Which bank is the oldest surviving bank in the United States?

The Bank of New York is generally identified as the oldest surviving bank in the United States. Alexander Hamilton founded it in New York City in 1784, making it one of the earliest American banks established after independence.

The institution began before the creation of the First Bank of the United States and became important in financing New York’s commercial growth. It accepted deposits, made loans, and supported payments at a time when the new republic had no unified national banking system.

The bank later expanded through mergers and became part of The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation. The modern company combines the historic Bank of New York with Mellon, a major Pittsburgh-based financial institution founded in the nineteenth century.

A frequent confusion concerns the Bank of North America, chartered in 1781. That institution is often described as the first national bank of the United States, but the Bank of New York is commonly cited as the country’s oldest continuously operating bank. The distinction depends on whether “first” or “surviving” is being asked.