[1] The new bank had been incorporated in London by a group of people including a number of high-profile former New Zealand residents, among them former Governor Thomas Gore Browne, former Speaker Charles Clifford and former Wellington Provincial Superintendent Isaac Featherston.

[3] The first branch away from Dunedin opened in Wellington in March 1873 with Alexander Kerr as its first manager.

The National Bank of New Zealand (Ltd) Act gave it the right to issue banknotes redeemable (in specie or gold).

Though the bank was technically domiciled in London (which provided certain advantages) the major portion of its shareholders were New Zealand resident or associated.

The other trading banks joined the now proven computer system and ownership of Databank the following year.

The bank tentatively dipped a toe into foreign waters in 1969 when it established a branch in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.

The Black Horse logo dates back to 1677 London when Humphrey Stockes adopted it as the sign for his shop.