The Royal Bank of Scotland was founded in 1727. Originally opened with a staff of just eight, our first premises were in the Old Town of Edinburgh. For more than half a century, we traded solely from the Scottish capital, but in 1783 we opened our first branch in the fast-growing trading city of Glasgow. This new office was soon conducting over half of the Bank's entire business. Spurred on by this success, many more branches opened across Scotland and then, in 1874, our first office opened in London.
Domestic and overseas growth
In the twentieth century we expanded rapidly, acquiring several English banks including Williams Deacon's Bank, Glyn, Mills & Co and Drummonds Bank. In the 1950s our mobile banks began serving rural communities, and by 1960 our first office opened in New York. In 1969 we merged with National Commercial Bank of Scotland to achieve a greater market share in Scotland. We also introduced the daisy wheel brand mark which remains so central to our corporate identity.
1980s
During the 1980s the group diversified, setting up its "innovative car insurance company" Direct Line.
It became the first UK insurance firm to use the telephone as its main channel of communication.
When it started out it employed 63 people - there are now more than 10,000 employees based in call centres in Birmingham, Bristol, Glasgow, Leeds and Manchester.
1700s
The Royal Bank of Scotland itself was founded in Edinburgh, by royal charter, on 31 May, 1727.
It opened its first branch in Glasgow in 1783 and developed a large network of offices throughout Scotland during the 19th Century.
In 1874 it opened a branch office in London and from the 1920s it developed, by acquisition, a major presence in England.
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