Founded in 1983, it is named after Adam Smith, a leading figure of the Scottish Enlightenment era who revolutionised economic theory in 1776 with the publication of An inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations.

The bank was founded by Sir Iain Noble and another partner in 1983, opening its first branch in Charlotte Square, Edinburgh on 29 May 1984.

In 1986, Adam and Company acquired London-based Continental Trust and later established an international arm in Guernsey.

In late 2011, the company moved its registered office to a newly refurbished Georgian townhouse at 25 Saint Andrew Square.

[3] In 2014, as part of a wider and more radical shake-up to the divisional structure of the parent company, Adam and Company, under the leadership of Graham Storrie, was made a subsidiary of Coutts and consolidated into the Commercial and Private Banking division of RBS, under divisional CEO Alison Rose.