Title and statement of responsibility area
Title proper
Bank of British Columbia fonds
General material designation
- textual record
- graphic material
- sound recording
- moving images
Parallel title
Other title information
Title statements of responsibility
Title notes
- Source of title proper: Title based on the contents of the fonds.
Level of description
Fonds
Reference code
Edition area
Edition statement
Edition statement of responsibility
Class of material specific details area
Statement of scale (cartographic)
Statement of projection (cartographic)
Statement of coordinates (cartographic)
Statement of scale (architectural)
Issuing jurisdiction and denomination (philatelic)
Dates of creation area
Date(s)
-
[ca. 1964]-1986 (Creation)
- Creator
- Bank of British Columbia
Physical description area
Physical description
1.12 m of textual records and other material.
Publisher's series area
Title proper of publisher's series
Parallel titles of publisher's series
Other title information of publisher's series
Statement of responsibility relating to publisher's series
Numbering within publisher's series
Note on publisher's series
Archival description area
Name of creator
Administrative history
Centred in Canada’s Western provinces, the Bank of British Columbia operated between 1968 and 1986. Promoted by W.A.C. Bennett, the Bank of B.C. was first officially proposed for incorporation by Senator J.W. Farris in 1964. Royal Assent for incorporation was granted after the passing of Bill S-20 in December 1966, and a chartered licence to commence operations was established in October 1967.
After initial capital acquisition, common shares were posted for trading on the International Section of the Vancouver Stock Exchange (trading symbol “BBC”), February 1st, 1968. On July 16th, 1968, the Bank’s first branch was opened at 999 W. Pender in Vancouver. By 1986, shortly before its closure, the Bank had branches in British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba, and Saskatchewan as well as offices in London, England, Hong Kong, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and the Cayman Islands. The Bank is credited with having introduced several innovative programs later pursued by other institutions in Canada. With its main offices in Vancouver, B.C., it is also noted for being the only federally chartered bank headquartered in Western Canada at the time of its creation.
In November, 1986, the majority of the then failing Bank of B.C. was acquired by the Hong Kong Bank of Canada (now the Hong Kong Shanghai Bank of Canada). In April, 1987, the Bank of B.C. and its remaining assets were renamed B.C. Bancorp. Slated with the liquidation of remaining assets and the distribution of the proceeds to its shareholders, B.C. Bancorp ultimately conclude its affairs in 1996 through the acquisition of its shares by the Canadian Western Bank.
Custodial history
The records were donated to the BC Archives by the Honk Kong Bank of Canada (now Hong Kong Shanghai Bank of Canada) in 1995.
Scope and content
The fonds consists of textual, photographic, video, and audio records of the marketing department of the Bank of British Columbia, created from around 1964 to 1986.
Records document the following activities of the marketing department: selection of an advertising agency; creation of a corporate image; promotion of the bank including program development and associated promotional materials (pamphlets, mailings, posters, television and radio commercials etc.); administration of employee incentive programs; issuing press releases and tracking media coverage; production and dissemination of annual reports and shareholder reports; collection of historical documents relating to the bank and associated agencies; collection of staff photos for promotional use; and oversight of the opening of new branches.
Following these activities, the fonds has been arranged into the following 9 series: Advertising, media coverage and press releases; Shareholder and public relations records; Company relations and staff engagement records; Annual reports; Company calendar records; Marketing strategy, research, and promotion records; Bank history records; Staff profile records and; Branch opening records.
There have been two institutions in B.C.’s history operating under the name of the Bank of British Columbia, the first operating from 1862 until 1901. While the activities of these two institutions are unrelated, the shared namesake was often highlighted, and many members of the public communicated with the second Bank of B.C., sending its staff historical material related to the first Bank of B.C. These records can be located in the series “Bank history records”.
The records were received by the archives with no designated classification system and many of the textual records and the majority of the photographic records were loose in their boxes. A selection of photographs were selected for removal by the archivist as they lacked any identifiable connection with the Bank and its business. A selection of textual material and video cassettes were identified for removal due either to their deleterious physical condition or lack of context to the Bank’s business.
Additionally, while the Bank of B.C. collected newspaper clippings throughout its life, documenting its advertising campaigns and media coverage, those folders and scrapbooks comprised exclusively of newspaper clippings devoid of other context and featuring predominantly material from major newspapers, were not kept by the archivist.
Notes area
Physical condition
Immediate source of acquisition
Arrangement
Language of material
Script of material
Location of originals
Availability of other formats
Reference copies of records in MS-3210 available in digital format.
Restrictions on access
Terms governing use, reproduction, and publication
Finding aids
Series descriptions and file lists are available.
Associated materials
Accruals
No further accruals expected.
General note
Accession(s): 92-7105
Physical description
Includes 1317 photographs, 7 videocassettes, and 1 audio cassette.
Conservation
Graphic material may be in cool or cold storage. Contact staff for specific details.
Alternative identifier(s)
Standard number area
Standard number
Access points
Subject access points
Place access points
Name access points
- Bank of British Columbia (1862-1901) (Subject)