Location: Montreal Montreal Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America... , Quebec Quebec Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level.... , Canada Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

First President:

Existed: 1793-1875

Merged into modern-day Bank of Montreal Bank of Montreal The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it... .

The Molson Bank (sometimes labeled Molsons Bank) was a Canadian

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

 bank

Bank

A bank is a financial institution that serves as a financial intermediary. The term "bank" may refer to one of several related types of entities:...

 founded in Montreal

Montreal

Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...

, Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

, by brothers William (1793–1875) and John Molson, Jr. (1787–1860), the sons of brewery magnate John Molson

John Molson

John Molson was an English-speaking Quebecer who was a major brewer and entrepreneur in Canada, starting the Molson Brewing Company.-Birth and early life:...

.

The bank operated 125 branches in Quebec

Quebec

Quebec or is a province in east-central Canada. It is the only Canadian province with a predominantly French-speaking population and the only one whose sole official language is French at the provincial level....

 and rural Ontario

Ontario

Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....

:

• Waterloo, Ontario
  Waterloo, Ontario
  Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
  
  
• London, Ontario
  London, Ontario
  London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
  
  
• Ottawa, Ontario
• Simcoe, Ontario
  Simcoe, Ontario
  Simcoe is an unincorporated community and former town in Southwestern Ontario, Canada located near Lake Erie. It is the county seat and largest community of Norfolk County....
  
  

In 1850, it was constituted under the Free Banking Act passed by the parliament of the Province of Canada

Province of Canada

The Province of Canada, United Province of Canada, or the United Canadas was a British colony in North America from 1841 to 1867. Its formation reflected recommendations made by John Lambton, 1st Earl of Durham in the Report on the Affairs of British North America following the Rebellions of...

. To increase its powers and its revenue, the bank was incorporated in 1855. It granted a charter on May 19, 1855 in Montreal  allowing it to operate its bank in the same way as other banks. With its head office

Molson Bank Building, Montreal

The Molson Bank Building was built at the corner of St. Peter and St. James streets in Old Montreal as the headquarters of the Molson Bank in 1866 by order of founder William Molson . It was the first building in Montreal to be built in the Second Empire style...

 at the corner of St. James

Saint Jacques Street

Saint Jacques Street is a major street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The street has had two official names: St. James Street in English after St. James's, London; and its current appellation, rue Saint-Jacques, in French. Both names are sometimes used in English, though Saint-Jacques is the most...

 & St. Peter streets (today known as Saint-Jacques

Saint Jacques Street

Saint Jacques Street is a major street in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.The street has had two official names: St. James Street in English after St. James's, London; and its current appellation, rue Saint-Jacques, in French. Both names are sometimes used in English, though Saint-Jacques is the most...

 and Saint-Pierre streets) in Montreal, it continued in operation until 1925 when it merged with the Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal

The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...

.

The Bank of Montreal

Bank of Montreal

The Bank of Montreal , , or BMO Financial Group, is the fourth largest bank in Canada by deposits. The Bank of Montreal was founded on June 23, 1817 by John Richardson and eight merchants in a rented house in Montreal, Quebec. On May 19, 1817 the Articles of Association were adopted, making it...

 at 3 King Street South in Waterloo, Ontario

Waterloo, Ontario

Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....

, formerly known as the Molson's Bank, built in 1914 is on the Registry of Historical Places of Canada.

William Molson

William Molson

William Molson was a Canadian politician, entrepreneur and philanthropist. He was the founder and President of Molson Bank, which was later absorbed by the Bank of Montreal....

 was the first President (1855-1875) and brother John Molson Jr.

John Molson Jr.

John Molson Junior was a Canadian politician and entrepreneur. Former Director of Molson Bank, President of the Champlain and St. Lawrence Railroad , and President of Montreal General Hospital....

 as vice-president (1855-1860). Other Molson's to work at th bank included:

• John Thomas Molson was President in 1875
• John Henry Robinson Molson
  John Henry Robinson Molson
  John Henry Robinson Molson was a Canadian entrepreneur & philanthropist. Former owner of Molson Brewery and President of Molson Bank....
  
  , President 1889-1897
• Frederick William Molson(1860-1929) was President of the bank from 1921 to 1924.