Having devoted his entire adult life to accumulating one of the great fortunes of the age—while spending as little as possible in the process—George Peabody spent his last decade giving it away.

When we think of Gilded Age bankers, we tend to think of top-hatted men with names like Morgan, Stillman and Peabody. But there is one conspicuous exception: Amadeo Peter Giannini.

Bankers do a lot more than just accept deposits, make loans and underwrite securities. They give advice, warn clients against dangerous strategies—and even sometimes act as referees.

By greatly facilitating transactions, William Boyle’s credit card helped the global economy to grow, and benefited bankers, merchants and customers alike.

The traveling Hagenbeck-Wallace Circus was famous for its humane animal acts. It was also famous for its bank.

Philadelphia financier Stephen Girard risked his fortune to save the republic in the War of 1812.