   thumb|clydesdale bank, leith clydesdale bank is a commercial bank in scotland. formed in glasgow in 1838, it is the smallest of the three scottish banks. independent until it was purchased by the midland bank in 1920, it was sold to its present owners, the national australia bank (nab) in 1987. nab's other british subsidiary, yorkshire bank, operates as a division of clydesdale under its banking licence. as with the two other scottish banks, the bank of scotland and the royal bank of scotland, it retains the right to issue its own banknotes. national australia bank confirmed in october 2014 that it planned to exit the uk, and was considering a number of options for yorkshire and clydesdale banks, including a possible stock market listing. ==history== thumb|upright|the headquarters of clydesdale bank in st vincent place, glasgow ===formation=== in march 1838, an advertisement appeared for a new joint stock banking company in glasgow, the clydesdale banking company. it was to be "chiefly a local bank â having few branches â but correspondents everywhere" though it was conceded that a branch in edinburgh would be necessary. the bank duly opened for business in both cities in may 1838.j m reid, the history of the clydesdale bank 1838â1938 (1938) checkland described the bank as the creation of "a group of glasgow businessmen of middling order, liberal radicalsâ¦who were active in the government and charities of the city."s g checkland, scottish banking a history 1695â1973 (1975) the driving figure behind the formation of the bank was james lumsden, a stationer by business, a councillor, police commissioner and, later, lord provost of glasgow. another member of the founding committee, henry brock, became the bank's fir
1838_establishments_in_Scotland Banknote_issuers_of_Scotland Banks_established_in_1838 Banks_of_Scotland Companies_based_in_Glasgow Scottish_brands