National Bank of Canada

This article is about a commercial bank. For Canada's central bank, see Bank of Canada.

National Bank of Canada

Company type	Public company
Traded as	TSX: NA
Industry	Bank
Founded	1859
Headquarters	Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Key people	Louis Vachon (CEO)
Products	Financial services
Revenue	$5,464 million CAD (2014)
Net income	$1,538 million CAD (2014)
Number of employees	20, 125 (April 30, 2015)
Website	www.nbc.ca

The National Bank of Canada (Template:Lang-fr) is the sixth largest commercial bank in Canada. It is headquartered in Montreal, and has branches in most Canadian provinces and 2.4 million personal clients. National Bank is the largest bank in Quebec, and the second largest financial institution in the province, after Desjardins. National Bank's Institution Number is 006 and its SWIFT code is BNDCCAMM.

As at October 31, 2014, National Bank had a network of 452 branches and 933 Automated Teller Machines in Canada. It also had a number of representative offices, subsidiaries and partnerships in other countries, through which it serves Canadian and non-Canadian clients.

In 2011, National Bank was placed third in Bloomberg's list of the "The World’s Strongest Banks".

History

The headquarters of the National Bank of Canada is located in Tour de la Banque Nationale.

National Bank of Canada Office in Toronto.

National Bank of Canada in Richmond Hill

• May 1859

The Province of Canada is comprised of Upper and Lower Canada (Ontario and Quebec) under a single legislature when Eugène Chinic, Isidore Thibodeau, Ulric-Joseph Tessier, Olivier Robitaille, Cirice Têtu, David Dussault and Prudent Vallée of Quebec City petition the Legislative Assembly to incorporate a new bank. Dissatisfied with the policies of existing banks, francophone businessmen feel the need to establish a bank under their own control, a bank that will promote their own interests. The Act of Incorporation is passed and on May 4th Banque Nationale the first of a series of financial establishments that would become National Bank Financial Group is born.

• May 1860

Banque Nationale opens for business in the offices of the Caisse d’économie de Notre-Dame de Québec on Saint-Jean Street in Quebec City. Some members of the anglophone bourgeoisie participate in the Bank’s share capital, but francophones retain exclusive control and hold all seats on the Board of Directors with Ulric-Joseph Tessier, lawyer and Member of the Legislative Assembly serving as Chairman.

• 1861

The rival Banque Jacques Cartier is established in the same way in Montreal. It goes through a reorganization in 1900, changing its name to The Provincial Bank of Canada and gradually setting up a network of offices throughout Quebec and in some regions of Ontario, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

• 1862

Following a fire, Banque Nationale sets up permanent residence on rue Saint-Pierre, which later becomes Quebec City's banking district.

• 1874

The Banque d’Hochelaga is founded in Montreal. Despite modest beginnings, by the turn of the century it is expanding rapidly. Following the First World War, Banque Nationale, The Provincial Bank of Canada and the Banque d’Hochelaga are all successful in serving the same Quebec market, and competition is strong. It is publicly suggested that merging these banks would make them more effective in promoting the economic development of Quebec.

• 1878 & 1885

The Bank registers losses as a result of difficulties caused by economic crises.

• 1924

A severe recession shakes Banque Nationale in the early 1920s. Negotiations for a merger with the Banque d’Hochelaga lead to an agreement creating the Banque Canadienne Nationale, later known in English as the Bank Canadian National (BCN). The success of this merger is due in part to assistance provided by the Province of Quebec through special legislation. The Provincial Bank declines an invitation to join forces with the other two banks.

BCN and The Provincial Bank safely weather Depression hardships, as does the entire Canadian banking system.

• 1968

Working closely with other banks, Bank Canadian National launches Chargex, the first credit card to be issued by a Canadian bank.

• 1970

As a result of the 1924 merger, Bank Canadian National is twice the size of its closest competitor The Provincial Bank, giving it greater prestige and faster growth. The Provincial Bank takes on a more aggressive character and eventually takes over several other institutions. In 1970, it merges with The People’s Bank, a commercial bank that had been established in 1968 to continue the work of the much-respected Quebec Savings Bank itself founded more than a century earlier.

• 1976

Instituting a national expansion program, The Provincial Bank also takes over the Toronto-based Unity Bank of Canada, and in 1979 acquires Laurentide Financial Corporation Ltd. of Vancouver, a well-known Canadian finance company.

• 1978

The Provincial Bank of Canada (soon to merge with Bank Canadian National to create National Bank) joins forces with Bell Canada to construct two immense office towers—to become the Head Offices of both companies—on de La Gauchetière street in downtown Montreal.

• November 1979

By the late 1970s, Bank Canadian National and The Provincial Bank have grown into major banks with assets of nine and six billion dollars respectively. Although both still have a large part of their operations concentrated in Quebec, they've been actively developing business nationally and internationally over the preceding decade. At this point, they agree to combine forces to form National Bank of Canada in what is one of the largest bank mergers in history.

The newly-formed bank eliminates duplication, reduces expenses and increases volume in its traditional markets. By uniting the substantial resources at its disposal, National Bank is better able to compete with other major Canadian and international banks in providing first-quality banking and financial services to satisfy a wide range of client needs.

• 1983

National Bank moves into its new Head Office building at 600 de La Gauchetière West in Montreal.

• 1985

National Bank acquires The Mercantile Bank of Canada. This transaction helps it strengthen its presence in the commercial loans market and accelerates its plans to expand into Ontario and Western Canada. In 1987 following the deregulation of financial services that had started in this period, National Bank begins to establish subsidiaries and makes acquisitions in securities brokerage, insurance and wealth management, as well as mutual fund and retirement plan management. These transactions also help the Bank grow outside Quebec in selected niche markets.

• 1987

National Bank Securities Inc. is founded to provide discount brokerage, mutual fund and immigrant investor services.

• 1988

The brokerage firm Lévesque Beaubien becomes a National Bank subsidiary. A year later, Lévesque Beaubien merges with Geoffrion Leclerc to become Lévesque Beaubien Geoffrion.

• 1992

National Bank merges the activities of its wholly-owned National Bank Leasing Inc.subsidiary with its own operations.

• 1993

National Bank sells its lease financing operations to GE Capital and acquires the assets ofGeneral Trust of Canada, a company specializing in trust activities since 1927.

• 1994

National Bank, through its subsidiary Natbank, opens its first U.S. branch in Pompano Beach, Florida.

• 1995

A second Natbank branch and head office are opened in Hollywood, Florida. National Bank also launches National Bank Life Insurance Company.

• 1996

National Bank acquires two Ontario trust companies, Family Trust Corporation and The Municipal Savings and Loan Corporation. It founds National Bank Financial Services (Investments) Inc., as well as the subsidiary NBC Clearing Services Incorporated. National Bank acquires two Ontario trust companies, Family Trust Corporation and The Municipal Savings and Loan Corporation. It founds National Bank Financial Services (Investments) Inc., as well as the subsidiary NBC Clearing Services Incorporated.

• 1997

To be accessible to as many clients as possible and to remain a technology leader, National Bank launches its Web site. It also concludes an agreement to acquire a US $75 million stake in an investors' group led by the firm Infisa S.A. with a view to investing in banks as well as brokerage, insurance and pension fund management firms in a number of Latin American countries.

• 1998

National Bank and the Caisse de dépôt et placement du Québec join forces to create Alter Moneta, a lease financing company.

• 1999

National Bank concludes its purchase of First Marathon, a Toronto-based brokerage firm. First Marathon and the Bank's subsidiary Lévesque Beaubien Geoffrion Inc. merge their operations to form National Bank Financial, a new Canadian investment-services company. The Bank also creates a new subsidiary, AssurNat Management Inc., to offer general insurance directly to retail clients in Quebec.

The Bank launches National Bank Discount Brokerage Inc. to take over the InvesTel discount brokerage service. National Bank Securities, which until then has administered InvesTel, is now free to concentrate exclusively on the National Bank Mutual Funds family.

• 2001

In order to standardize its brand image with consumers, National Bank continues its strategy of including the National Bank name with the name of its various subsidiaries. AssurNat changes its name to Assurances Banque Nationale, and General Trust of Canada subsidiary becomes National Bank Trust.

• 2002

National Bank Financial, a National Bank subsidiary, acquires the U.S. based investment bank Putnam Lovell Group Inc. These two organizations now operate as a single business unit under the marketing banner of Putnam Lovell NBF through offices in New York, Toronto, and London.

National Bank also acquires mutual fund manager and distributor Altamira. The acquisition of this leading brand name significantly expands National Bank's presence outside Quebec in the area of wealth management, doubles its mutual funds under management, broadens its offering of products and services and increases profitability.

• 2006

National Bank assets exceed $100 billion.

• March 2006

Computershare acquires the shareholder management services of National Bank Trust.

• June 2007

Réal Raymond, President and Chief Executive Officer since 2002, retires. He is succeeded by Louis Vachon, former President and Chief Operating Officer.

• 2008

National Bank acquires four independent full-service brokerage firms, expanding its presence in Toronto and Winnipeg and reinforcing its leadership in the Quebec market.

That same year, National Bank embarks on a major organizational transformation as part of its One client, one bank vision in order to better meet the needs and expectations of its clients and position itself to deliver industry-leading results.

• 2009

National Bank launches Private Wealth 1859, a comprehensive offering of sophisticated products and services geared to the needs of affluent clients.

On May 4, National Bank celebrates its 150th anniversary.

• 2011

National Bank acquires Wellington West Holdings Inc., one of the leading independent full service wealth management firms in Canada.

• 2012

National Bank continues to grow its presence Canada-wide, with the purchase of the full service investment advisory business of HSBC Securities (Canada) Inc.

The Bank merges its Natcan asset management subsidiary with Fiera Capital Corporation, and acquires a strategic interest in the firm, making Fiera one of the largest independent portfolio managers in Canada. This transaction strengthens National Bank’s ability to grow in this high-potential market segment.

National Bank further expands its online services by launching its Mobile Banking Solutions. Clients with smartphones are now able to perform various banking transactions, including person-to-person payments through Interac’s electronic transfer application, which the Bank is the first to offer on a mobile platform.

During 2012, National Bank also plays a pivotal role, as part of a group of 12 major Canadian banks and pension funds, in the acquisition of TMX Group. This transaction ensures Canada’s standing as a global financial centre of excellence.

The number of visitors to clearfacts.ca, the Bank’s financial literacy website, surpasses the 1 million mark. The site contains a wealth of resources to help consumers make informed decisions about money matters.

• 2013

National Bank announces the largest donation in its history: $10 million to Campus Montréal (HEC Montréal, Polytechnique Montréal and Université de Montréal) for the creation of the National Bank | HEC Montréal Institute for Entrepreneurship to support entrepreneurial education and the development of entrepreneurs.

In November, National Bank finalizes the acquisition of TD Waterhouse Institutional Services (TDWIS). This transaction marks another major milestone in the Canada-wide expansion of the Bank’s wealth management sector.

• 2014

National Bank opens offices of its Private Wealth 1859 subsidiary in Vancouver and Calgary.

Further to its acquisition of TD Waterhouse Institutional Services in November 2013, National Bank completes one of the largest asset conversions in Canadian financial history in just seven months, making National Bank Correspondent Network the premier provider of brokerage, custody, trading, clearing, settlement and record-keeping services for registered independent portfolio managers and introducing brokers.

Management structure

The management structure of the bank consists of an Office of the President and a Board of Directors. The membership of the two structures as at 2014 are:

Office of the President

• Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer
• William Bonnell, Executive Vice-President – Risk Management
• Dominique Fagnoule, Executive Vice-President – Information Technology
• Diane Giard, Executive Vice-President – Personal and Commercial Banking
• Brigitte Hébert, Executive Vice-President - Operations
• Lynn Jeanniot, Executive Vice-President – Human Resources and Corporate Affairs
• Karen Leggett, Executive Vice-President – Marketing and Corporate Strategy
• Luc Paiement, Executive Vice-President – Wealth Management and Co-President and Co-Chief Executive Officer, National Bank Financial
• Ghislain Parent, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice-President – Finances and Treasury
• Ricardo Pascoe, Executive Vice-President – Financial Markets

Board of Directors

Jean Houde, Chairman of the Board Louis Vachon, President and Chief Executive Officer Raymond Bachand, Director Maryse Bertrand, Director Lawrence S. Bloomberg, Director Pierre Boivin, Director André Caillé, Director Gillian H. Denham, Director Richard Fortin, Director Karen Kinsley, Director Louise Laflamme, Director Julie Payette, Director Roseann Runte, Director Lino A. Saputo, Jr., Director Andrée Savoie, Director Pierre Thabet, Director

Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries as of October 31, 2014:

• National Bank Life Insurance Company

National Bank Insurance Firm Inc., National Bank Planning and Benefits Inc.

• NBC Alternative Investments Inc.
• CABN Investments Inc.
• National Bank Direct Brokerage Inc
• FBN Funding, LLC
• NBF Securities (USA) Corp.
• National Bank Financial Ltd.

NBF Financial Services Inc., NBF Financial Services Ltd

• Innocap Investment Management Inc.
• NBCN Inc.
• NCEJV, LLC
• Natcan Trust Company
• National Bank Trust Inc.
• National Bank Investments Inc.
• National Founders LP

Credit agency ratings

On October 26, 2012, rating agency Moody’s Investors Service said it is reviewing the long-term ratings of the National Bank of Canada, because of concerns about consumer debt levels, housing prices, and more.

External links

• National Bank of Canada/Banque Nationale du Canada
• Natbank
• National Bank Direct Brokerage inc.
• National Bank Financial
• National Bank General Insurance