Schwyz | Swiss Confederation | ![]() | |
1814 | Caisse d'Epargne Riviera [de] | Switzerland | ![]() | One of the oldest active banks in Switzerland. |
1814 | De Nederlandsche Bank | Netherlands | ![]() | Precursor: Amsterdam Wisselbank, founded in 1609 and the first Central bank in the world |
1815 | Banque Bonhôte | Swiss Confederation | ![]() | |
1816 | Norges Bank | Norway | ![]() | Central bank of Norway, founded on the capital of privately owned silver which was delivered to the bank |
1816 | Cater Allen Private Bank | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1817 | Bank of Montreal | Lower Canada | ![]() | |
1817 | Westpac | New South Wales | ![]() | as Bank of New South Wales |
1818 | Brown Brothers Harriman & Co. | United States | ![]() | |
1818 | Groupe Caisse d'Épargne | Kingdom of France | ![]() | Merged with Groupe Banque Populaire in 2009 to form Groupe BPCE |
1818 | Berliner Sparkasse | Prussia | ![]() | |
1818 | Danmarks Nationalbank | Denmark | ![]() | |
1819 | Mirabaud & Cie | Swiss Confederation | ![]() | |
1819 | Erste Bank | Austrian Empire | ![]() | |
1819 | BankNewport | United States | ![]() | as Newport Savings Bank |
1820 | Nordea | Finland | ![]() | |
1820 | Swedbank | Sweden | ![]() | |
1820 | Institution for Savings | United States | ![]() | |
1822 | Bank of the Province of Buenos Aires | Buenos Aires Province, United Provinces of the Río de la Plata | ![]() | |
1822 | DNB | Norway | ![]() | as Christiania Sparebank |
1824 | Stadtsparkasse München | Bavaria | ![]() | |
1825 | Česká spořitelna | Bohemia, Austrian Empire | ![]() | |
1825 | Key Bank | United States | ![]() | Oldest ancestor chartered as Commercial Bank of Albany |
1826 | AEK Bank 1826 | Restored Swiss Confederacy | ![]() | |
1827 | Hamburger Sparkasse | Hamburg | ![]() | |
1828 | Bankhaus Spängler | Austrian Empire | ![]() | |
1828 | De Curaçaosche Bank | Curaçao | ![]() | |
1828 | Citizens Financial Group | United States | ![]() | |
1828 | Centreville Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1828 | Bank Indonesia | Dutch East Indies | ![]() | as De Javasche Bank, the current form was nationalized and officially founded in 1953 |
1829 | Clientis Caisse d’Epargne CEC | Restored Swiss Confederacy | ![]() | |
1831 | Dedham Institution for Savings | United States | ![]() | The Society in Dedham for Apprehending Horse Thieves has an account at the bank, opened in 1832, that is believed to be the oldest account in the nation.[5][6] The bank is also called Dedham Savings.[7] |
1831 | National Grand Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1832 | Wilmington Savings Fund Society | United States | ![]() | |
1832 | Scotiabank | Nova Scotia | ![]() | |
1833 | Chemung Canal Trust Company | United States | ![]() | Merged with Elmira Trust Company in 1902, originally named Chemung Canal Bank.[8] |
1833 | Arbuthnot Latham | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1834 | Hingham Institution for Savings | United States | ![]() | |
1834 | Bank BSU | Restored Swiss Confederacy | ![]() | |
1834 | First Financial Bank | United States | ![]() | as Terre Haute branch of the Second State Bank of Indiana |
1834 | Old National Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1835 | ANZ Bank | Colony of New South Wales | ![]() | founded in London as Bank of Australasia; first branch in Sydney |
1836 | The Honesdale National Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1836 | Ulster Bank | United Kingdom | ![]() ![]() | Now a subsidiary of NatWest and operates in two countries |
1838 | Ballston Spa National Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1838 | Clydesdale Bank | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1838 | First National Bank | Cape Colony | ![]() | |
1838 | Mauritius Commercial Bank | British Mauritius | ![]() | |
1839 | Provident Bank of New Jersey | United States | ![]() | |
1840 | Montepio | Portugal | ![]() | |
1841 | National Bank of Greece | Kingdom of Greece | ![]() | |
1844 | Bordier & Cie | Restored Swiss Confederacy | ![]() | |
1844 | CaixaBank | Spain | ![]() | as Caixa de Barcelona. Its predecessor institution Caja Madrid was founded as Monte de Piedad de Madrid in 1702. |
1846 | Banco de Portugal | Portugal | ![]() | |
1846 | Laurentian Bank | Lower Canada | ![]() | As the Montreal City and District Savings Bank |
1847 | Auckland Savings Bank | New Zealand | ![]() | |
1847 | National Iron Bank | United States | ![]() | Oldest private bank in New England |
1848 | Lazard | United States | ![]() | Founded as Lazard Frères & Co., a merchant goods store that expanded into banking and foreign exchange.[9] |
1849 | Oddo et Cie | France | ![]() | |
1849 | Hoerner Bank | Baden | ![]() | |
1849 | Australian Mutual Provident Society | New South Wales | ![]() | |
1850 | Spar- und Leihkasse Bucheggberg | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1850 | Nationale Bank van België | Belgium | ![]() | |
1850 | Bank Sparhafen Zürich | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1850 | Volksbank | Austrian Empire | ![]() | |
1851 | Bank of the Philippine Islands | Spanish Philippines | ![]() | Oldest bank in Southeast Asia |
1851 | Essex Savings Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1852 | PNC Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1852 | Crédit Foncier de France | France | ![]() | |
1852 | Wells Fargo | United States | ![]() | |
1854 | Newburyport Five Cents Savings Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1854 | UBS | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1855 | Salem Five Cents Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1855 | Toronto-Dominion Bank | Province of Canada | ![]() | as Bank of Toronto; merged with The Dominion Bank in 1955 |
1856 | Credit Suisse | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1856 | Banque et Caisse d'Épargne de l'État | Luxembourg | ![]() | |
1856 | Garanti Bank | Ottoman Empire | ![]() | as Ottoman Bank; merged 2001 |
1856 | M&T Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1856 | Regions Bank | United States | ![]() | as 1st National Bank of Huntsville; merged with two other banks in 1971 |
1856 | Exchange Bank & Trust[10] | United States | ![]() | Founding date of 1/1/1856 comes from predecessor bank - First National Bank of Leavenworth, Kansas. Exchange was founded in Atchison, Kansas in 1857. |
1857 | Baraboo State Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1857 | Santander | Spain | ![]() | |
1857 | Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria | Spain | ![]() | |
1857 | First National Bank Omaha | United States | ![]() | founded as Kountze Brothers Bank; became First National Bank Omaha in 1865. |
1858 | Fifth Third Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1858 | Bendigo & Adelaide Bank | Victoria | ![]() | as Bendigo Bank |
1858 | Standard Chartered | British Raj | ![]() | |
1859 | National Bank of Canada | Province of Canada | ![]() | |
1859 | Standard Chartered (Singapore) | Straits Settlement | ![]() | First few foreign banks established in Singapore. |
1860 | State Bank of the Russian Empire | Russian Empire | ![]() | |
1861 | Caixa Econômica Federal | Empire of Brazil | ![]() | |
1861 | Bank of New Zealand | New Zealand | ![]() | |
1861 | Associated Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1862 | Bank Spółdzielczy w Brodnicy | Prussia | ![]() | |
1862 | Standard Bank | Cape Colony | ![]() | |
1863 | Crédit Lyonnais | Second French Empire | ![]() | |
1863 | First Financial Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1863 | U.S. Bank | United States | ![]() | through merger with The First National Bank of Cincinnati (National Charter #24) |
1863 | Ziraat Bankası | Ottoman Empire | ![]() | |
1864 | First National Bank of Pennsylvania | United States | ![]() | as First National Bank of West Greenville |
1864 | First Horizon National Corporation | United States | ![]() | Founded as First National Bank of Memphis, or First National Bank, and also later went by First Tennessee Bank.[11] |
1864 | Royal Bank of Canada | Province of Canada | ![]() | |
1864 | Société Générale | Second French Empire | ![]() | |
1864 | CEC Bank | Romanian United Principalities | ![]() | |
1864 | The First National Bank & Trust Company of Newtown | United States | ![]() | |
1865 | HSBC | British Hong Kong | ![]() | as The Hongkong and Shanghai Bank |
1865 | Allahabad Bank | British Raj | ![]() | |
1865 | Isle of Man Bank | Isle of Man | Isle of Man | The bank was acquired by National Provincial Bank in 1961 |
1866 | Huntington Bancshares | United States | ![]() | as The Huntington National Bank |
1867 | Bank of Stockton | United States | ![]() | |
1867 | Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce | Province of Canada[a] | ![]() | as Canadian Bank of Commerce; merged on 1 June 1961 with the Imperial Bank of Canada |
1868 | Busey Bank | United States | ![]() | both Busey Brothers Bank, and bought-out The Bank of Edwardsville, date back to 1868 |
1868 | Sandy Spring Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1868 | Oldenburgische Landesbank | Oldenburg | ![]() | |
1869 | The Savings Bank | United States | ![]() | founded as the Wakefield Savings Bank |
1869 | Goldman Sachs | United States | ![]() | |
1869 | Baker Boyer Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1869 | Jefferson Security Bank | United States | ![]() | Founded as Jefferson Savings Bank[12] |
1870 | Banco de Bogotá | Colombia | ![]() | |
1870 | Bank Handlowy | Congress Poland, Russian Empire | ![]() | |
1870 | Commerzbank | Kingdom of Prussia | ![]() | |
1870 | Deutsche Bank | Kingdom of Prussia | ![]() | |
1870 | Dominick & Dominick | United States | ![]() | Founded as Dominick & Dickerman, renamed several times.[13] |
1870 | Zürcher Kantonalbank | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1871 | Banco Nacional de Bolivia | Bolivia | ![]() | |
1871 | Danske Bank | Denmark | ![]() | |
1871 | Handelsbanken | Sweden | ![]() | |
1871 | Wayne Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1872 | Truist Financial | United States | ![]() | |
1872 | Sparkasse Schwaz | Austrian Empire | ![]() | |
1873 | The Daishi Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1873 | Zions Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1873 | Bank of the Province of Córdoba | United Provinces | ![]() | |
1874 | Bank of Queensland | Queensland | ![]() | |
1874 | The Bank of Marion | United States | ![]() | Third oldest bank in Virginia |
1875 | Toowoomba Permanent Building Society | Queensland | ![]() | |
1875 | Standard Chartered Bank | Straits Settlements | ![]() | Malaysia's oldest bank |
1876 | Pharaon & Chiha Bank | Ottoman Empire | ![]() | Oldest bank in Lebanon; acquired by Byblos Bank in 2016[14] |
1876 | Caixa Geral de Depósitos | Portugal | ![]() | |
1877 | POSB Bank | Straits Settlements | ![]() | Singapore's oldest local bank |
1877 | Banco de Costa Rica | Costa Rica | ![]() | |
1877 | QNB Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1877 | The Juroku Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1877 | The Eighteenth Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1877 | Bank of Washington | United States | ![]() | |
1878 | Close Brothers Group | United Kingdom | ![]() | |
1878 | Bank of the City of Buenos Aires | Argentina | ![]() | |
1878 | The Hyakujushi Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1878 | The 77 Bank | Japan | ![]() | |
1878 | The Hyakugo Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1879 | Alpha Bank | Kingdom of Greece | ![]() | |
1879 | Bulgarian National Bank | Principality of Bulgaria | ![]() | |
1879 | Kakegawa Shinkin Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1880 | Illawarra Mutual Building Society | New South Wales | ![]() | |
1880 | National Bank of Romania | Romania | ![]() | |
1881 | Oppenheimer | United States | ![]() | |
1881 | Banc Sabadell | Spain | ![]() | |
1881 | Bank of Clarke County | United States | ![]() | |
1882 | Crédit Mutuel | French Third Republic | ![]() | |
1882 | Bank of Japan | Japan | ![]() | |
1883 | Bank Mendes Gans | Netherlands | ![]() | |
1883 | Hancock Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1884 | National Bank of Serbia | Kingdom of Serbia | ![]() | |
1884 | Banque de Tunisie | French protectorate of Tunisia | ![]() | |
1884 | Banco Nacional de Mexico | Mexico | ![]() | |
1885 | Banco Davivienda El Salvador | El Salvador | ![]() | |
1886 | Banca Sella Group | Kingdom of Italy | ![]() | as Gaudenzio Sella & C. |
1886 | E. Gutzwiller & Cie. Banquiers | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1886 | Obwaldner Kantonalbank | Switzerland | ![]() | |
1886 | Banco Francés del Río de la Plata | Argentina | ![]() | |
1887 | Banco Nacional de la República Oriental del Uruguay | Uruguay | ![]() | The only part of the bank that did not go into bankruptcy, the mortgage section, became in 1892 the Banco Hipotecario del Uruguay, nationalized in 1912 and still in operation. |
1888 | Hatton National Bank | Ceylon | ![]() | Established in 1888 as the “Hatton Bank” to cater to the flourishing tea industry in the central region of Sri Lanka.[15] |
1888 | Powell Valley National Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1889 | Bryn Mawr Trust | United States | ![]() | |
1889 | Northern Trust | United States | ![]() | |
1889 | First National Bank of Berryville | United States | ![]() | Later named the First National Bank of Arkansas and then in 2022, the Bank of 1889.[16] |
1890 | Banco de Venezuela | Venezuela | ![]() | Founded as a government institution as Banco Comercial, then renamed in 1890 to Banco de Venezuela. |
1891 | Banco de la Nación Argentina | Argentina | ![]() | |
1893 | Banca d'Italia | Kingdom of Italy | ![]() | |
1893 | Banco de Chile | Chile | ![]() | |
1893 | Blue Ridge Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1893 | National Australia Bank | Victoria | ![]() | as Commercial Banking Company of Sydney |
1894 | First Bank of Nigeria | Lagos Colony | ![]() | |
1895 | Punjab National Bank | British Raj | ![]() | |
1895 | Bankwest | Western Australia | ![]() | as Agricultural Bank of Western Australia |
1895 | Bank Rakyat Indonesia | Dutch East Indies | ![]() | |
1895 | Bay State Savings Bank | United States | ![]() | |
1896 | The Awa Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1896 | Banco de la República Oriental del Uruguay | Uruguay | ![]() | |
1896 | Kenya Commercial Bank Group | East Africa Protectorate | ![]() | as a subsidiary of National Bank of India |
1897 | Shinhan Bank | Joseon | ![]() | |
1898 | National Bank of Egypt | Egypt | ![]() | |
1899 | Bank of Cyprus | British Cyprus | ![]() | |
1899 | Woori Bank | Korean Empire | ![]() | |
1899 | Fukui Bank (ja) | Japan | ![]() | |
1899 | Bank of Taiwan | Japan-administered Formosa | ![]() | |
1899 | First Commercial Bank | Japan-administered Formosa | ![]() |
See also
Notes
- ^ Bank was founded on May 15; two months before Canadian confederation (July 1)
References
- ^ "Storia: Banco di Napoli - Intesa Sanpaolo".
- ^ International Investment UBS to sell its Netherlands wealth management bizhttps://www.internationalinvestment.net/internationalinvestment/news/3503988/ubs-sell-netherlands-wealth-management-biz Archived 8 February 2021 at the Wayback Machine Accessed 2 January 2021
- ^ "A Chinese carmaker agrees to buy a Danish investment bank". The Economist. 5 October 2017. Archived from the original on 15 February 2018. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ The New York Times Belgian Bank Deal 25 April 1990 https://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/25/business/company-news-belgian-bank-deal.html Accessed 2 January 2021
- ^ Dedham Institution for Savings (2004). "This man has an account with us, opened in 1832, to fund the apprehension of horse thieves" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2005. Retrieved 2 December 2006.
- ^ Howard, Marjorie (25 January 2013). "Office Treasures: No Horse Thievery Here". Tufts Now. Retrieved 1 January 2007.
- ^ "South Shore, Dedham Savings banks to merge, but keep their respective brands - the Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
- ^ "Star-Gazette Subscription Offers, Specials, and Discounts".
- ^ Guy de Rougemont, Lazard Frères, Banquiers des Deux Mondes (1840-1939), Librairie Arthème Fayard, 2010
- ^ "Exchange Bank & Trust | Personal, Business & Military Banking". www.ebt.bank. Retrieved 17 April 2023.
- ^ "First Tennessee National Corporation." International Directory of Company Histories, edited by Paula Kepos, vol. 11, St. James Press, 1995, pp. 120-121. Gale Virtual Reference Library.
- ^ "Tennant recognizes Jefferson Security Bank as state's oldest business". shepherdstownchronicle.com. Retrieved 30 January 2024.
- ^ "ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED.; Dominick & Dominick, Brokers, Observe Fiftieth Year in Business". The New York Times. 15 June 1920. Retrieved 15 October 2021.
- ^ "News Room | Byblos Bank Acquires Banque Pharaon & Chiha | Lebanon | Byblos Bank". www.byblosbank.com. Archived from the original on 23 September 2019. Retrieved 23 September 2019.
- ^ "About HNB | Recognized as the Best Retail Bank in Sri Lanka".
- ^ Waldon, George (30 May 2022). "'Bank of 1889' Set to Debut In Berryville". Arkansas Business.
Literature
- Manfred Pohl; Sabine Freitag (1994), Handbook on the History of European Banks, European Association for Banking History, Cambridge University Press.