Moscow Merchant Bank

The Moscow Merchant Bank (Московский купеческий банк) was a major bank in the Russian Empire, founded in 1866. In late 1917 following the Russian Revolution, like all other commercial banks in Russia, it was absorbed into the State Bank with no compensation to its shareholders.

Overview


The bank was founded in 1866 in Moscow in the form of a stock partnership by 77 local entrepreneurs led by Ivan A. Lyamin, who became its chairman. The bank's charter was approved by Alexander II on 1866/06/01. The initial share capital was 1.26 million rubles.

The bank financed mainly textile enterprises in the Central Industrial Region and, in the late 19th century, was for some time the second largest in assets among private-sector banks in Russia. At the start of the 20th century it was still third-largest, and the largest one not headquartered in Saint Petersburg.