Note 660 — Chapter XIV

Sanuto mentions, so early as A.D. 1171, the establishment of a bank at Venice. On this occasion, the Doge Vitale enforced a loan from the wealthiest citizens, and for this purpose established a “Chamber of Loans” (Camera degl’ imprestiti). The contributors to the loan were to receive interest at four per cent. (Vita de’ Duchi, p. 502.)