RBC, the Royal Bank of Canada, is a multinational financial institution, operating in Canada and 40 other countries around the world. In 2018, it had assets of $1.27 trillion (CAN).
But its beginnings were humble. The bank first opened in Halifax, as the Merchants’ Bank of Halifax, back in 1864. In 1869, it was incorporated and received its charter – rapidly expanding.
By 1901, when it ‘modernized’ and changed its name to The Royal Bank of Canada, it had 64 branches. Now it has nearly 2,000 branches worldwide.
RBC celebrates its 150th Anniversary as a chartered bank this year; to be exact, on June 22, 2019.
To celebrate, the Bradford branch started serving up lemonade and RBC 150 cookies on Friday and Saturday, and decorated the branch with photos of its community interactions over the decades – because, said Community Manager Wayne Brakeboer, “That’s really what it’s all about.”
Customers were also invited to sign a giant birthday card by the door, wishing RBC a happy 150th.