Anglo-Portuguese Colonial and Overseas Bank , 1919-1955 Anglo-Portuguese Bank Ltd , 1955-1977 AP Bank Ltd , 1977-1987 Riggs AP Bank , 1987-2005

Anglo-Portuguese Colonial and Overseas Bank , 1919-1955 Anglo-Portuguese Bank Ltd , 1955-1977 AP Bank Ltd , 1977-1987 Riggs AP Bank , 1987-2005

The Banco Nacional Ultramarino was founded in Lisbon, Portugal in 1864. In 1955 the Banco Nacional Ultramarino described itself as a bank of issue in the Portuguese overseas provinces of Cape Verde, Guinea, S. Tome and Principe, Mozambique, India, Macau and Timor. It had 57 branches and town agencies in Portugal, and 20 branches in overseas provinces. It established a branch in London in 1919 which was to subsequently become the Anglo-Portuguese Colonial and Overseas Bank. The memoranda and articles of association for the company were registered in 1929.

The name of the bank was shortened in 1955 to Anglo-Portuguese Bank Limited. In 1957, the bank described its main activity as the "financing of international trade of a self-liquidating nature". It became a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwich Union Life Insurance Society in 1975 and was renamed AP Bank Limited in 1977. In 1984 the bank was purchased by Riggs Bank Limited and became known as Riggs AP Bank from 1987. In 2004 Riggs Bank was taken over by PNC and the next year Riggs went into liquidation.