| AdminHistory | The Bank began life as the Corts Commercial and Banking Company, becoming the Commercial Bank of Spanish America in 1911. In 1917 the Bank was in financial difficulties, mainly due to the war, so the Anglo-South American Bank offered to buy out a majority of the shareholders. The directors agreed and the Anglo-South American Bank gained complete control. However, the Anglo Bank did not derive much profit from the Commercial Bank in the early 1920s. Therefore in 1926 the Commercial Bank's branches in Central America, Colombia, Venezuela and Ecuador were incorporated into the Anglo Bank. In 1936 the Commercial Bank of Spanish America was liquidated, as part of a drive to reduce expenses when the Anglo Bank was suffering losses. |