Profession: Banker and Entrepreneur
Biography: Amadeo Giannini was an American banker, best known for founding the Bank of Italy. This was to become the Bank of America, which still exists today as a multinational investment bank and financial services holding company.
He founded the Bank of Italy in San Francisco in 1904, intended as an institution to serve immigrants who other banks would not serve. A major contribution of Giannini's was offering banking services to the middle class, where banks had prior served the upper classes exclusively.
The Bank of Italy would become the Bank of America after a merger, in which Giannini decided that the name better represented the now broader purpose.
He is known for this period in particular for lending Walt Disney the funds which were used to produce Snow White (1937), which was the first full-length animated film to be made in the United States.
Born: May 6, 1870
Birthplace: San Jose, California, USA
Star Sign: Taurus
Married Life
- 1892-09-14 American banker Amadeo Giannini (22) marries Clorinda Cuneo
Historical Events
- 1904-10-17 Bank of Italy (Bank of America), founded by Amadeo Giannini, opens its doors in Jackson Square, San Francisco
- 1908-08-17 Bank of Italy (now Bank of America) opens new HQ, the Bank of Italy building at Clay & Montgomery, San Francisco
- 1920-06-05 1st rivet driven on Bank of Italy headquarters at 1 Powell in San Francisco (later Bank of America)
- 1927-03-01 Bank of Italy (later Bank of America) becomes an American National Bank
- 1930-11-03 Bank of Italy renamed Bank of America
- 1936-01-14 L. M. (Mario) Giannini elected President of Bank of America
- 1941-12-09 300 Montgomery, San Francisco opens as new Bank of America HQ
Danny Meyer
Kris Jenner
Ted Turner
Doc Durant
Jorge Paulo Lemann
Mayer Amschel Rothschild