Citigroup History

Citibank N.A.

Till it became part of Citigroup

On June 16, 1812, with $2 million of capital, City Bank of New York (now Citibank) opened for business in New York City. Through many different leaders and economic environments over the course of its rich history, Citibank continues to grow and prosper.

In 1968, First National City Corporation (later renamed Citicorp), a bank holding company, became the parent of Citibank.

In 1998, all Citicorp divisions merged with all divisions of Travelers Group to form Citigroup Inc. Citibank continues as a strong brand under the Citigroup umbrella.

1812
June 16: New York State charters City Bank of New York with authorized capital of $2 million and paid­in capital of $800,000.

September 14: City Bank opens for business to serve a group of New York merchants.

Samuel Osgood is elected president (1812–1813).

1813
First dividend is paid.

1822
Farmers' Fire Insurance and Loan Company is founded, the first incorporated trust company in the U.S. Its name becomes Farmers' Loan and Trust Company in 1835, and it merges with National City Bank in 1929.

1827
Isaac Wright is elected president (1827–1832).

1856
Moses Taylor is elected president (1856–1882).

1865
City Bank joins the new U.S. national banking system and becomes The National City Bank of New York.

1882
Percy Pyne is elected president (1882–1891).

1891
James Stillman is elected president (1891–1909). He also serves as chairman (1909–1918).

1894
Becomes the largest bank in the U.S.

1897
First major U.S. bank to establish a foreign department; begins foreign­exchange trading.

1902
Expands into Asia, Europe and India, with offices from Shanghai to Manila.

1904
Introduces traveler's checks.

The bank moves to larger quarters at 55 Wall Street, its headquarters until 1961.

1909
Frank Vanderlip is elected president (1909–1919); James Stillman is elected the first chairman (1909–1918).

1913
The bank is the first contributor to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.

1914
November 10: National City inaugurates the first foreign branch of any U.S. national bank, in Buenos Aires.

1915
Opens National City Bank office in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Now America's leading international bank, with the largest overseas branch network of any U.S. bank.

1918
International Banking Corporation, a U.S. overseas bank, becomes a wholly owned subsidiary of National City.

1919
First U.S. bank with $1 billion in assets.

James A. Stillman, son of chairman James Stillman, is elected president (1919-1921).

1921
National City is the first major U.S. bank to offer compound interest on savings accounts.

Charles E. Mitchell is elected president (1921–1929) and later chairman (1929–1933).

1928
May 3: First major American bank to offer unsecured personal loans to its depositors.

National City Bank is the first to open a Personal Loan Department.

1929
The bank becomes the largest commercial bank in the world.

Expansion is accelerated with a merger: the Farmers' Loan and Trust Company becomes the City Bank Farmers Trust Company.

Gordon S. Rentschler is elected president (1929-1940) and later appointed chairman (1940-1948).

1933
James H. Perkins is elected chairman (1933–1940).

1935
The bank develops monthly payment loans for small businesses.

1936
First bank in New York City to offer consumer checking accounts with no minimum-balance requirement.


1939
Citibank has opened 100 offices in 23 countries outside the U.S., forming the largest international bank.

1940
William Gage Brady, Jr. is elected president (1940–1948) and later chairman (1948–1952).

1945
The bank handles more than $5.6 billion in U.S. Treasury securities in a series of war loan and victory loan drives.

1948
Howard C. Sheperd is elected president (1948-1952) and later chairman (1952-1959).

1952
James Stillman Rockefeller is elected president (1952–1959) and later chairman (1959–1967).

1955
The bank changes its name to The First National City Bank of New York.

1959
George S. Moore is elected president (1959–1967) and later chairman (1967–1970).

1961
Invents the negotiable certificate of deposit (CD).

A new subsidiary, First National City Overseas Investment Corporation, becomes the bank's holding company for non-U.S.-based subsidiaries and affiliates.

The new home office, 399 Park Avenue, is completed.

1962
The bank marks its 150th anniversary by shortening its name to First National City Bank.

1964
Enters the leasing business.

1965
Enters the credit card business.

1966
Citibank introduces Dollar Certificates of Deposit in the London market, the first new negotiable instrument in the London market since 1888.

1967
Walter B. Wriston is elected president (1967–1970) and later serves as chairman (1970–1984).

Introduces Citibank's first credit card ­­ the "First National City Charge Service" ­­ popularly known as the "Everything" card.

1968
First National City Corporation, a bank holding company, becomes the parent of First National City Bank.

1969
The "Everything" card is converted to Master Charge (today's MasterCard).

1970
William I. Spencer is elected president (1970–1982).

1974
The First National City Corporation holding company changes its name to Citicorp to better suit its global businesses. Citicorp introduces the floating­rate note into the U.S. financial market.

1976
First National City Bank becomes Citibank, N.A. (for National Association).

1977
Citibank launches Citicard Banking Centers, anchored by ATMs and the Citicard. The 24-hour ATMs are for the first time used for more than emergency cash.

1979
Becomes the world's leading foreign­exchange dealer.

1981
Acquires Diners Club.

1982 to 1984
Savings & Loan acquisitions in California, Florida, Illinois and Washington, D.C. make Citicorp the largest bank holding company in the U.S.

1984
John S. Reed is elected chairman (1984-1998).

Citibank London is a founding member of CHAPS Clearing Company, one of the largest real-time gross settlement systems in the world, second only to Fedwire in the U.S.

1985
Introduces Direct Access® in New York, linking personal computers in homes and offices with Citibank.









1986
Introduces unique touch-screen automated teller machines in New York City and Hong Kong.

1989
Becomes the leading issuer of securitized credit card receivables.

A new skyscraper at Court Square, Long Island City, New York, is built.

1992
Citibank, N.A. becomes the largest bank in the United States.

Citicorp's global reach links branches and offices in more than 90 countries.

1993
Becomes the largest credit card and charge card issuer and servicer in the world.

Merges savings banks acquired in the 1980s and begins operating them as Citibank, FSB under a single charter.

1994
Opens the first fully foreign­owned commercial bank in Russia.

1995
Celebrates the 20th anniversary of the Consumer Banking Business.

Opens the first full­service branch in China in 45 years and branches in Vietnam and South Africa.

1996
Has largest number of credit cards in Asia. Taiwan becomes the first country outside the U.S. with over 1 million credit cards.

1998
October 8: All Citicorp and Travelers Group divisions merge to become Citigroup Inc.



Salomon Brothers

This timeline represents the history of this business until it became a part of the Citigroup family.

1910
With $5,000 in savings and a small family loan, Arthur, Herbert and Percy Salomon leave their father's firm and start their own business, Salomon Brothers, at 80 Broadway in New York City.

Salomon joins forces with Morton Hutzler, an established firm with a seat on the New York Stock Exchange. Salomon Brothers & Hutzler is born.

Salomon Brothers & Hutzler registers with the Treasury and becomes one of the first primary dealers in U.S. government securities.

1929
The U.S. stock market crashes and Salomon Brothers & Hutzler weathers the storm for two reasons:
The firm holds only a small position in the stock market.
Salomon Brothers refuses to carry margin accounts, which ultimately lead to the downfall of many investors.
Salomon Brothers further benefits when banks turn to bonds as a "safe haven" after the crash.

1940s
In the United States, the government raises funds for World War II through Treasury auctions. This substantially increases the government bond business and the role played by Salomon and other investment houses specializing in these securities.

By the end of World War II, Salomon Brothers & Hutzler has grown substantially.

The 1950s and 1960s
Through the vision and guidance of William "Billy" Salomon, son of one of the founding brothers, Salomon Brothers expands and automates its back office and operation. Salomon's use of technology equips the firm to handle increased volume, as well as better serve the ever-changing needs of its customers.

November 1963: Billy Salomon becomes the first managing partner of the firm.

Salomon's investment in research, technology and talent continues into the 1960s, leading to recognition within the financial community.

1970
Salomon Brothers & Hutzler moves from 60 Wall Street to One New York Plaza, and the firm's name is officially shortened to Salomon Brothers.

The firm opens a London office and, soon after that, offices in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

1975
New York City is on the verge of financial collapse. To resolve the crisis, the Municipal Assistance Corporation (christened “Big Mac” by the press) is formed. It issues bonds to pay off holders of city obligations while generating much-needed revenues.

The initial underwriting is for $1 billion, making it the largest municipal issuance in history. Salomon Brothers is selected to manage the offerings from the investment banking side.

1978
John Gutfreund is named successor to Billy Salomon.

1980s
Throughout the 1980s, Salomon Brothers expands its role as an innovator within the financial industry. The highlights of this decade include:
Introduction of Collateralized Mortgage Obligations (CMOs).


The merger of Salomon Brothers with Philip Brothers – a marriage of "Salomon-ingenuity" and "Philip-cash" that gives Salomon Brothers leverage to make great headway into global investment banking, mortgage-backed securities, as well as other areas of opportunity.


The first public offering of "CARS" – a security backed by automobile loans.


Introduction of Salomon Brothers Broad Investment Grade Bond Index ("BIG").


Launch of the Salomon Brothers World Bond Index – a valuable tool used to measure returns of both single and multicurrency portfolios.


The deregulation of the capital markets within the United Kingdom, marking the beginning of unprecedented opportunities for firms prepared to make the most of them. Ultimately, Salomon joins the London Stock Exchange and becomes a primary dealer there.


The development of Sophisticated Analytical Applications, including Yield Book, a powerful fixed-income analytics system that provides Salomon Brothers with a competitive advantage in the area of bond portfolio analysis.
The 1990s
Deryck C. Maughan, former head of Tokyo operations, is named Chief Operating Officer in 1991. Warren Buffet, a director and the largest shareholder, is named Chairman and CEO in 1991, and Maughan becomes Chairman and CEO in 1992.

The firm’s commitment to computer technology and infrastructure takes a dramatic leap forward in the early part of the decade.

Salomon Brothers relocates all its support operations to Tampa, Florida, where it builds a 130,000-square-foot facility, housing state-of-the-art computer, electrical and telecommunications systems.

1997
November 26: Smith Barney, a wholly owned subsidiary of Travelers Group, merges with Salomon Inc. to form Salomon Smith Barney. The firm combines the fundamental strengths of two leaders in the financial community whose vast experience, breadth of resources and global intellectual capital positions it to be a market leader in the next millennium.

1998
October 8: Travelers Group and Citicorp merge to form Citigroup Inc., a global leader in financial services.