The Charles Schwab Corporation is an American multinational financial services company. It offers banking, commercial banking, investing, and related services including consulting, and wealth management advisory services to both retail and institutional clients. One of the largest banks in the United States by assets, as of December 31, 2024, it had $10.10 trillion in client assets, 36.5 million active brokerage accounts, 5.4 million workplace retirement plan participant accounts, and 2.0 million banking accounts. It also offers a donor advised fund for clients seeking to donate securities. It was founded in San Francisco, California, and is headquartered in Westlake, Texas. It has over 380 branches, primarily in financial centers in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Founded as First Commander Corporation in 1971 and renamed to Charles Schwab & Co. in 1973, the company leveraged deregulation of the 1970s to pioneer discount sales of equity securities. After a flagship opening in Sacramento, California, the bank expanded into Seattle before the 1980s economic expansion financed the bank's investments in technology, automation, and digital record keeping.
