Banca della Svizzera Italiana (BSI) is the oldest bank in the Swiss canton of Ticino. Founded in 1873 in Lugano, today BSI specialises in asset management and related services for private clients and external asset managers. Since 1998, BSI has been part of the Generali group, one of the world's biggest insurance companies.
[edit] History
- 1873 Banca della Svizzera Italiana BSI opens its main office on Piazza della Riforma in Lugano.
- 1874 BSI opens its first branch, in Locarno. It follows this with branches in Bellinzona (1879) and Chiasso (1906).
- 1880 BSI relocates its headquarters to the historic Palazzo dei Marchesi Riva, which dates back to 1747, where the headquarters of the Bank are located to this day.
- 1881-1907 BSI, which is the only bank in Ticino until the foundation of the Swiss National Bank, is part of the Consortium of Swiss banks authorised to issue banknotes.
- 1908 The Banca Commerciale Italiana of Milan acquires sizeable minority participation. With this operation, BSI strengthens its ties to the Italian and international banking communities.
- 1935 BSI opens a branch office in Zurich and acquires a seat on the Zurich Stock Exchange.
- 1969 BSI establishes a branch in Nassau, the Bahamas.
- 1973 BSI opens a branch office in St. Moritz and an affiliate in Guernsey.
- 1975 BSI extends its reach to the French speaking part of Switzerland.
- 1976 BSI establishes its first foothold in South America with a representative office in Caracas, Venezuela.
- 1981 BSI opens an office in Hong Kong.
- 1983 Banca Commerciale Italiana transfers its shares in BSI to Irving Trust. BSI opens a branch in New York.
- 1984 BSI opens an office in London.
- 1988 BSI extends its activities to the Principality of Monaco.
- 1990 BSI establishes BSI Finanziaria in Milan.
- 1991 Societa di Banca Svizzera becomes the major shareholder of BSI.
- 1998 Assicurazioni Generali, Trieste, a major global insurance company, becomes BSI's sole shareholder.
- 2000 As of January 1, the Banca della Svizzera Italiana officially changes its name to BSI SA. In November, it opens new offices in Lausanne.
- 2002 Banca BSI Italia SpA starts to operate as a bank in Italy.
- 2005 BSI acquires a 51% shareholding in Ifabanque, a French bank based in Paris, which then becomes BSI-Ifabanque SA. BSI also opens BSI Bank Ltd. in Singapore.
- 2006 BSI sells Banca BSI Italia to Banca Generali.
- 2006 BSI acquires Banca Unione di Credito, including BUS's shareholding in Lombard Bank Malta.
- 2007 BSI SA acquires Banca Del Gottardo. BSI also sells its shareholding in Lombard Bank Malta ot Marfin Popular Bank.
- 2008 BSI AG (Generali) obtains a CBB licence and opens its representative office in the Kingdom of Bahrain.
