The bank was created in 1750 by Andrew Buchanan of Drumpellier and other "Virginia Dons": Glasgow Tobacco Lords of the mid-18th century.

Carrick died in 1821 with a personal worth of over £1 million: three times the assets of the bank itself.

[4] In 1825 the bank rebuilt the Shawfield premises on Glassford Street replacing it with a building designed by David Hamilton.

The then manager of the Ship Bank, Michael Rowand, retired at the point of amalgamation.

[1] It retained the ground floor public house "The Old Ship Bank" which still survives to this day.