SWISS BANK CORPORATION

German Schweizerischer Bankverein, French Socit De Banque Suisse, one of Switzerland's largest banks handling domestic and foreign accounts. Headquarters are in Basel, which has the main office for European banking. The main office for international banking is in Zrich. The bank was established in 1872 as Basler Bankverein, specializing in investment banking. In 1895 the name was changed to Basler und Zrcher Bankverein when it merged with Zrcher Bankverein. At that time the bank also began commercial banking, now its major activity. After absorbing two other Swiss banks in 1897 the bank adopted the present name. Since that time there have been a number of additional absorptions and acquisitions, and branches and representative offices have been opened both in Switzerland and other countries. The corporation's subsidiaries provide services in international banking and finance, industrial leasing, real estate finance, commercial and industrial banking, consumer credit, securities, merchant banking, trust, general and corporate finance, underwriting of bonds and stocks, manufacture of precious metal products, and trading in gold, silver, and platinum. Its affiliates are involved in commercial banking, corporate investments, and financial services.