Which bank, founded in 1784, is regarded as the oldest bank in the United States?

The Bank of New York, founded in 1784, is regarded as the oldest bank in the United States.

Alexander Hamilton helped establish the bank in New York City shortly after the American Revolution. It received a charter from the state of New York in 1791 and became an important financial institution during the early development of the United States.

The bank supported commerce, government finance and the growing economy of New York. In 2007, it merged with Mellon Financial Corporation to form The Bank of New York Mellon, commonly known as BNY Mellon.

The Bank of New York should not be confused with the First Bank of the United States. Congress chartered the First Bank in 1791 as a national institution, but its charter expired in 1811. The Bank of New York continued as a private commercial bank and therefore has a different institutional history from the federal First Bank.