The Shanghai Association Of Research (1917-1937)

The occupational association represented the native banks in Shanghai had a long history, The Shanghai Money Trade Guild (Nei-yuan Shang-hai ch'ien-yih kung-so) was founded in the Ch'ien-lung reign (1736-1796). After the opening of the port to foreign trade, ch'ien-chuang in the International Settlement outnumbered those in the southern city, and they formed their guild, the Pei-shih ch'ien-yih hui-kuan, and the Nan-shih ch'ien-yih kung-so. With the development of trade, inter and outer affairs increased more and more, therefore, irregular meeting of guild didn't meet the demand. Influenced by the system of association , the Shanghai Native Bank Association was founded in 1917.The structures of the Shanghai Native Bank Association differed with the change of environment, its operation became regularized and systematized gradually. Articles of association was also revised and enlarged usually. The organization tended to be perfect.As a self-organized and self-managed association, the Shanghai Native Bank Association united its members to study operation and improvement, protect the safety of banking and trading, and rectify operation abuses, develop the interests of Shanghai ch'ien-yih. In the same time of self-management, the association often modified rules of operations, and enhanced to their solidarity and cooperation.