COMPANY·HISTORIES
SIC 6021

National Commercial Banks

How the companies in this industry began, and the forces that shaped them.

24companies1836–1988founding years22still active2no longer operating
§ 01

The industry over time

Companies foundedEconomyTechnologyEnvironmentHistory
FoundedRiggs National CorporationFoundedRiggs National Corporation
1836
FoundedGrupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
1864
FoundedSeattle First National Bank Inc.FoundedSeattle First National Bank Inc.
1887
1903
TechnologyThe Wright brothers achieve powered flight.
FoundedHuntington Bancshares Inc.
1905
1914
EconomyWorld War I begins; global trade reorders.
FoundedFirst Security CorporationFoundedFirst Security Corporation
1928
FoundedBeneficial Corporation
1929
EconomyThe stock market crashes; the Great Depression spreads worldwide.
FoundedBarnett Banks, Inc.FoundedBarnett Banks, Inc.
1930
1939
EconomyWorld War II begins; wartime production surges.
FoundedCrédit National S.A.
1942
1945
EconomyThe war ends; a long global expansion begins.
1947
TechnologyThe transistor is invented.
1958
TechnologyThe integrated circuit is demonstrated.
1962
EnvironmentSilent Spring launches the modern environmental movement.
FoundedFirst of America Bank CorporationFoundedFirst of America Bank Corporation
1971
EconomyThe dollar leaves the gold standard; currencies float.
1973
EconomyThe OPEC oil embargo triggers a global shock.
1975
TechnologyThe personal-computer era begins.
FoundedWaterhouse Investor Services, Inc.
1979
EconomyA second oil crisis drives inflation higher worldwide.
1981
TechnologyThe IBM PC launches and sets a standard.
1984
TechnologyApple ships the Macintosh; the GUI era begins.
FoundedSunTrust Banks Inc.FoundedSunTrust Banks Inc.
1985
1987
EconomyBlack Monday: markets fall sharply around the world.
FoundedShawmut National Corporation
1988
1989
HistoryThe Berlin Wall falls; global markets open up.
1991
TechnologyThe World Wide Web is released to the public.
1993
TechnologyThe Mosaic browser brings the web to everyone.
1995
TechnologyWindows 95 launches; the internet goes mainstream.
1997
EconomyThe Asian financial crisis rattles global markets.
EnvironmentThe Kyoto Protocol sets the first climate targets.
2000
EconomyThe dot-com bubble bursts.
2004
TechnologySocial media and Web 2.0 take hold.
2007
TechnologyThe iPhone launches the smartphone era.
2008
EconomyThe global financial crisis freezes credit worldwide.
2010
TechnologyCloud computing goes mainstream for business.
2015
EnvironmentThe Paris Agreement sets global climate targets.
2020
EconomyThe COVID-19 pandemic upends the global economy.
2022
EconomyInflation spikes; central banks raise rates sharply.
2023
TechnologyGenerative AI reaches mainstream business use.
§ 02

The companies

Riggs National Corporation →
Active · founded 1836
The Riggs National Corporation operates a leading bank in Washington, D.C.
Riggs National Corporation →
Active · founded 1836
The Riggs National Corporation operates a leading bank in Washington, D.C.
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A. →
Active · founded 1864 · Mexico
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A. →
Active · founded 1864 · Mexico
Grupo Financiero Serfin, S.A.
Seattle First National Bank Inc. →
Active · founded 1887
Seattle First National Bank Inc., the oldest bank in Seattle, operates the largest community banking network in…
Seattle First National Bank Inc. →
Active · founded 1887
Seattle First National Bank Inc., the oldest bank in Seattle, operates the largest community banking network in…
Huntington Bancshares Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Huntington Bancshares Inc.
Huntington Bancshares Inc. →
Active · founded 1905
Huntington Bancshares Inc.
First Security Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
First Security Corporation, the oldest multistate bank holding company in the United States, operated 245 full-service…
First Security Corporation →
Active · founded 1928
First Security Corporation, the oldest multistate bank holding company in the United States, operated 245 full-service…
Beneficial Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Beneficial Corporation is one of the oldest and largest consumer finance companies in the United States.
Beneficial Corporation →
Active · founded 1929
Beneficial Corporation is one of the oldest and largest consumer finance companies in the United States.
Barnett Banks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
In 1993 Business Week magazine called Barnett Banks, Inc., "Florida's most dynamic bank." Jacksonville-based Barnett…
Barnett Banks, Inc. →
Active · founded 1930
In 1993 Business Week magazine called Barnett Banks, Inc., "Florida's most dynamic bank." Jacksonville-based Barnett…
Crédit National S.A. →
Active · founded 1942 · France
Crédit National S.A.
Crédit National S.A. →
Active · founded 1942 · France
Crédit National S.A.
First of America Bank Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
First of America Bank Corporation is one of the Midwest's largest bank holding companies and is ranked among the top 35…
First of America Bank Corporation →
Active · founded 1971
First of America Bank Corporation is one of the Midwest's largest bank holding companies and is ranked among the top 35…
Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc.
Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc. →
Active · founded 1979
Waterhouse Investor Services, Inc.
SunTrust Banks Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1985
A holding company formed by Trust Company of Georgia in 1985, SunTrust Banks Inc.
SunTrust Banks Inc. →
Defunct · founded 1985
A holding company formed by Trust Company of Georgia in 1985, SunTrust Banks Inc.
Shawmut National Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Shawmut National Corporation is one of New England's largest banking companies, offering financial products and…
Shawmut National Corporation →
Active · founded 1988
Shawmut National Corporation is one of New England's largest banking companies, offering financial products and…
Build It Today

Starting a national commercial banks company now

Each week we rebuild one of these stories for today's tools and capital.