The bank only survived with the help of $45bn from American taxpayers.

Even where the bank and ditch do not survive, their former course can sometimes still be traced in modern field boundaries.

The bank could not survive the Panic of 1873 and it closed its doors in 1874.

In contrast, only 350 Swiss banks survive today, down from 550 a decade ago.

In addition to the attention customers get, the bank survives through diversification.

However, there was no convincing evidence that banks or even countries would survive the invasion.

The question was, could the bank survive such a hole in its balance sheet.

"Size has to be a factor," he said when asked about which banks would survive.

Its idea is to help banks survive and grow by becoming modern retailers.

"Japanese banks can't survive with the current number," he told reporters.