The Canadian Bank of Commerce was a Canadian bank that operated from 1867 to 1961. It merged in 1961 with the Imperial Bank of Canada to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, which today is one of Canada's Big Five banks.
In 1866 a group of businessmen, including William McMaster, purchased a charter from the defunct Bank of Canada, which had folded in 1858.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce was founded the following year, issued stock, and opened its headquarters in Toronto, Ontario.
The bank soon opened branches in London, St. Catharines and Barrie. During the following years, the bank opened more branches in Ontario, and took over the business of the local Gore Bank, before expanding across Canada through the acquisition of the Bank of British Columbia in 1901 and the Halifax Banking Company in 1903.
By 1907 the Canadian Bank of Commerce had 172 branches. By the beginning of the Second World War, this had expanded to 379 branches, including a large building by Darling and Pearson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, built in 1910 in Beaux-Arts classic style.
During the First World War, 1,701 staff from the Canadian Bank of Commerce enlisted in the war effort. A memorial on the East and West Memorial Buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, is dedicated to the memory of 1701 men of the Canadian Bank of Commerce who served in the First World War. A war memorial at Commerce Court in Toronto commemorates their service.
In 1931, the Toronto headquarters of the bank, Commerce Court, designed by architects John Pearson and Frank Darling, was completed. At 34 storeys, for many years it was the tallest building in the British Empire.
Once again, during the Second World War, 2,300 staff members enlisted in the armed forces.
The Canadian Bank of Commerce merged with the Imperial Bank of Canada in 1961 to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), now one of the Big Five Canadian banks.
The following are on the Registry of Historical Places of Canada.
the Bank of Commerce in Nanaimo, British Columbia, built in 1914.
the Canadian Bank of Commerce in New Westminster, British Columbia built in 1910 to 1911.
the Bank of Commerce in Vancouver, British Columbia, built in 1914 to 1915
the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Watson, Saskatchewan built in 1906 to 1907.
the Bank of Commerce in Nokomis, Saskatchewan, built in 1910.
the Bank of Commerce in Winnipeg, Manitoba, completed in 1912.
the Bank of Commerce in Kelsey (Carrot Valley), Manitoba, built in The Pas in 1912.
the Canadian Bank of Commerce in Innisfree, Alberta, built in 1905.