Voting Station

Amadeo P. Giannini

Please vote to return to collections.

Financier

The Resume

    (May 6, 1870-June 3, 1949)
    Born in San Jose, California
    Founded the Bank of Italy (October 17, 1904), which evolved into Bank of America
    Bank had over 5,000 branches and 3.5 million depositors when he died

Why he might be annoying:

    He dropped out of high school to work as a produce broker for his stepfather.
    He got into banking because his father-in-law owned a large share of Columbus Savings and Loan.
    He opened the first branch of the Bank of Italy in a converted saloon.
    California banking officials who issued rulings favorable to him were frequently given jobs with Bank of America after they left government service.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He did so well in produce that he was able to sell his half of the business to his employees and retire at age 31.
    After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, he moved the bank's funds and records to his house outside the fire zone, hauling the money in a garbage wagon hidden under the trash.
    As one of the few bankers with access to cash after the quake, he offered rebuilding loans on a handshake basis, operating from a plank laid across two barrels on the sidewalk.
    He was one of the first bankers to offer financial services for the middle class.
    He was the first banker to allow women to open their accounts without requiring a husband's permission.
    He took a modest salary as bank president, commenting, 'When a man has more money than he needs, he's a slave to his money.'
    American Banker magazine named him one of the ten most influential bankers of the 20th century.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 6 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 7 Votes: 28.57% Annoying