RBA started out as early as 1875 at that time it was known as the Halifax Chronicle. It saw a vast potential in the upstart Merchants Bank of Halifax (later to be renamed The Royal Bank of Canada in 1901) and publicly noted the bank’s impressive ability to remain always moving, alive and active. Willing to test the outer limits of the Canadian banking consensus, Royal Bank’s evolution from a small regional bank into a national institution is attributed to the strength of its people and to its bold strategies tempered by the required caution.

The history of Royal Bank very closely parallels with the evolution of Canada from growth to maturity. Whether opening a branch at the end of steel era in support of emerging communities alongside Canada’s fledgling national railway, or aggressively pursuing new web and online e-commerce delivery channels, Royal Bank has always anticipated and responded to the needs of its Canadian customers.