This article is about the historic British bank which was acquired by HSBC in 1959. For other banks with similar names, see Mercantile Bank (disambiguation).
The Mercantile Bank of India, London and China, later Mercantile Bank Ltd (Chinese: 有利銀行), was an Anglo-Indian bank with business focus in the Far East. It was founded in Bombay in 1853 as the Mercantile Bank of Bombay; and later in 1857 was renamed to Mercantile Bank of India, London, and China with London as its headquarters.
Mercantile Bank Ltd
A banknote issued by Mercantile Bank of India operating in China, the Chinese government allowed for certain foreign banking corporations to become "note issuing authorities", these banknotes were issued to circulate in China.
By 1959, through a series of mergers and divisions, its name had been shortened to 'Mercantile Bank, Ltd', and was acquired by HSBC the same year. The bank was an issuer of Hong Kong bank notes until 1974.
The historic bank started life in October 1853 as the Mercantile Bank of Bombay, taking the name of the city, Bombay, where it was founded. It expanded its operations to the Far East in November 1854 with the opening of an office in Shanghai. In 1857, the bank was granted a royal charter, and it established a presence in Hong Kong. The name was late changed to the Mercantile Bank of India, London and China, and it moved its headquarters to London in 1858.[1][2][3]
It competed with the other great British banks of those times, such as the Oriental Bank Corporation, Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and Chartered Bank of India, Australia and China; involved in trade between India and China and other British possessionseast of Suez. By 1860, its total assets reached the amount of US$21.7 million, a medium-sized bank by the standards of that time – a comparison shows that one of the leading Anglo-Indian banks, the Oriental Bank Corporation was about three times larger in terms of total assets. With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869; and completion of Indo-European telegraph line[4][5][6] from London to Calcutta, and its extension to China in 1871;[7] most British banks (including Mercantile bank) were well placed to expand and develop its business.
Trouble in 1893 meant it lost its charter, and was reconstituted as the Mercantile Bank of India Ltd.
Transition years : 1900–1959edit
There was a re-consolidation of its operations at the beginning of the 20th century; and in 1912 it again became an issuer of Hong Kong banknotes, a privilege it retained until 1974.[8][9]
During the Second World War, the Mercantile Bank had to close down several offices in the Far East, but it managed to re-open its offices after the war. The Hong Kong office re-opened in February 1946 and the Shanghai office in 1945, but was closed down its Shanghai operations in 1952 due to the Communist party rule.[10] In 1952, total assets of the bank totalled US$205.5 million.
Amalgamation into HSBC and divestment : 1959–1987edit
The Mercantile Bank continued to issue Hong Kong banknotes until the early 1970s.[13] The signing of the historic Sino-British Joint Declaration in 1984, provided HSBC added impetus to expand overseas and sold the entity - Mercantile Bank, Ltd to Citibank the same year as part of its consolidation strategy.[14][15] It was eventually sold to the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, Ltd. in 1987.[citation needed]
Not to be confused with which a is Co-operative bank.
^CEYLON Banknotes, Chartered Mercantile Bank of India, London & China 1867–80
^Page 32 | The Rise of India: Its Transformation from Poverty to Prosperity by Niranjan Rajadhyaksha
^Indo-European Telegraph line and impact of rapid industrialization
^The Indo-European Telegraph Company by Steven Roberts
^The foreign banks in China, Part I — (1850–1900) The Opening of China to the Outside World by John E. Sandrock
^ abWorld Paper Money Catalog and History - Hongkong Dollar
^ abCollection of Historical banknotes - Hong Kong, Shanghai, China 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine
^255, Chapter | A History of Modern Shanghai Banking. The Rise and Decline of China Finance Capitalism Armonk, New York, London, M. E. Sharpe, 2003, 325 p
^. Archived from the original on 28 July 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2012.
^"Hong Kong currency exhibition reveals story of city's evolution (with photos)".
^Citibank completes acquisition of Mercantile Bank Ltd. from Hongkong & Shanghai Banking Corp.[dead link]
^"HSBC Holdings PLC - Company Profile, Information, Business Description, History, Background Information on HSBC Holdings PLC".
December 15, 2023
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This article is about the historic British bank which was acquired by HSBC in 1959 For other banks with similar names see Mercantile Bank disambiguation The Mercantile Bank of India London and China later Mercantile Bank Ltd Chinese 有利銀行 was an Anglo Indian bank with business focus in the Far East It was founded in Bombay in 1853 as the Mercantile Bank of Bombay and later in 1857 was renamed to Mercantile Bank of India London and China with London as its headquarters Mercantile Bank LtdA banknote issued by Mercantile Bank of India operating in China the Chinese government allowed for certain foreign banking corporations to become note issuing authorities these banknotes were issued to circulate in China IndustryFinancial servicesPredecessorMercantile Bank of Bombay 1853 Mercantile Bank of India London and China 1857 Mercantile Bank of India Ltd 1893 Founded1853FateAcquired by HSBC1959Acquired by Citibank1984Acquired by the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ltd 1987HeadquartersBombay 1853 London 1858 By 1959 through a series of mergers and divisions its name had been shortened to Mercantile Bank Ltd and was acquired by HSBC the same year The bank was an issuer of Hong Kong bank notes until 1974 Contents 1 History 1 1 Early years 1853 1900 1 2 Transition years 1900 1959 1 3 Amalgamation into HSBC and divestment 1959 1987 2 See also 3 ReferencesHistory editEarly years 1853 1900 edit The historic bank started life in October 1853 as the Mercantile Bank of Bombay taking the name of the city Bombay where it was founded It expanded its operations to the Far East in November 1854 with the opening of an office in Shanghai In 1857 the bank was granted a royal charter and it established a presence in Hong Kong The name was late changed to the Mercantile Bank of India London and China and it moved its headquarters to London in 1858 1 2 3 It competed with the other great British banks of those times such as the Oriental Bank Corporation Hongkong and Shanghai Bank and Chartered Bank of India Australia and China involved in trade between India and China and other British possessions east of Suez By 1860 its total assets reached the amount of US 21 7 million a medium sized bank by the standards of that time a comparison shows that one of the leading Anglo Indian banks the Oriental Bank Corporation was about three times larger in terms of total assets With the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and completion of Indo European telegraph line 4 5 6 from London to Calcutta and its extension to China in 1871 7 most British banks including Mercantile bank were well placed to expand and develop its business The bank expanded its presence with branches across India the Straits Settlements and Federated Malay States and in Hong Kong and Shanghai It issued banknotes in Penang Singapore and Hong Kong It became the issuer of Hong Kong banknotes for the first time from 1859 to 1892 8 9 Trouble in 1893 meant it lost its charter and was reconstituted as the Mercantile Bank of India Ltd Transition years 1900 1959 edit There was a re consolidation of its operations at the beginning of the 20th century and in 1912 it again became an issuer of Hong Kong banknotes a privilege it retained until 1974 8 9 During the Second World War the Mercantile Bank had to close down several offices in the Far East but it managed to re open its offices after the war The Hong Kong office re opened in February 1946 and the Shanghai office in 1945 but was closed down its Shanghai operations in 1952 due to the Communist party rule 10 In 1952 total assets of the bank totalled US 205 5 million Amalgamation into HSBC and divestment 1959 1987 edit The bank was acquired in 1959 by The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation By then its name had been shortened again to the Mercantile Bank Ltd 11 12 The former office in Bombay now houses the HSBC Group s Head Office in India The Mercantile Bank continued to issue Hong Kong banknotes until the early 1970s 13 The signing of the historic Sino British Joint Declaration in 1984 provided HSBC added impetus to expand overseas and sold the entity Mercantile Bank Ltd to Citibank the same year as part of its consolidation strategy 14 15 It was eventually sold to the Bank of Tokyo Mitsubishi Ltd in 1987 citation needed Not to be confused with Bombay Mercantile Bank which a is Co operative bank See also edit nbsp Banks portalMercantile Bank disambiguation Banknotes of the Hong Kong dollar The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Chartered Bank of India Australia and China Oriental Bank CorporationReferences edit The Business History Review Vol 72 No 1 Mercantile Bank of India 1857 CEYLON Banknotes Chartered Mercantile Bank of India London amp China 1867 80 Page 32 The Rise of India Its Transformation from Poverty to Prosperity by Niranjan Rajadhyaksha Indo European Telegraph line and impact of rapid industrialization The Indo European Telegraph Company by Steven Roberts The foreign banks in China Part I 1850 1900 The Opening of China to the Outside World by John E Sandrock a b World Paper Money Catalog and History Hongkong Dollar a b Collection of Historical banknotes Hong Kong Shanghai China Archived 18 June 2013 at the Wayback Machine 255 Chapter A History of Modern Shanghai Banking The Rise and Decline of China Finance Capitalism Armonk New York London M E Sharpe 2003 325 p HSBC 150 years in India Archived from the original on 28 July 2013 Retrieved 8 January 2012 Flickr Mercantile Bank of India Bombay 1942 Hong Kong currency exhibition reveals story of city s evolution with photos Citibank completes acquisition of Mercantile Bank Ltd from Hongkong amp Shanghai Banking Corp dead link HSBC Holdings PLC Company Profile Information Business Description History Background Information on HSBC Holdings PLC Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mercantile Bank of India London and China amp oldid 1181203695, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
