Internationalization of US banks’ operations for decades
has been restrained by two objective factors: explosive growth of domestic
market and embargo on export of financial capitals. Establishment in 1913 of
the Federal Reserve System created favorable conditions for export of free
banking capitals oversees. “The National City Bank of New York” as one of
the leading American banks of that period, has chosen Russian Empire as
one of the top priority regions for its foreign expansion. The article deals
with attempts of the highest management of the “Citibank” to enter Russian
market via both direct dialogue with the Government of Russia and through
business contacts with the largest Russian banks and industrial companies.
At the center of analysis in the article is visit of two vice-presidents of
“Citibank’ to Petrograd in spring of 1916. Among results of the visit were
agreement on borrowing operations of Russian Government at the US
financial markets and commonly agreed decision to open several subsidiaries
of the ‘Citibank’ in Russia