Our history

Founded in 1800, Alex. Brown was the first investment banking firm in the United States. Today, as a division of Raymond James, we combine that longstanding heritage with the strength and stability of one of the nation’s leading financial services firms.

The Alex. Brown legacy

The history of Alex. Brown spans more than two centuries and reflects a longstanding tradition of advising individuals, families and institutions through periods of growth and complexity. Founded in Baltimore in 1800, the firm played a role in many early developments in American finance and industry, including organizing one of the nation’s first public offerings and helping finance the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad.

Over time, Alex. Brown became known for serving sophisticated clients through a highly personalized approach grounded in long-term relationships, thoughtful advice and disciplined execution. The firm was acquired by Bankers Trust in 1997, and in 1999 Deutsche Bank acquired B.T. Alex. Brown.

Alex. Brown and Raymond James

In 2016, Raymond James acquired the US Private Client Services unit of Deutsche Bank Wealth Management and reintroduced the Alex. Brown name as a division of Raymond James.

Today, the relationship brings together the heritage of Alex. Brown with the broad capabilities, client-first culture and national scale of Raymond James. Clients benefit from personalized experience and the resources of a diversified financial services firm offering wealth management, investment banking, trust services, capital markets capabilities and more.

Learn more about the history of Alex. Brown and Raymond James here.