Opening of Bank of North America

Date: January 7, 1782 • Location: Washington, United States

The Bank of North America (pictured) opened in Philadelphia as the de facto first central bank of the United States.

The Bank of North America was the first chartered bank in the United States, and served as the country's first de facto central bank. It was chartered by the Congress of the Confederation on May 26, 1781, and opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 7, 1782.