Amadeo Giannini | |
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Born | Amadeo Pietro Giannini May 6, 1870 San Jose, California, U.S. |
Died | June 3, 1949 San Mateo, California, U.S. | (aged 79)
Resting place | Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery |
Other names | A. P. Giannini |
Spouse | Clorinda Cuneo |
Children | 6, including Claire Giannini Hoffman |
Parents |
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Amadeo Pietro Giannini (Italian pronunciation: [amaˈdɛːo ˈpjɛːtro dʒanˈniːni]), also known as Amadeo Peter Giannini or A. P. Giannini (May 6, 1870 – June 3, 1949) was an American banker who founded the Bank of Italy, which eventually became Bank of America. Giannini is credited as the inventor of many modern banking practices. Most notably, Giannini was one of the first bankers to offer banking services to middle-class Americans, mainly Italian immigrants, rather than only the upper class. He also pioneered the holding company structure and established one of the first modern trans-national institutions.[1]