National City Bank of New York - Hankow - 1921
The Bund, British Concession.
The International Banking Corporation was chartered to conduct American banking interests in China at a time when direct banking overseas was forbidden to US national banks. The IBC's first bank opened in Shanghai as early as 1902 and its Hankow branch was opened in 1910. Known by the Chinese as "Flower Flag Bank" after the stars of the American flag, the Bank was responsible for the issuing of banknotes in China which bore the distinctive (and very American) emblem of the eagle and the globe. An example of such a banknote which was in circulation in Hankow in 1918 can be seen at www.ichengxuan.com/images/2014s/2816.jpg .
By 1917, after three long years of war in Europe, New York had overtaken London as the financial capital of the world. That year, the IBC was acquired by the National City Bank of New York. Notwithstanding the takeover, it continued to operate in China under the International Banking Corporation name until 1927.
In the early 1920s, the IBC embarked on an ambitious expansion program in China and new branch buildings were constructed in Peking (1920), Tientsin (1921) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5223443571 , Canton (1924) and Hong Kong. The IBC chose American architects Henry Murphy and Richard Dana to design these buildings which all prominently featured Neo-classical styles to create a brand style for the bank.
When the building was completed in 1921, the IBC's emblem of the eagle and globe topped the parapet. Prominently sited on the Bund, it is adjacent to its very British competitor, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and both buildings can be seen in a 1928 photograph taken from HMS Durban, a Royal Navy warship at www.naval-history.net/ww1z08China42a.JPG .
After years as an office of the Public Security Bureau, the building has been recently restored and the eagle and globe which had been removed have been faithfully replaced.
The National City Bank of New York expanded over time and became Citibank in 1976.
National City Bank of New York - Hankow - 1921
The Bund, British Concession.
The International Banking Corporation was chartered to conduct American banking interests in China at a time when direct banking overseas was forbidden to US national banks. The IBC's first bank opened in Shanghai as early as 1902 and its Hankow branch was opened in 1910. Known by the Chinese as "Flower Flag Bank" after the stars of the American flag, the Bank was responsible for the issuing of banknotes in China which bore the distinctive (and very American) emblem of the eagle and the globe. An example of such a banknote which was in circulation in Hankow in 1918 can be seen at www.ichengxuan.com/images/2014s/2816.jpg .
By 1917, after three long years of war in Europe, New York had overtaken London as the financial capital of the world. That year, the IBC was acquired by the National City Bank of New York. Notwithstanding the takeover, it continued to operate in China under the International Banking Corporation name until 1927.
In the early 1920s, the IBC embarked on an ambitious expansion program in China and new branch buildings were constructed in Peking (1920), Tientsin (1921) - see my photo at www.flickr.com/photos/23268776@N03/5223443571 , Canton (1924) and Hong Kong. The IBC chose American architects Henry Murphy and Richard Dana to design these buildings which all prominently featured Neo-classical styles to create a brand style for the bank.
When the building was completed in 1921, the IBC's emblem of the eagle and globe topped the parapet. Prominently sited on the Bund, it is adjacent to its very British competitor, the Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and both buildings can be seen in a 1928 photograph taken from HMS Durban, a Royal Navy warship at www.naval-history.net/ww1z08China42a.JPG .
After years as an office of the Public Security Bureau, the building has been recently restored and the eagle and globe which had been removed have been faithfully replaced.
The National City Bank of New York expanded over time and became Citibank in 1976.