Fonds: Banco de Lisboa

Date of creation: 31 December 1821
Date of extinction: 19 November 1846
Administrative history: Created on 31 December 1821 by Royal Charter, the Banco de Lisboa was simultaneously a commercial and bank of issue.

The Bank was granted exclusivity during its twenty year life span, whereby it was conferred power to issue banknotes for acceptance and consideration in Exchequer Departments on the same terms as metal coins, while remaining exempt from all tax for its transactions. Such privileges were confirmed by the Royal Charter of 7 June 1824, which prolonged the period of existence from twenty to thirty years (until 1854).

However, with the creation of the Banco Comercial do Porto in 1835, equally entrusted with issuing banknotes, the Banco de Lisboa lost the exclusivity it had been conferred on two occasions.

In compensation for such prerogatives, the Bank had to concur on the redemption of paper money, by lending the State 2,000 contos (1) of réis in the first year of its operation.

It was authorised: to discount bills of exchange and other credit instruments; to lend against security and mortgages; to purchase and sell paper money and other credit instruments, as well as gold and silver; to constitute private demand deposits or deposits with agreed maturity. It was, however, prohibited from entering into any business involving risk or insurance, to purchase or sell commercial goods or to possess real estate assets for its own account.

The first Bank Regulation was published on 25 June 1822 and took effect as of 20 August.

By a license dated 16 March 1825, the request on the part of the General Assembly of the Bank for the creation of an Oporto branch was deferred, and the proposed Regulation approved and confirmed. On July 19 the Board approved the Internal Branch Regulation which took effect as of 1 August.

As of 1838, the Banco de Lisboa participated in the constitution of several financial companies (Confiança, Crédito Nacional, União, Auxiliar, Confiança Nacional), created so as to grant credit to the State. In 1846, the lack of payment, on the part of the Government, of successive loans contracted from the Banco de Lisboa and Companhia Confiança Nacional led both institutions to a critical situation, culminating in the signing of the Decree of 19 November, determining the integration of Companhia Confiança Nacional assets and liabilities in the assets and liabilities of the Banco de Lisboa, designated thereafter as «Banco de Portugal».

Documentation from this bank fully reflects its activity throughout its life span. It contains minutes books, shareholder records, account books, correspondence records, issue and banknote redemption terms and personnel records. It may be noted that some books have been continued by Banco de Portugal and contain information which may contribute to the study of its predecessor.


Documentation dates: 1821-1846

No. items: 146
Extent: 8.16 Lm

Finding aid: Arquivo do Banco de Lisboa.1985 (Col. Inventários, 1)
Access: No consultation restrictions.

All documentation is microfilmed and digitalized. 


(1) Conto is the value of 1,000 escudos, the former Portuguese currency.