The History of Banco de Chile
Banco de Chile was founded on October 28, 1893, with an initial capital of Ch$20,000,000 following the merger of Banco Nacional de Chile, Banco Agrícola and Banco de Valparaíso.
It formally began operating two months later on January 2, 1894, from its main offices in Santiago and Valparaíso, a network of 23 branches throughout Chile and 10 agencies abroad for its international transactions.
Mr. José Besa Infanta developed private banking in Chile and was a founder of Banco Nacional. He became the first Chairman of Banco de Chile (1894-1905). Ms. Clarisa Lorca was the first customer, who deposited her money with the Bank and became the first checking account holder.
Since it was formed, two Chilean Presidents have been Chairmen of the Bank: Mr. Germán Riesco Errázuriz and Mr. Juan Esteban Montero Rodríguez.
The headquarters building of Banco de Chile was inaugurated in 1926. It was constructed by the renowned Viennese architect Alberto Siegel Lübbe and is characterized by its French neoclassical style. It took four years and 1,000 workers to build.
The Teletón Foundation was created in 1978 and since then Banco de Chile has been the funds collection institution for this great charitable crusade for 43 consecutive years, enlisting its network of branches throughout the country and all its employees on a voluntary basis.
Chile experienced a very powerful earthquake in 2010, which reached 8.8 on the Richter scale. Southern Chile was badly affected. Banco de Chile, Banco Santander and the Teletón Foundation introduced the “Chile helps Chile” campaign to raise funds to help rebuild a large part of southern Chile that was destroyed. The campaign was a great success.
The headquarters building joined in the celebration of Heritage Day in 2018 by opening its doors for the first time in 125 years, welcoming hundreds of visitors who wanted to learn more about it.
MoreBanco de Chile Figures
2.4 Millions
Customers
266 Branches
+1 Millions
digital FAN accounts
1.810 ATMs and ATIs
Employees
- Banco de Chile employees: 10,610
- Corporation employees: 12,550
- Subsidiary employees: 1,940
- Internal mobility: 47%
- Persons with disabilities: 1.36%
- Training hours: 496,736
- Climate Survey score: 92.23%
Community
- Social Inversion: $ 5.902.449.650
- Total loans: Ch$34.256 billion
- Market share: 16.7%
- Return on equity 21.0%
- Capital over equity: 17.3%
- Efficiency ratio: 39,8%
Ethics and Transparency
The corporation has an ethics management and transparency system consisting of its Code of Conduct and its Ethics Committee, made up of members of senior management. Its objective is to implement guidelines on these matters and strengthen and regulate professional and personal conduct within the organization. In this area, the Bank conducts ongoing training for all employees while providing them a formal, confidential complaint reporting mechanism.
The current Code of Conduct has eight dimensions: Bank Secrecy, Acting on Behalf of the Bank, Conflicts of Interest, Use of Resources, Handling Confidential Information, Risk and Cybersecurity, Respectful Treatment and Conduct and Internal and External Fraud.
In 2020, existing protocols were reviewed, in order to strengthen our complaint channels and reduce the number of cases involving employees and teams, thus encouraging a dignified and respectful working environment.
Communication Channels
https://cl.linkedin.com/company/banco-de-chile
@bancodechile
@bancochile.cl
bancodechile
@bancodechile 
Employees
- Intranet
- Emails
- Soy Del Chile Teams
- Competency Assessment
- Counseling Program (Programa Orienta)
- My Health Program (Programa Mi Salud)
- Quality of Life Program
- Active Chile Program
- Point Bank
- Team meetings
Community
Contact:
Partnerships and Memberships
Banco de Chile engages with several organizations and establishes transparent and constructive relationships in accordance with current regulations and its policies and standards.
Some of our alliances and memberships are as follows:
Recognition
Banco de Chile has received a number of different awards.
Recognition in 2023
Merco Empresas y Líderes 2023
Tercer lugar ranking general Empresas con Mejor Reputación Corporativa de Chile.
Merco Responsabilidad ESG
4º lugar en el ranking general de las 100 Empresas más Responsables y con Mejor Gobierno Corporativo.
Ranking PXI - Praxis Xperience Index 2023
1er lugar del sector Instituciones Financieras Grandes en Experiencia de Clientes.
Recognition in 2022
Merco Empresas y Líderes 2022
Segundo lugar ranking general Empresas con Mejor Reputación Corporativa de Chile.
Mejor solución de banca digital
Otorgado por el portal especializado Chócale en los “Premios de Educación e Inclusión Financiera Chócale 2022”
Merco Talento 2022
1° lugar Bancos e Instituciones Financieras por 9° año consecutivo y 2° lugar en ranking general de 100 empresas.
Merco Responsabilidad ESG
Tercer lugar en ranking general y top ten en temas Ambientales, Sociales y Gobierno Corporativo.
Mejor Banco en Chile
Otorgado por la revista “Global Finance” en los Best Bank Awards 2022.
“Banco del Año”, “Banco Digital Innovador del Año” y “Mejor Banco para la Inclusión Financiera”
Otorgados por la revista “The European” en los Global Banking & Finance Awards 2022.
Recognition in 2021
Merco Empresas y Líderes 2021
Segundo lugar ranking general Empresas con Mejor Reputación Corporativa de Chile
“Bank of the Year,” “Innovative Digital Bank of the Year” and “Best Bank for Financial Inclusion.”
Granted by “The European” magazine at the Global Banking & Finance Awards 2021.
Merco Responsibility and Corporate Governance
Second place, Most Responsible Company with the Best Corporate Governance in Chile in 2020.
Best Bank in Chile
Granted by the “Global Finance” magazine at the Best Bank Awards 2021.
Best company in Chile at attracting and retaining talent.
First place for the eighth consecutive year in the Banking and Financial Institutions category and one of the top three companies in Chile.
Recognition in 2020
Merco Companies and Leaders
Second place, Company with the Best Corporate Reputation in Chile in 2020.
First place, Merco Talent Chile 2020
Best company in Chile at attracting and retaining talent. For the seventh year in a row, first place in Banks and Financial Institutions category.
Bank of the Year Chile 2020
Granted by “The Banker” magazine at the Financial Times Group.
Bank of the Year
For the seventh straight year, granted by the magazine “Global Finance”.
First place, Merco University Talent 2020
“The most attractive company in its sector at attracting university talent in Chile in 2020” in the Banking and Financial Institutions category.
“Outstanding Crisis Leadership" COVID-19
“Outstanding Crisis Leadership 2020", granted by the “Global Finance” magazine.
PROCALIDAD National Customer Satisfaction Award 2020
For the third straight year, “Large Banks” sector.
Civic Brands 2020
Annual ranking from the consultant Cadem.
“Bank of the Year,” “Innovative Digital Bank of the Year” and “Best Bank for Financial Inclusion” 2020.
Granted by “The European” magazine at the Global Banking & Finance Awards 2020.
Banco de Chile, Advertiser of the Year 2020 at the Effie Awards Chile
Awarded 2 Gold Effies, 2 Silver Effies and 2 Bronze Effies
