The First Bank of the United States was a national financial institution established in 1791 following a proposal by Alexander Hamilton, the first United States Secretary of the Treasury. Headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the bank was created to help stabilize the country's finances after the American Revolutionary War, manage government funds and support economic development. It operated under a 20-year congressional charter and combined public and private ownership, with the federal government and private investors contributing its capital. The institution played an important role in the early development of the American banking and financial system before its charter expired in 1811.

The bank performed several important financial functions, including accepting deposits, issuing banknotes, providing loans to individuals and businesses, and managing government revenues and payments. It also helped facilitate trade, improve the circulation of money and strengthen the federal government's ability to meet its financial obligations. Through its branches in major American cities, the bank supported commercial activities and connected different regional economies. Although it faced political opposition over its constitutionality and influence, the First Bank of the United States established an important precedent for national banking and influenced later developments in American financial institutions.