BHF Bank
BHF Bank was a German commercial and investment bank formed in 1970 through the merger of Frankfurter Bank and Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft and renamed ODDO BHF after successive ownership changes.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
BHF Bank was a German banking brand whose history combined two nineteenth-century financial institutions: Frankfurter Bank, founded in 1854, and Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft, founded in 1856. The two institutions merged in 1970, creating Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft – Frankfurter Bank. The combined bank adopted the shorter BHF Bank name in 1975 and developed into one of West Germany's leading commercial and investment banks. During the 1970s and 1980s, BHF Bank was regarded as one of the country's three to five leading investment banks. It also held a prominent position in the foreign-exchange market. Its Frankfurt headquarters, a high-rise building designed by architect Sep Ruf and originally commissioned by Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft, became a notable part of the city's financial skyline. The building was inaugurated in 1970 and was then Frankfurt's tallest structure. BHF Bank became a public company in 1995, when it changed from a partnership into a corporation and completed a stock-market listing. The bank subsequently entered a period of ownership transition. Between 1999 and 2004, it was acquired by the Dutch financial group ING. In 2002, the business was renamed ING BHF-Bank and was delisted; the remaining shareholders were subsequently squeezed out. In 2004, ING separated the bank's principal operations, offices, and equity investments into a newly established BHF-BANK Aktiengesellschaft. Sal. Oppenheim acquired the newly organized bank as its sole shareholder. When Deutsche Bank took over Sal. Oppenheim in 2010, BHF-BANK was retained as a standalone operation and later offered for sale. The bank subsequently became part of BHF Kleinwort Benson Group. Paris-based private bank Oddo et Cie acquired that group, completing the acquisition of all group shares by March 2016. In April 2017, the company was renamed ODDO BHF. As a result, BHF Bank no longer operates as an independent brand, although its business and institutional history form part of the ODDO BHF group. Its principal historical scope included commercial banking, investment banking, foreign exchange, and related financial services for corporate and institutional clients.
History
BHF Bank was created on 1 September 1970, with the merger treated as effective from 1 January of that year, between Frankfurter Bank and Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft. Both predecessor institutions had roots in nineteenth-century Germany: Frankfurter Bank was established in 1854, while Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft was founded in 1856. The merged institution initially used the lengthy name Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft – Frankfurter Bank and became known as BHF Bank from 1975. The merger created a significant German banking institution at a time when Frankfurt was consolidating its position as a major financial center. In the 1970s and 1980s, BHF Bank ranked among West Germany's leading investment banks, generally being described as one of the country's top three to five institutions in that field. It was also especially prominent in foreign exchange. The bank's Frankfurt high-rise headquarters, designed by Sep Ruf and inaugurated in 1970, was initially the tallest building in Frankfurt and represented the institution's importance in the city's financial district. In 1995, BHF Bank converted from a partnership into a corporation and became publicly listed. Ownership then shifted to the Dutch ING Group, which acquired the bank between 1999 and 2004. During this period the business was renamed ING BHF-Bank in 2002. It was delisted in the same year, followed by the compulsory acquisition of the remaining shares. ING reorganized the business in 2004. Most of the bank's operations, offices, and equity holdings were transferred to a newly formed BHF-BANK Aktiengesellschaft. Sal. Oppenheim became the new sole shareholder. After Deutsche Bank acquired Sal. Oppenheim in 2010, BHF-BANK continued to operate on a standalone basis but was put up for sale as part of the ownership restructuring. The bank later became associated with BHF Kleinwort Benson Group. Oddo et Cie, a Paris-based private bank, acquired that group and by mid-March 2016 held all of its shares, making it BHF-BANK's indirect sole shareholder. In April 2017, the company was renamed ODDO BHF. The BHF Bank name therefore represents a historical German banking institution rather than a currently independent brand. Its legacy survives through the successor group's business activities and the institutional continuity of its commercial, investment-banking, and foreign-exchange operations.
- 2017
The company becomes ODDO BHF
[1]The BHF-BANK company is renamed ODDO BHF.
- 2016
Oddo et Cie becomes indirect sole shareholder
[1]Oddo et Cie completes the acquisition of BHF Kleinwort Benson Group, the bank's parent group.
- 2010
Deutsche Bank takes over Sal. Oppenheim
[1]BHF-BANK comes under Deutsche Bank ownership indirectly and is subsequently offered for sale.
- 2004
BHF-BANK is reorganized under Sal. Oppenheim
[1]The principal banking operations are placed in a newly founded BHF-BANK Aktiengesellschaft, acquired by Sal. Oppenheim.
- 1999
ING begins acquiring BHF Bank
[1]The Dutch ING Group begins the acquisition process that would place BHF Bank under its ownership.
- 1995
BHF Bank becomes a public corporation
[1]The bank changes from a partnership to a corporation and goes public.
- 1975
The BHF Bank name is adopted
[1]The merged institution is rebranded BHF Bank.
- 1970
Merger creates the combined bank
[1]Frankfurter Bank and Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft merge to form Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft – Frankfurter Bank.
- 1970
Frankfurt high-rise headquarters is inaugurated
[1]The bank's high-rise headquarters, designed by Sep Ruf, opens and is at that time Frankfurt's tallest building.
- 1856
Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft is founded
[1]Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft, the second predecessor institution, is founded in Berlin.
Products and positioning
A German commercial and investment bank with strong historical standing in investment banking and foreign exchange, later operated within successive international and private-banking ownership structures.
Corporate banking
Commercial banking
Commercial banking was part of BHF Bank's historical business scope. The institution served as a major German bank for corporate and institutional activity, alongside its investment-banking and capital-markets functions. The available reference material does not provide a detailed product-level catalogue.
Investment banking
Investment banking
BHF Bank was one of West Germany's leading investment banks during the 1970s and 1980s, when it was generally placed among the country's top three to five institutions in the field. Specific transaction products and business units are not detailed in the available source.
Capital markets
Foreign-exchange services
Foreign exchange was a notable area of historical strength. BHF Bank held a leading position in the foreign-exchange market during its period as a prominent West German commercial and investment bank.
Brand decisions
2017
Renaming as ODDO BHFStrategyBackground
Oddo et Cie had acquired the parent BHF Kleinwort Benson Group and become BHF-BANK's indirect sole shareholder.
Action taken
The company was renamed ODDO BHF.
Aftermath
BHF Bank ended as an independent corporate brand and became part of the ODDO BHF identity.
2004
Transfer to a new BHF-BANK AktiengesellschaftM&ABackground
ING reorganized the business after its acquisition period.
Action taken
Most operations, offices, and equity holdings were moved into a newly established BHF-BANK Aktiengesellschaft, which Sal. Oppenheim acquired as sole shareholder.
Aftermath
The bank entered a new phase under German private-bank ownership while continuing to operate on a standalone basis.
2002
ING branding and delistingStrategyBackground
Following ING's acquisition of the bank, the institution was integrated into the Dutch group's branding and ownership structure.
Action taken
The bank was renamed ING BHF-Bank and delisted, with the remaining shareholders subsequently squeezed out.
Aftermath
BHF Bank ceased to operate as a publicly traded standalone institution.
1975
Adoption of the BHF Bank brandStrategyBackground
The merged institution initially operated under the formal name Berliner Handels-Gesellschaft – Frankfurter Bank.
Action taken
It shortened and modernized its public identity to BHF Bank.
Aftermath
The BHF Bank name became the institution's principal identity until later ownership-driven rebranding.
Sources1 sources
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