Important Events:
Switzerland and the World

Important Events:
Swiss Bank Corporation (SBC)
Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS)

German-French War

Switzerland is neutral. (Swiss armed neutrality dates back to 1815 respectively to 1648/1515.)

The Prussian King Wilhelm I. is made German Emperor.

Bismarck is his Chancellor of the unified Reich.

In Frankfurt-on-Main, Germany, a protocol concerning the formation of a joint stock bank in Basle under the name "Basler Bankverein" is signed by the representatives of the Frankfurter Bankverein and the syndicate of the Basler Bank-Verein.

Under the leadership of the Bank in Winterthur the Swiss Locomotive and Machine Works of Winterthur (SLM) are founded.

The first premises of the "Basler Bankverein", the building "zum Wilhelm Tell" ("The William Tell"), at Aeschenvorstadt 5, around 1872.

The Basler Bankverein opens for business in Basle at No. 5 Aeschenvorstadt. It has a nominal share capital of 30 million Swiss Francs, however, only 6 million are paid-up. The 17 members of the Board of Directors include 8 foreigners.

Dr. Karl Stehlin- Merian

First Chairman of the Board of Directors from 1872 until 1881 is Karl Stehlin-Merian, who later becomes the Representative of the Canton of Basle-City in the Swiss Council of States (Ständerat).

The Bank in Winterthur participates in the founding of the Basler Bankverein, the Hotel Baur au Lac in Zurich, and in many other companies.