Swiss Bank Corp History and Evolution

Swiss Bank Corp, one of the oldest and most respected banks in the world, has a rich history that spans over 130 years. Founded in 1872 by Alfred Escher, the bank's early years were marked by a focus on supporting the Swiss economy.

The bank's first major milestone was the establishment of the Swiss Bank Corporation in 1873, which allowed it to expand its services and reach a wider customer base. This move marked a significant turning point in the bank's history, setting it on a path of steady growth and innovation.

As the bank continued to grow, it began to expand its services to include international banking, which helped establish it as a major player in the global banking industry.

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In the post-war period, Swiss Bank Corporation found itself in a relatively strong financial condition, with CHF 1.8 billion of assets.

The bank's assets more than doubled from the end of the war to CHF 4 billion by the end of the 1950s and doubled again by the mid-1960s, exceeding CHF 10 billion in 1965.

SBC continued to expand globally, opening new offices in the US and entering the Asian market by opening a full branch office in Tokyo in 1970.

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SBC continued to grow in the early decades of the 20th century, acquiring weaker rivals. In 1906, SBC purchased Banque d'Espine, Fatio & Cie, establishing a branch in Geneva, Switzerland, for the first time.

The bank's growth was impressive, with SBC surpassing CHF 1 billion in assets for the first time at the end of 1918. By 1920, the bank had grown to 2,000 employees.

SBC suffered a setback with the loss of its investments in large industrial companies due to World War I. The bank's assets fell from a peak of CHF 1.6 billion in 1929 to CHF 1 billion by 1936.

The bank's efforts to refine precious metals and produce bank ingots paid off with the purchase of Métaux Précieux SA Métalor in 1918. This company would later be established as a separate subsidiary in 1936 and spun off in 1998.

Swiss Bank Corporation found itself in relatively strong financial condition at the end of World War II, with CHF 1.8 billion of assets.

The bank's assets more than doubled from the end of the war to CHF 4 billion by the end of the 1950s, and doubled again by the mid-1960s, exceeding CHF 10 billion in 1965.

SBC prospered throughout the 1950s and embarked on a period of sustained growth, expanding its assets and opening new offices in the US and abroad.

The bank acquired several banks, including Banque Populaire Valaisanne, Sion, Switzerland, and the Banque Populaire de Sierre, to enhance its position in various products.

By the mid-1960s, SBC had opened representative offices throughout Latin America and a full branch office in Tokyo in 1970.

The bank's focus shifted back to its traditional business of lending money to private companies in the post-war rebuilding of Europe, while also expanding into international markets.

SBC remained a full-service bank with a domestic retail banking network and an asset management business within Switzerland.

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Swiss Bank Corporation's expansion and acquisitions are a testament to its rich history and strategic growth. The company was formed in 1897 through the merger of Swiss Bank Corporation.

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The bank's roots date back to the 19th century, with predecessors such as Basler & Zürcher Bankverein (est. 1880) and Basler Bankverein (est. 1856). These institutions laid the foundation for the bank's future growth.

In the 20th century, Swiss Bank Corporation continued to expand through strategic acquisitions, including the purchase of Basler Handelsbank (est. 1862) in 1945. The bank also acquired O'Connor (est. 1977) in 1992 and Brinson Partners (est. 1989) in 1994.

Here's a brief summary of some of the key acquisitions:

Warburg Dillon Read was also merged with SBC-Warburg under SBC ownership in 1997, further expanding the bank's global reach.

Swiss Bank Corporation's acquisition history is a long and complex one, dating back to the 19th century.

The company was formed in 1897 through the merger of several individual firms, including Basler & Zürcher Bankverein, which was established in 1880.

Basler Bankverein itself was founded in 1856 as Bankverein, and was later renamed in 1872.

Swiss Bank Corporation continued to grow through mergers and acquisitions, including the acquisition of Basler Handelsbank in 1945.

In 1977, Swiss Bank Corporation merged with Union Bank of Switzerland to form UBS AG.

Over the years, UBS AG has also acquired several other companies, including O'Connor in 1992 and Brinson Partners in 1994.

In 1997, Warburg Dillon Read merged with SBC-Warburg under SBC ownership.

Here's a brief timeline of some of the key acquisitions and mergers:

These acquisitions have played a significant role in shaping UBS AG into the global financial institution it is today.

Swiss Bank Corporation had a significant presence in various countries through its numerous subsidiaries.

Swiss Bank Corporation had subsidiaries in countries such as Canada, Jersey, and Panama.

One notable subsidiary was Swiss Bank Corporation (Canada), which operated in Canada.

The bank also had a strong presence in the Cayman Islands, with subsidiaries such as SBC Finance (Cayman Islands) Ltd. and Swiss Bank & Trust Corporation Ltd.

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In addition, Swiss Bank Corporation had subsidiaries in the United States, including SBC Portfolio Management International Inc. in New York.

The bank also had a presence in Europe, with subsidiaries such as Schweizerischer Bankverein (Deutschland) AG in Germany and SBCI Swiss Bank Corporation Investment Banking Inc. in New York.

Furthermore, Swiss Bank Corporation had subsidiaries in Asia, including SBC Portfolio Management International K.K. in Tokyo and SBCI Securities (Asia) Ltd.

In the financial sector, Swiss Bank Corporation had subsidiaries such as Métaux Précieux S.A. Metalor and Swiss Auditing and Fiduciary Company.

The bank also had subsidiaries in the real estate and construction sector, including SERIMO Immobiliendienste AG and Société de Constructions de Gérances et de Placements SOCOGEP.

Additionally, Swiss Bank Corporation had subsidiaries in the investment and securities sector, including SBC Securities Ltd. in Hong Kong and SBCI Futures Inc. in New York.

In the service sector, the bank had subsidiaries such as Ideal Job conseils en personnel S.A. and TRANSPLAN Ltd.

Swiss Bank Corporation also had subsidiaries in the fund management sector, including HIMAC AG für Verwaltung von Anlagefonds and SAGEPCO S.A. de Gérances et de Placements collectifs.

The bank's subsidiaries operated in various industries, including banking, finance, real estate, construction, and services.

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