Eastern Townships Bank was founded in 1859 by Colonel Benjamin Pomroy (1800–1875). It was the first financial institution in the south-east of Quebec, an area known as the Eastern Townships, and issued its own banknotes. Within a year after its founding, the bank had opened three branches. After consolidating its presence in the Eastern Townships, it opened branches elsewhere in Quebec and in Western Canada (including Grand Forks, British Columbia and Taber, Alberta). By 1911, it had over 100 branches. To increase its presence on a national scale, its shareholders agreed to merge, effective March 1, 1912, with the Canadian Bank of Commerce, which later became Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce. The former branch of the Eastern Townships Bank at the corner of Saint Catherine Street and Crescent Street in Montreal was used as the flagship store for Parasuco, a line of denim clothing. The building is now vacant. The former head office building of the Eastern Townships Bank in Sherbrooke, Quebec is now an art museum, the Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke. Presidents Benjamin Pomroy 1859-1874 - founder Richard William Heneker 1874-1902 - prominent businessman in Eastern Townships and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Quebec William Farwell 1902-1912 - last president and Mayor of Sherbrooke, Quebec See also List of banks in Canada References Musée des beaux-arts de Sherbrooke Defunct banks of Canada Banks established in 1859 Banks disestablished in 1912 Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 1859 establishments in Canada Companies based in Sherbrooke 1912 disestablishments in Quebec 1912 mergers and acquisitions