What is the oldest commercial bank in the United States?
Future Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton founds the Bank of New York, the oldest continuously operating bank in the United States—operating today as BNY Mellon.
On January 4, 1782, the first commercial bank in the U.S., Bank of North America, opened. In 1791, U.S. Treasury Secretary Alexander Hamilton created the Bank of the United States, a national bank intended to maintain American taxes and pay off foreign debt.
Banca Monte Dei Paschi di Siena is the oldest surviving bank in the world. It was founded in 1472 in the Tuscan city of Siena, which at the time was a republic.
The Bank of the United States, now commonly referred to as the first Bank of the United States, opened for business in Philadelphia on December 12, 1791, with a twenty-year charter.
The oldest bank still in existence is Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena, headquartered in Siena, Italy, which has been operating continuously since 1472.
Rank | Bank name | Total assets (billions of US$) |
---|---|---|
1 | JPMorgan Chase | $3,868 |
2 | Bank of America | $3,123 |
3 | Citigroup | $2,423 |
4 | Wells Fargo | $1,876 |
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.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — The oldest Black-owned bank in our country can be found in Nashville, Tennessee. Citizens Savings Bank and Trust was founded in 1904, known as Once Cent Savings Bank.
Congress gave the Bank of the United States, now commonly known as the First Bank, a 20-year charter that started in December 1791.
Following one of the most successful years in United's long history, United Bank has been named the Most Trustworthy Bank in America by Newsweek for 2023.
What was the biggest bank to fail in US history?
That includes Washington Mutual (WaMu), still the largest bank failure in U.S. history. WaMu had some $307 billion in assets when it collapsed, equivalent to more than $424 billion in today's dollars.
No matter where you live, you'll likely recognize the most popular banks. Chase and Wells Fargo are well known brands, and they have the most branches in the U.S. They're also the most popular bank in 30 percent of the 50 states. Chase now has the most locations in the U.S. and the most branches in seven states.

The U.S. Bank name first appeared as United States National Bank of Portland, established in Portland, Oregon, in 1891. In 1902, it merged with Ainsworth National Bank of Portland, but kept the U.S. National Bank name. It changed its name to the United States National Bank of Oregon in 1964.
On July 13, 1863, The First National Bank of Cincinnati opened with the boom of Civil War cannons firing just across the Ohio River, and survived through the decades to eventually grow into U.S Bank.
Shortly after the election, Jackson ordered that federal deposits be removed from the second National Bank and put into state banks. Although Jackson's order met with heavy criticism from members of his administration, most of the government's money had been moved out of the Bank by late 1833.
Berenberg Bank
Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, is the world's oldest merchant and private bank and has operated continuously since it was founded in 1590 by the Berenberg-Gossler family. The bank has never changed its legal identity or name and is still owned by a descendant of the original founders.
State Street Corporation (stylized in all caps), is a global financial services and bank holding company headquartered at One Congress Street in Boston with operations worldwide. It is the second-oldest continually operating United States bank; its predecessor, Union Bank, was founded in 1792.
Beyond its size, Kentland Federal Savings and Loan is unusual in other ways. It has one location, in Kentland, Indiana (population 1,641), no ATMs and no website. There are basically two things you can do as a customer of the bank: obtain a home mortgage or open a savings account or a CD.
JPMorgan Chase & Co. closed out the most profitable year in US banking history with its seventh consecutive quarter of record net interest income and a surprise forecast that the windfall may continue this year.
What is the most trusted online bank?
- Best online bank: Ally Bank.
- Top online bank: TIAA Bank.
- Top online bank: Quontic.
- Top online bank: LendingClub.
- Top online bank: CIBC USA.
- Top online bank: First Internet Bank of Indiana.
- Top online bank: Rising Bank.
- Top online bank: Varo Bank.
Mellon Bank, based in the United States, established the first bad bank – Green Street National Bank, in 1988 to hold its stressed assets. Subsequently, many countries have adopted the concept. In Dec 2020, the European Commission expressed its interest to establish bad banks.
It was built while Philadelphia was still the nation's capital. Alexander Hamilton conceived of the bank to handle the colossal war debt — and to create a standard form of currency. Up to the time of the bank's charter, coins and bills issued by state banks served as the currency of the young country.
Berenberg, Gossler & Co. KG, is the world's oldest merchant and private bank and has operated continuously since it was founded in 1590 by the Berenberg/Gossler family. The bank has never changed its legal identity or name and is still owned by a descendant of the original founders.
Financial Institution | Headquarters |
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Phi Beta Sigma Federal Credit Union | Washington, D.C. |
FAMU (Florida A&M University) Federal Credit Union | Tallahassee, FL |
Citizens Trust Bank | Atlanta, GA |
1st Choice Credit Union | Atlanta, GA |