LLOYDS BANK PLC

one of the largest comprehensive commercial banks in the United Kingdom, with subsidiary banks in other countries. It is headquartered in London. The bank was established as Taylor and Lloyd in 1765 and renamed Lloyds and Company in 1853. With the amalgamation of Moilliet and Sons in 1865, the firm was incorporated as Lloyds Banking Company Ltd., a joint-stock company. Since 1865 the bank has absorbed more than 50 other banks. It adopted the name Lloyds Bank Ltd. in 1889 and reregistered under the present name in 1982 as a result of the 1980 Companies' Act. In 1973 Lloyds Bank acquired practically all of the stock of Lloyds and BOLSA International Bank, Ltd. BOLSA (Bank of London and South America) had been formed in 1923 with the merger of two Latin-American banks. BOLSA had acquired the business of the Anglo-South American Bank in 1936, giving it interests in France, Spain, and Portugal as well as in most Latin-American countries. During the next few years Lloyds further expanded its geographic base; by 1978 it had offices and subsidiaries in 43 countries, providing banking and financial services throughout the world. A principal subsidiary bank is Lloyds Bank International, Ltd., which provides multicurrency deposits and loans, foreign exchange, and financial advice in foreign countries.