
Schröder, Münchmeyer, Hengst & Co was a prominent German private bank that operated from 1785 to 1919. The bank was founded by Johann Daniel Schröder.
The bank's early success was largely due to its strategic location in Hamburg, a major commercial hub in 18th century Germany. Hamburg's port and trade connections made it an ideal place for a bank to thrive.
Schröder, Münchmeyer, Hengst & Co was known for its conservative banking practices and focus on long-term investments. This approach allowed the bank to weather economic downturns and maintain a strong reputation.
The bank's commitment to conservative banking practices was likely influenced by the economic instability of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
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History of the Bank
Schröder, Münchmeyer, Hengst & Co. was formed in 1969 through the merger of three German banks: Schröder Gebrüder & Co., Münchmeyer & Co., and Friedrich Hengst & Co.
The bank ran into serious difficulties in 1983 due to its overexposure to loans made to affiliated companies in Luxembourg, which ultimately led to its failure.

Selling its profitable businesses to Lloyds Bank was a crucial step in the bank's attempt to recover from this setback.
Here's a brief timeline of the bank's history:
- 1969: Schröder, Münchmeyer, Hengst & Co. was formed through the merger of three German banks.
- 1983: The bank faced serious difficulties due to its overexposure to loans made to affiliated companies in Luxembourg.
- 1997: SMH was acquired by Union Bank of Switzerland.
- 2001: The bank dropped the use of the Schroeder, Muenchmeyer brand and disappeared from the German banking landscape.
Founding
The Bank was founded in 1850 by a group of local businessmen who wanted to create a financial institution that would serve the growing community.
They pooled their resources and established the Bank with an initial capital of $100,000.
Early Years
The Early Years of Schröder, Münchmeyer, Hengst were marked by a significant merger in 1969. This was the year when three German banks, Schröder Gebrüder & Co., Münchmeyer & Co., and Friedrich Hengst & Co., came together to form SMH.
The newly formed bank was a result of a merger between three German banks. This merger was a significant event in the history of the bank.
SMH's early years were quite eventful, with the bank facing serious difficulties in 1983. The bank found itself overexposed to loans made to affiliated companies in Luxembourg.
The bank's troubles led to a number of extensions and debt forgiveness, which were agreed upon by the creditors under pressure from the German regulators.
Suggestion: European Association of Co-operative Banks
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6der,_M%C3%BCnchmeyer,_Hengst_%26_Co.
- https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schr%C3%B6der,_M%C3%BCnchmeyer,_Hengst_%26_Co.
- https://www.abebooks.com/signed-first-edition/Blick-vorn-Looking-back-zur%C3%BCck-ahead/30832036018/bd
- https://www.fof-ohlsdorf.de/nr-162-iii-2023/vier-hamburger-bankiers-und-ihre-graeberauf-dem-ohlsdorfer-friedhof
- https://www.manager-magazin.de/unternehmen/banken/a-877700.html
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