Like this article? PLEASE +1 it! Evan Signature
Evan Carmichael Top Header
Share for a Cause









Banking on Success: How Giannini Achieved his Greatest Ambitions

A.P. Giannini Quote


Article Overview: He never dreamed of being a banker when he was a child, but today, there is nary a student of retail banking who does not know the incredible story of this determined entrepreneur. A son of poor immigrants, Giannini helped build the first national system of banks for the ordinary person, all the while fueling California’s economic development and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. What were Giannini’s secrets for success?

Free Download - A.P. Giannini Quotes By A.P. Giannini
Name: Email:

Banking on Success: How Giannini Achieved his Greatest Ambitions

He never dreamed of being a banker when he was a child, but today, there is nary a student of retail banking who does not know the incredible story of this determined entrepreneur. A son of poor immigrants, Giannini helped build the first national system of banks for the ordinary person, all the while fueling California’s economic development and inspiring a new generation of entrepreneurs. What were Giannini’s secrets for success?

Roots: Giannini came from a family that had uprooted itself from its home country in order to pursue a better life in America, and he never forgot it. He had a vision to create a bank that served the very people he had grown up with – the average worker. By refusing to cow tow to the larger banks, and by being willing to take risks on often nothing more than a handshake, Giannini stayed true to his roots in creating a bank for the little guy.

Relationships: Whereas most other bankers at the time had little interaction with their customers beyond what was absolutely necessary for business, Giannini made sure that he developed strong connections with all of his customers. Knowing all of their names and situations, he became involved in their struggles for a better future. It was this characteristic of Giannini’s that endeared him to the ordinary worker, and what caused people to travel outside of their own cities just to do business with his bank.

Priorities: He had grown a small business into the country’s largest bank, but that is not something that would be reflected in his own bank account. From refusing salary bonuses to giving millions of dollars away to charity, Giannini had no interest in pocketing money for himself beyond what was necessary. If profits were a good thing it was only because they could then be reinvested in the business or given back to society. That unique attitude of Giannini’s was what gained him the admiration of all the people he served.

Drive: At present, the Bank of America has close to 6,000 branches that serve one in four American households. If Giannini were alive today, he would be beaming at the realization of his dream. But, in his time, banks were limited to operations in just one city. It was Giannini who pushed the boundaries for state-wide and nation-wide banking, paving the way for the international banking system active in the world today.

Diversification: From the Golden Gate Bridge to “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves”, Giannini’s name can today be found behind many of America’s most famous cultural icons. Where other entrepreneurs were afraid to take risks, Giannini got right in the middle and mixed things up. He supported projects he believed in even when he was unsure of the financial outcome. It was in doing so that Giannini succeeded where no others had.

American Banker Magazine recognizes Giannini as one of the most influential bankers of the twentieth century. Even the U.S. Postal Service issued a postage stamp that bears his portrait. Today, it is not just the working class families that Giannini was willing to give loans to who remember him. Giannini’s impact on the international banking system, the economic development of the U.S., and American culture itself can still be felt the world over.

Related Articles
  Lesson #4: Don’t Let Anyone Keep Your Ambitions in Check
  Lesson #5: Branch Out To Build Your Base of Success
  Lesson #3: Money May Have Much Worth, But It Has Little Value
  America’s Blue-Collar Banker: The Early Years of Amadeo Peter “A.P.” Giannini
  Lesson #2: Keeping Your Connections to Customers is Key

Home > Famous-Entrepreneurs > A.P. Giannini > Banking on Success How Giannini Achieved his Greatest Ambitions
Article Tags: admiration, attitude, banks, better future, better life, charity, countrys, cow tow, economic development, entrepreneur, handshake, interaction, new generation, ordinary person, poor immigrants, priorities, profits, retail banking, roots, salary



Related Forum Posts
Books for Women Entrepreneurs Books for Women Entrepreneurs - There's a thread for good books in the Resources folder, but it doesn't target books for businesswomen particularly, so I figured I'd start such a thread here. It doesn't matter how successful you are in your business - it's always possible to learn something new. In subsequent posts I give Table of Contents and brief descriptions for various titles - most of them devoted to the businesswoman - and sometimes a review. If anyone else has read a review, or has read the book and found it useful, please comment! 1. The Old Girl's Network 2. Mother's Work 3. The 7 Greatest Truths About Successful Women 4. Pitch Like A Girl 5. Workplace Warrior 6. Treasure Hunt: Inside the Mind of the Modern Consumer 7. Contingency Planning & Disaster Recovery 8. She Wins, You Win 9. Napoleon On Project Management 10. Why Good Girls Dont' Get Ahead, But Gutsy Girls Do 11. Comeback Moms: How to Leave Work, Raise Children, and Restart your Career even If you Haven't Had a Job in Years 12. The One Minute Millionaire 13. Talking From 9 to 5 14. Soloing: Realizing Your Life's Ambitions 15. 101 Best Home Based Businesses for Women: Everything You Need to Know About Getting Started on the Road To Success 16. Work With Passion: How to Do What You Love for a Living. Revised and Expanded 17. Fail-Proof Your Business: Beat the Odds and be Successful 18. Confidence: How Winning Streaks and Losing Streaks Begin and End 19. Women Don't Ask: Negotiation and the Gender Divide 20. Millionaire Women Next Door: The Many Journeys of Successful American Businesswomen 21. Start Small, Finish Big: Fifteen Key Lessons to Start - and Run - Your Own Successful Business 22. Rewired, Rehired or Retired: A Global Guide for the Experienced Worker 23. The Martha Rules: 10 essentials for achieving success as you start, build or manage a business 24. The Essentials of Entrepreneurship: What it takes to create Successful Enterprises 25. Net Ready: Strategies for Success in the E-conomy 26. The Promotable Woman 27. Leave The Office Earlier: The Productivity Pro shows you how to do more in less time and feel great about it 28. The Work At Home Balancing Act: The professional resource guide for managing yourself, your work, and your family at home 29. Secrets of Six-Figure Women
Question of the Week: Who is your favorite entrepreneur of a Question of the Week: Who is your favorite entrepreneur of a - Question of the Week: Who is your favorite entrepreneur of all time? Mine is A.P. Giannini (Bank of America) - I'd love to hear your favorite!
Re: Alexa Ranking Goals Re: Alexa Ranking Goals - Thanks for the monthly update Evan! And congrats to everyone who has gained. Also, not that I am worried about it, but I am showing my site as under 265,000 right now so that would put me in the Goal Achieved category instead of the gaining momentum! I'll make my new goal 200,000 for next month.
Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! Re: THE SECRET TO SUCCESS IS ALL IN YOUR HEAD...RIGHT NOW!!! - Success = Thinking (Head) + Heart (Feeling / Interest) + Hand (doing/ action). Success - H3 Robert
Re: Need USD 3.3 M to win ROI 120% Re: Need USD 3.3 M to win ROI 120% - Hello, My name is Muhammed Al Arajhi,Board member- Alrajhi Bank Saudi Arabia,head of operations Al-rajhi investment corporation United Kingdom and also a business investor based in London, United Kingdom,with a capital base of over $1.1b.I am seeking to expand my business interest and investment to your country in the following sector : Real estate, Banking, Oil and Gas,Insurance, Manufacturing, Aviation, Hotel , Communication, Entertainment, Education ,alternative energy , telecoms , media , humanitarian , mining , logistics , shipping , recycling projects and film industry projects.etc. With the recent hope of economic recovery in the United States and the world at large, one is poised to invest so as to reap the benefit of the future. Please contact me with your business summaries and complete documentation, if interested in a partnership deal,business loan or investment in new business . Regards, Muhammed Al Rajhi. contact me: alrajhi@gmx.com[/b]


Share this article with your friends. Fund someone's dream.

Leave a comment below or share on the left and you'll help support entrepreneurs in Africa through our partnership with Kiva. Over $50,000 raised and counting - Please keep sharing! Learn more.



Featured Article


Bottom Footer
Share for a Cause












Newsletter

Get advice & tips from famous business
owners, new articles by entrepreneur
experts, my latest website updates, &
special sneak peaks at what's to come!
Name:
Email:
Popular Articles

In the Year 2020 . . . Process

2011 Global Brand Trends Letter

Top 5 Tips for Better Online Ads

Suggestions

Email us your ideas on how to make our
website more valuable! Thank you Sharon
from Toronto Salsa Lessons / Classes for
your suggestions to make the newsletter
look like the website and profile younger
entrepreneurs like Jennifer Lopez.