It started life as The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited in Hong Kong in 1865 to finance trade between Europe and China. Its founder was a Scot named Thomas Sutherland who was working as the Hong Kong Superintendent of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company. He saw that there was demand for local banking facilities in Hong Kong and China and he helped to establish the Bank in March 1865. A branch was opened in Shanghai one month later.