National Bank Act

National Bank Act of 1863
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to provide a national currency, secured by a pledge of United States stocks, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof.
Enacted bythe 37th United States Congress
EffectiveFebruary 25, 1863
Citations
Statutes at Large12 Stat. 665
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the Senate
  • Passed the Senate on February 12, 1863 (23–21)
  • Passed the House on February 20, 1863 (78-64)
  • Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on February 25, 1863
National Bank Act of 1864
Great Seal of the United States
Long titleAn Act to provide a national currency, secured by a pledge of United States bonds, and to provide for the circulation and redemption thereof.
Enacted bythe 38th United States Congress
EffectiveJune 3, 1864
Citations
Statutes at Large13 Stat. 99
Legislative history
  • Introduced in the House
  • Passed the House on April 18, 1864 (80-66)
  • Passed the Senate on May 10, 1864 (30–9)
  • Agreed to by the House on May 24, 1864 (66–52)  
  • Signed into law by President Abraham Lincoln on June 3, 1864

The National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 were two United States federal banking acts that established a system of national banks chartered at the federal level, and created the United States National Banking System. They encouraged development of a national currency backed by bank holdings of U.S. Treasury securities and established the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency as part of the United States Department of the Treasury. The Act shaped today's national banking system and its support of a uniform U.S. banking policy.