About Us

1789
At the age of 17, Salomon Oppenheim jr. founds a commission and exchange house in Bonn.

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1798
The company's head office is relocated to Cologne.

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1810
With equity capital of 250,000 thalers, Sal. Oppenheim is the second largest bank in Cologne.

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1837
Co-foundation of the Rheinische Eisenbahn (Rhine Railway). The bank is also involved in founding the Köln-Mindener Eisenbahn (Cologne-Minden Railway) in 1843. Through this commitment, Cologne becomes West Germany's transport hub.

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1839
Co-foundation of Colonia Kölnische Feuerversicherung (Colonia Cologne Fire Insurance) is Cologne's first step to becoming an insurance metropolis. Kölnische Rückversicherung (Cologne Reinsurance) and Concordia Kölnische Lebensversicherung (Concordia Cologne Life Insurance) follow suit in 1852, and Kölnische Hagelversicherung (Cologne Hail Insurance) in 1853.

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1852
Co-foundation of Crédit Mobilier in Paris as Europe's first major incorporated bank. This is followed in 1853 by the foundation of Darmstädter Bank für Handel und Industrie (Darmstadt Trade and Industry Bank), and International Bank in Luxembourg in 1856.

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1858
Albert Oppenheim, a grandson of the founder, converts from the Jewish to the Catholic faith when he marries. One year later, his brother Eduard becomes a member of the Protestant church when he marries.

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1867
Simon Oppenheim is awarded the hereditary aristocratic title of Freiherr (baron) by Austrian Emperor Francis Joseph for his services in railway financing. His brother Abraham is awarded the same title in Prussia one year later.

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1880
Co-foundation of Kölnische Unfall-Versicherungs-AG (Cologne Accident Insurance Company), which merges with Colonia in 1919.

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1904
Crisis at Sal. Oppenheim after bad investments in the electrical industry. The bank is converted into a commercial limited partnership (Kommanditgesellschaft), in which Disconto-Gesellschaft, Germany's second largest bank at the time, holds a stake until 1919.

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1922
Syndicate with Cologne bank A. Levy, which continues until 1932.

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1923
In the year of hyperinflation, Sal. Oppenheim's total assets are 8,603,015,544,190,640,965.80 marks.

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1936
Sal. Oppenheim acquires the Cologne bank A. Levy, which has overextended itself in speculative currency transactions.

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1938
Nazi pressure forces Sal. Oppenheim to change its name. The partner Robert Pferdmenges protects the bank, which operates as Pferdmenges & Co. until 1947.

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1944
Following the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler, the bank's managing partners are arrested or placed under house arrest.

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1947
Co-foundation of Auto Union, now Audi AG.

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1952
Sal. Oppenheim and 27 companies from the German iron and steel industry form the Konsortium für Kurssicherung (Consortium for price hedging). The bank hedges currency risks in export transactions for consortium members.

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1964
Alfred von Oppenheim becomes a personally liable partner. In the years that follow, he develops asset management business into the second pillar alongside commercial lending activities.

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1968
Sal. Oppenheim acquires the Frankfurt bank Kirchholtes & Co. turning it into its first subsidiary outside Cologne.

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1970
Merger of numerous insurance companies to form the new Colonia Versicherung AG (Colonia Insurance Company). Sal. Oppenheim is majority shareholder of this second largest German insurance group.

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1973
Sal. Oppenheim and the Amsterdam-based bank Pierson, Heldring & Pierson form Oppenheim Pierson International S.A. in Luxembourg. This joint venture starts the internationalisation of the Cologne-based bank.

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1989
Sale of the stakes in Colonia Insurance Company and increase in the bank's equity from DM 180 million to DM 1 billion. Conversion of the bank into a partnership limited by shares (Kommanditgesellschaft auf Aktien) .

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1999
Sal. Oppenheim adopts a new growth strategy. Asset management and investment banking are defined as the core business areas; the bank largely withdraws from commercial lending activities.

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2005
Acquisition of the Frankfurt BHF-Bank AG, which continues to be operated as an independent company. With this transaction, Sal. Oppenheim becomes Europe's largest independent private bank.

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2007
The headquarters of Sal. Oppenheim move to Luxembourg as a new group parent company. Cologne remains the Bank's largest location.

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2009
The acquisition of Gen Re Capital serves to expand Sal. Oppenheim's asset management business for institutional investors.

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2010
Sal. Oppenheim becomes a wholly-owned subsidiary of Deutsche Bank and ceases its investment banking operations. Integrated asset management for private and institutional clients will be further developed independently.