List of oldest banks in continuous operation
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.
Banks established before 1600
| Year | Company | Country | Country | Notes |
| 1472 1624 | Banca Monte dei Paschi di Siena | Siena, Republic of Florence | Italy | Tracing its history to a mount of piety founded in 1472, but founded in its present form in 1624 |
| 1590 | Berenberg Bank | Hamburg, Holy Roman Empire | Germany | The oldest bank operating continuously with the same legal identity; the oldest merchant bank |
Banks established in the 17th century
Banks established in the 18th century
Banks established in the 19th century
Literature
- Manfred Pohl, Sabine Freitag, Handbook on the History of European Banks, European Association for Banking History, 1994